2012 Regional Adjusters Conference Sessions (Call for presenters)

Casualty Sessions

Insured Contracts and Additional Insureds

· Analyze different indemnity and insurance provisions in contracts

· Describe different additional insured endorsements

· Evaluate the interplay of indemnity agreements, additional insured endorsements, certificates of insurance and insured contracts

Investigating the Duty to Defend

· Identify the risks at stake in making an incorrect decision concerning the duty to defend

· Describe the scope of the insurer's duty to investigate prior to making the duty to defend decision

· Determine what facts may or may not be considered and how to handle ambiguous or erroneous pleadings

· Evaluate when the insurer has the right to reconsider or to reverse a prior decision to deny or to accept a defense

Joint and Several Liability

· Review the history, development and purpose of joint and several liability

· Identify the type of tortfeasor who can be held jointly and severally liable

· Examine variations and exceptions to a modified joint and several liability approach as adopted by all  states

· Develop approaches to crafting an appropriate release for a party that is jointly and severally liable

Late Notice in Liability Claims

· Identify various policy requirements for timely notice of accidents, claims or suits

· Explore problems created by late notice and the manner in which courts have addressed them

· Devise practical strategies for responding to late notice suits, default judgments and third-party demands

Mediation for Casualty Adjusters

· Anticipate what to expect when resolving a claim through mediation

· Identify the techniques used by mediators to discover common interests

· Distinguish between facilitative and evaluative mediators and how to select a mediator who best fits your case

· Develop negotiation strategies to get the case "done on your ground" -- not the middle ground

Property Sessions

Appraisal Strategies for Success

· Defuse problems with premature appraisal demands

· Identify steps to ensure success with appraisal

· Manage the appraisal process

· Review appraisal protocols and strategies in active appraisal states, including Florida, Louisiana, and New York.

Bio-Hazard Loss Response

· Evaluate residential and commercial coverages afforded for the cleanup of common biohazard losses.

· Review mitigation guidelines for mitigation of biohazard losses.

· Evaluate mitigation protocols for cleanup of buildings and contents from biohazard losses.

· Describe resolution strategies from biohazard losses where the scope and price of mitigation are in dispute. 

Business Interruption Losses for Mercantile Businesses

· Review coverages typically afforded retail businesses.

· Describe variations in how retail businesses operate and are organized.

· Evaluate options in determining the “period of restoration” with retail business income loss scenarios.

· Walk through several example adjustments with retail business income claims, with and without extra expense losses. 

Catastrophe Claims Handling and Management 

· Compare critical aspects for success in catastrophe claim handling vs. normal claim handling.

· Devise ways to nurture yourself and your staff when working extended cat claims.

· Build efficiencies into cat adjustments in very stressful environments

· Ensure file management success when multiple adjusters handle particular cat claims.

Duties After Loss: Enforcing Policy Provisions

· Trace the evolution and make up of Duties Following the Loss provisions in common property insurance policies.

· Identify challenges that can occur in enforcing these provisions

· Review strategies for successfully enforcing these provisions

Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Issues with Property Claims 

· Describe the process of foreclosure and how it affects various property claims, made by insureds or mortgagees.

· Identify how bankruptcy of the insured or the mortgage company affects first-party property claims.

· Review adjustment strategies when foreclosure or bankruptcy issues are present with various claim scenarios.

Heavy Equipment and Farm Machinery Adjustments.

· Review the types of heavy equipment and farm machinery often involved in claims

· Describe typical coverages afforded heavy equipment and farm machinery in various insurance forms.

· Accurately classify equipment condition at the time of the loss.

· Explore salvage and subrogation opportunities with equipment and machinery losses  

Residential and Commercial Roofing Installation and Repairs  

· Identify building requirements for common residential and commercial roof systems and features.

· Review installation procedures for roof systems, including asphalt shingle, wood shake, multi-ply built-up roofs, single-ply membranes, slate, tile, etc.

· Describe repair techniques for various types of roofs.

Subrogation: Products That Fail Repeatedly

· Identify sources of information on products that fail repeatedly, causing losses

· Structure your investigation of products cases to improve chances of recovery

· Protect evidence to ensure positive outcomes

· Work with experts to successfully subrogate products liability claims. 

Water Damage Mitigation:  Latest Developments.

· Review recent developments in various guidelines for water loss mitigation procedures.

· Describe latest equipment and tools now available in this field.

· Identify problems and solutions in working with various water mitigation firms.

Working Effectively with Public Adjusters and Difficult Insureds

· Describe the rights, duties, and obligations of public adjusters as they represent insureds in claim resolution.

· Evaluate adjustment strategies when working with public adjusters and difficult insureds.

· Identify ways to encourage positive and productive behavior with difficult public adjusters or insureds.

General Interest

Business Writing Skills:  Correspondence, Complaints, and Compliments

· Describe qualities of effective file notes and correspondence

· Identify business correspondence that increases credibility with insureds and claimants

· Compose outstanding examples of form letters that really work

· Review common errors in grammar and spelling that harm your credibility and detract from your message

Ethical Challenges and Good Faith Claims Handling

· Identify ethical challenges for both property and casualty claim professionals

· Describe methodologies to resolve ethical dilemmas

· Distinguish good and bad faith claim practices in a variety of claim scenarios

· Review new trends in various states’ good faith claim handling requirements.

Claim Management for Success: Inspiring the Best in Your Staff.

· Develop your staff; build their technical competence and confidence.

· Develop staff time management skills to respond to changing needs.

· Build a culture of excellent customer service

· Align your efforts with larger corporate goals and initiatives.   

Negotiations and the Art of Persuasion for Property and Casualty Claims.

· Evaluate strategies for successful negotiation

· Describe negotiation tools available

· Review key techniques for persuasive writing and communication with property and casualty claims

· Explore ways to more effectively  “connect” with customers and service providers