HERE - The Underwriter`s Insider

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Features
5
Advertising
9
Kim Komando
18
Inside Track
20
Marketplace
23
Insider Advisor
24
26
28
2
Classifieds
Say What?
Back Issues
News
7
Ray Farmer Confirmed
As Head Of S. Carolina
Insurance Department
8
Beyond Insurance Rolls Out
New Network Name And
Logo
10
Cooking Grease Can Be A
Pollutant - Legal Analysis by
Barry Zalma, Esq.
11
21 States Considering
Electronic Proof Of
Insurance Legislation
12
Property Casualty Insurance
Association Testifies In
Support of Credit-Rating
13
American Collectors
Insurance Becomes First
Specialty Collector
14
Project Cap Launches
Agency 2020 - To Help
Independent Agents Plan
For The Future
The Underwriter’s Insider
News
15
16
16
A Majority of Drivers Would
Trade Personal Privacy for
Lower Auto Insurance Rates
Bill O’Reilly’s Interviewer
Tracks Down Obama’s Illegal
Immigrant Uncle - Funny!
Florida Reports on the
“Freedom to Travel Act” Law
Restricting Life Companies
22
Massive Sinkhole Swallows
Tampa Man Along With
Entire Bedroom
27
U.S. Auto Insurance
Policyholders Benefit from
Highly Competitive Markets
30
Florida Announces Arrest
in “Operation Dirty Money”
Worker’s Comp Scheme
34
Identity Fraud Incidents
Continue Upward Trend
34
What To Tell Your Clients To
Maximize Their Insurance
Dollars And Avoid 5 Mistakes
38
Applied Systems Announces
Agreement To Acquire P&C
Business of IVANS
www.underwritersinsider.com
Sponsors
4
Premium Finance Brokerage
6
7
12
15
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17
Modern Insurance Consultants
18
NASA - Eclipse Agency Mgt.
22
23
Accu-Auto
25
31
Orrin R. Beilly, Esq.
33
Florida Insuance School
FYI Georgia View & News
St. James Insurance CompaAggressive Insurance
United Automobile Ins Com-
Encore HR Personnel Solu-
Barry Zalma, Esq.
The Towing & Rental Group
Cover Photo: © R. Manera
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6
AIA STATEMENT ON
CONFIRMATION OF RAY
FARMER TO HEAD SOUTH
CAROLINA’S INSURANCE
DEPARTMENT
W
ASHINGTON,
D.C.,
February 15, 2013—Leigh
Ann Pusey, president
and CEO of the American Insurance
Association (AIA), issued the following
statement on Ray Farmer’s confirmation
to serve as director of South Carolina’s
Insurance Department. Prior to
Farmer’s appointment, he had worked
in AIA’s Southeast Region office, most
recently serving as vice president for
state affairs until his retirement from
AIA in the fall of 2012. Farmer has more
than 40 years of insurance experience.
Ms. Pusey’s statement follows:
“AIA congratulates Ray Farmer on
his confirmation to serve as director
of the South Carolina Department
of Insurance. Ray brings a wealth of
insurance, regulatory and legislative
knowledge that will help South
Carolina promote an effective and
efficient insurance marketplace to
the benefit of consumers and insurers
alike.”
Table of Contents
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7
CONTENTS
2013 • Issue 3
To best navigate The Insider,
begin with the Table of Contents
and select your topic. On the
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A Publication of
AdMax Media Corp
Corporate Offices
P.O. Box 31551
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[email protected]
© Entire Contents 2013 AdMax Media Corp
New Name
and Visual
Identity
Unite
Beyond
Insurance
Process,
Products,
Services
O
RLANDO, FL, March 7, 2013
—The Organic Growth
Network rolled out a new
network name and logo during
today’s Organic Growth Exchange ,
8
EVERY SPONSOR AD LINKS
DIRECTLY TO THE SPONSOR’S
WEBSITE. CLICK ON ANY AD TO
VISIT OUR FINE SPONSORS!
its semi-annual member symposium:
Beyond Insurance Global Network.
“We have a world-class member
network that offers world-class risk
management solutions to clients,
and now we have a world-class look
as well,” said Scott Addis, Beyond
Insurance
president
and
CEO.
"Our
new
name and
logo reflect the success of our
network members in transforming
themselves into trusted risk advisors
for their clients."
The new name represents the culture
and resolve of the network to create
a “risk revolution” while symbolizing
its evolving focus and standards.
Table of Contents
Members wanted the new identity
to convey that they have moved
“beyond” the transactional sales
process and embraced a more
consultative, diagnostic approach
with clients.
“Constant
improvement
and
innovation
have always
been part of
our culture,”
said Christin
Myers, director of training and
coaching for the network.
“Our new name better captures who
we are and what unique value our
members offer to clients. After all,
See BEYOND Page 39
5 tech rip-offs to avoid
by Kim Komando
M
ost people are pretty
smart when it comes to
buying computers and
other tech gear.
They use the Internet to research
products and compare prices. And
when they’re ready to buy, they take
advantage of coupon codes and free
shipping offers. But the tech retail
jungle is filled with booby traps that
can snare even savvy consumers.
Steer clear of these bad deals and save
more of your hard-earned cash.
1. Extended warranties/
phone insurance
Extended
warranties
for computers and
electronics can
add hundreds
of dollars to
the
price
of your
purchase. And they’re usually bad
investments.
The basic manufacturer warranty on
most gadgets typically covers a year
of use, which is when repairs are most
often needed. Extended warranties
will bring that out to two or three
years, but by then most gadgets are
outdated and not worth repairing.
The exception would be an expensive
computer that you carry around, like a
MacBook. Click here for more pros and
cons of Apple’s AppleCare.
If nightmares of dropping your
smartphone keep you up at night, you
can buy yourself peace of mind by
self-insuring. Put what you would
have spent on protection into a
savings account.
If something goes
wrong, pay for
the repair out
of that fund.
If nothing
happens,
take
a
vacation!
Check with your credit card company,
too. Buying a gadget with certain
cards can double the length of the
manufacturer’s warranty at no cost to
you.
2. Expensive cables
When you’re shelling out big bucks
for a high-end LED HDTV and a new
Blu-ray player, spending an extra $100
or more on HDMI cables doesn’t seem
like a big deal. However, it’s money
you don’t need to spend.
Unless you’re running digital cable
through an entire house, there isn’t
any difference between the $10 or
less 6-foot digital cable and the pricey
gold-plated versions.
Back in the days of analog A/V, it’s
true that more-expensive cables did a
better job of shielding the signal from
interference. Digital cables, like HDMI,
carry a stream of 1s and 0s. It either
works perfectly or not at all.
Some companies recommend you
purchase their expensive branded
adapters when you buy their products.
You can get generic adapters online
for less that work just as well.
3. RAM and hard drive
upgrades from computer
makers
Most computer manufacturers allow
you to customize your computer a
bit before ordering. You might add
RAM or switch from a conventional
See Kim Komando Pg 33
Table of Contents
9
Cooking Grease Can Be A Pollutant
By Barry Zalma, Esq.
C
hristopher Roinestad and
Gerald Fitz-Gerald, and Tim
Kirkpatrick, D/B/A Hog’s Breath
Saloon & Restaurant (“respondents”)
were overcome by poisonous hydrogen
sulfide gas while cleaning a large
grease clog in a sewer near the Hog’s
Breath Saloon & Restaurant. The
district court concluded that Hog’s
Breath caused respondents’ injuries
by dumping substantial amounts
of cooking grease into the sewer.
On summary judgment, the district
court found Hog’s Breath liable
under theories of negligence and
off-premises liability, and entered
a damage award in respondents’
favor.
FACTS
The Hog’s Breath Saloon discharged
enough cooking grease into the sewer
system to create a five- to eight-foot
clog that led to a dangerous buildup
creates an obstruction to the sewer
flow. The trial court found that under
the circumstances of this case the
discharge of cooking grease amounted
to a discharge of pollutant. Hog’s
Breath caused respondents’ injuries
by dumping substantial amounts of
cooking grease into the sewer,
thereby creating a five- to eightfoot grease clog and consequent
build-up of hydrogen sulfide gas.
Mountain States Mutual Casualty
Company (“Mountain States”)
insured Hog’s Breath. It sought a
ruling that it had no obligation to
indemnify Hog’s Breath arguing
that Hog’s Breath’s conduct fell
within the policy’s pollution
Mountain States Mutual Casualty
exclusion clause, which excluded
Company (“MSM”) sought a
coverage for bodily injury arising
ruling that it had no obligation to
out of the discharge of pollutants
indemnify Hog’s Breath and the
from the premises of an insured.
district court agreed holding that
The policy defined pollutants
Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE is a California attorney
dumping substantial amounts
as any solid, liquid, gaseous, or
specializing in insurance coverage, insurance
claims handling and fraud who serves as
of cooking grease constituted a
thermal irritant or contaminant,
a
consultant
and
expert
for
insurers
and
discharge of a pollutant under the
or waste. The district court agreed
policyholders. He founded Zalma Insurance
policy’s pollution exclusion clause.
with Mountain States, concluding
Consultants in 2001 and serves as its senior
The court of appeals reversed. It
that the pollution exclusion
consultant. He recently published an e-book,
held that the terms of the pollution
clause was unambiguous and
“Insurance Fraud,” which is available at his Web
exclusion clause were ambiguous
that the dumping of substantial
site, www.zalma.com. Go to Zalma Books at
http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm.
and that its application to cooking
amounts of cooking grease into
grease could lead to absurd results
the sewer constituted a discharge
and negate essential coverage. The
of a pollutant under the policy’s
parties took the case to the Colorado of toxic gas. The conduct violated a city pollution exclusion clause.
Supreme Court who, in Mountain ordinance prohibiting the discharge
States Mutual Casualty Company v. of a pollutant in an amount that The court of appeals reversed. It
held that the terms of the pollution
Christopher Roinestad and Gerald
exclusion clause were ambiguous and
Fitz-Gerald, and Tim Kirkpatrick, D/B/A
Join Barry Zalma’s new Blog:
that its application to cooking grease
Hog’s Breath Saloon & Restaurant., 2013
http://www.zalma.com/blog
CO 14 (Colo. 02/25/2013) resolved the
See Zalma Pg 31
dispute.
10
Table of Contents
21 States Are Likely to Consider
Electronic Proof of Insurance
Coverage Legislation
C
HICAGO, IL – With almost
half of state legislatures in
the country likely to consider
changing their laws to allow drivers
to use their cell phones to show
their insurance identification card
in order to prove they are insured,
electronic proof of coverage is
one of the hottest insurancerelated legislative trends for 2013,
according to the Property Casualty
Insurers Association of America
(PCI).
“States are taking another step into
the Electronic Age by changing
their laws to allow drivers to show
their insurance ID cards on their
smartphone,” said Alex Hageli,
PCI director, personal lines policy.
“Pretty much every motorist has
been there at one time or another,
digging around in the glove
compartment box desperately
trying to find your insurance card
after being pulled over by the
police. No longer will motorists be
ticketed and have to take time off
of work to go to court for driving
without insurance just because
they couldn’t find a current ID
card in their car. This is such a common
sense switch that will save everybody
time and effort.”
PCI anticipates over 20 states will
consider electronic proof of coverage
bills or regulations in 2013. The states
discussing e-Card proposals include:
Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,
Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine,
Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio,
Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin
and Wyoming. Wyoming’s measure,
SF 87 has already cleared the Wyoming
State Senate.
“Every year, thousands
upon thousands of tickets
are issued to drivers just
because they forgot to put
their new ID card in their
vehicle,” said Hageli. “It’s
a big waste of everybody’s
time and effort, especially
the courts. Now is the time
to make a small change
in the law so insurers
and consumers can take
advantage of technology
and avoid those annoying
fix-it tickets.”
“Electronic proof of coverage, or
e-Card, is a win-win-win for consumers,
insurers and state officials. Consumers
are using their cell phones for more
and more things. They want less paper
and more online account features,” said
Hageli.“Like any other business, insurers
want to meet their policyholders’
needs and are developing apps and
expanding online services to satisfy
Table of Contents
customer expectations.
Without
changing the law, though, insurers are
still required to send paper ID cards
to each customer. These proposed
laws will enable insurers to adapt
to changing consumer behavior.
Finally, the courts win because
the docket will be cleared up of
individuals who had insurance but
just didn’t have a current ID card. ”
In 2012 five states made the change
to e-Card including: Arizona,
California, Idaho, Louisiana and
Minnesota. Alabama approved
regulations allowing electronically
displayed proof of insurance at
both registration and during
traffic stops. Colorado already has
a regulation allowing electronic
proof of coverage when vehicles
are registered, and will consider
legislation to expand it to traffic
stops this year.
PCI supports flexible proposals
that are not mandatory and give
both the policyholder and the
insurance company a choice to
offer electronic proof of coverage
options.
“Every year, thousands upon thousands
of tickets are issued to drivers just
because they forgot to put their new
ID card in their vehicle,” said Hageli. “It’s
a big waste of everybody’s time and
effort, especially the courts. Now is the
time to make a small change in the law
so insurers and consumers can take
advantage of technology and avoid
those annoying fix-it tickets.”
11
Property casualty
insurers association
Testifies In Support of
Credit-Based Insurance Scores
A
USTIN, Texas—Joe Woods,
vice president, state
government
relations
for the Property Casualty Insurers
Association of America (PCI),
testified Tuesday, Feb. 19th, in
opposition to SB 72, which would
prohibit insurers from using creditbased insurance scores.
In his testimony before the Texas
Senate Committee on Business and
Commerce, Woods explained why
the usage of credit information
helped consumers, and also noted
that far more drivers would be likely
to see rate increases than decreases
if the use of such information was
banned.
“Let’s
begin
with
a
clear
understanding of what this rating
and underwriting tool really is,”
Woods said. “Credit-based insurance
scores measure the insurance risk,
not the credit risk, of consumers;
they are generated from credit
histories and insurance claims data,
and are distinct from scores based
solely on credit histories intended
for other business purposes such as
making decisions on loans.
Several studies have found that
credit based insurance scores are
among the three most predictive
12
tools available for automobile
insurance. The predictive value of
credit based insurance scores has
been hotly debated and vigorously
studied over the last decade, and
every credible study that has been
done has found that they are highly
predictive of insurance losses.”
Woods testified that hundreds of
pages of studies have been done
on this issue. The most exhaustive
studies have been done by the
Michigan Office of Financial and
Insurance Services (2002), the
University of Texas (2003), the
Texas Department of Insurance
(2005), and the Federal Trade
Commission (2007). All of those
studies confirmed that credit
based insurance scores are highly
predictive of insurance losses.
decreased,” Woods said. “The losses
would still occur, and the other 87%
of consumers would have to pay
more premium than their predicted
losses call for in order to subsidize
the higher risk insureds. Even if
you factor out the consumers with
neutral results, more consumers
would be hurt by a ban on the use
of credit based insurance scores
by a 3.35 to 1 ratio; 43% would
lose credits while 13% would be
subsidized.”
Woods also referenced a 2012
study by the Arkansas Department
of Insurance that usage of this
tool results in positive or neutral
premium effects for 87 percent of
insurance consumers, while only 13
percent see a negative effect.
“If credit based insurance scores
were banned, the 13% who are
currently paying more for their
insurance based on their predicted
losses would see their premium
Table of Contents
American Collectors
Insurance Becomes
First Specialty
Collector
Vehicle/Collectibles Firm to Join Trusted Choice
Collector Provider
Supports Agent Brand
A
LEXANDRIA, Va. (March
5, 2013) -- American
Collectors
Insurance
joined
the Trusted
Choice®
consumer branding program for
independent insurance agents
and brokers, becoming the first
specialty
collector-auto
and
collectibles provider to support the
agent brand. American Collectors,
a national provider of insurance for
collector vehicles and collectibles,
joined as a Trusted Choice®
company partner.
"Our firm was born as a family
insurance agency and remains so
today," says Jill Bookman, CEO of
American Collectors Insurance,
which was founded in 1976. "When
we look at the positive attributes
of the Trusted Choice Pledge of
Performance, we think of the agents
with whom we have the privilege to
work. American Collectors proudly
supports the independent agency
system, and especially the agents
who have made the commitment
to be part of Trusted Choice®."
"Collector vehicles and collectibles
are a passion in every state, and
agents who give attention to this
market are rewarded with strong
client relationships," says Dave
Evans, Trusted Choice® executive
director. "The support of American
Collectors for Trusted Choice® can
spur greater awareness among
agents of the importance of the
proper coverages for collector
vehicles and collectibles, which
present a distinct set of risks as
compared with the standard auto
market."
American Collectors programs offer
agreed-value coverage, choice of
deductibles, broad underwriting
guidelines, a choice of mileage
plans, flexible usage, expense
reimbursement plan, and other
features designed specifically for
collectors.
Trusted Choice® is the consumer
marketing identity for more than
24,000 independent insurance
agencies and brokerage firms and
68 leading insurance providers.
Trusted Choice® was launched
by the Independent Insurance
Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA)
to highlight the key distinctions
that independent agencies and
brokerage firms offer consumers:
Choice of coverages, customization
of policies, and advocacy support.
It is the premier consumer brand
for independent insurance agents
and provides national advertising
and other strategic tools to reach
consumers.
Table of Contents
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13
Project CAP Launches ‘Agency 2020’
To Help Independent Agencies
Prep for Future
Year-Long Program
Provides Insights,
Resources from Service
Providers
M
INNEAPOLIS (March 7,
2013) -- Project CAP has
launched Agency 2020,
a comprehensive new program to
provide independent agencies with
insights and resources to help them
create and implement a broad
vision for building an agency for
success for years to come.
Each month during 2013, the
Agency
2020
program
will
spotlight a key element of a
successful independent agency
while also providing resources free
of charge to selected agencies
from renowned industry service
providers. One grand-prize winner
will get multiple complimentary
services, and additional agencies
will be selected to receive single
services. All independent agencies
will benefit by following the
progress of the spotlight agencies
over the course of 2013, learning
how optimizing that featured key
strategic element can benefit their
own businesses.
All member agencies of the
Independent Insurance Agents
& Brokers of America (IIABA) are
eligible to participate in winning
the services. Agencies can enter
by completing a brief application
form at ProjectCAPMarketing.com/
agency2020. The winning agencies
14
will be selected during March by a
panel of industry experts from the
industry service providers.
The Agency 2020 program and
service delivery starts in April with
a complimentary agency valuation
and appraisal provided by Reagan
Consulting, co-author of the IIABA
Best Practices Study.
Each month, Agency 2020 will
update all independent agencies
about that month's insights and
service via Independent Agent
magazine and ProjectCAPMarketing.
com.
Service areas
and providers include:
* InVEST: Guidance on establishing
school programs, and teaching
materials and tools.
* Caliper: Testing and skill evaluation
for employees and prospective
employees, including agents and
sales consultants.
* Big 'I' Young Agents Committee:
Complimentary registration for
Leadership Institute.
* TrustedChoice®: Co-branding
review and update.
* Oak & Associates: Business
planning
including
producer
compensation model and sales and
marketing plan.
* Project CAP: Marketing program.
* WAHVE: Consulting on optimal
staffing for the future and waiver
of set-up fee for employee hire
process.
*
MarshBerry:
Perpetuation
Table of Contents
planning strategy session and
comprehensive plan.
* InsurBanc: Financing consultation.
* Aartrijk: Brand image assessment.
Each service delivery will feature
an informed, authoritative narrative
on why and how that component
can be integrated to create a more
successful agency.
"While many independent agency
owners across the country are
preparing for the future with
energy and vision, Agency 2020 will
provide the most updated, relevant
insights on how to do so, including
use of the products and services
highlighted by our sponsoring
experts," said Tony Gonsalves, senior
vice president of Project CAP. "The
Agency 2020 program is designed
to show all IIABA member agencies
the vision and tools they'll need to
compete and succeed in the next
decade.
"The scope and format of the Agency
2020 program emphasize the
entire lifecycle of the independent
agency -- from hiring young talent
to the firm's perpetuation process.
This is a holistic, complete look at
a broad range of elements that will
combine to make an independent
agency successful in the year 2020
and beyond. It aims to help all
agencies improve by focusing on
their strengths and challenges,"
said Gonsalves.
About Project CAP:
through an alliance
Created
of the
Independent Insurance Agents &
Brokers of America (IIABA), Trusted
Choice®, state associations and
key insurance carriers, Project CAP
is a powerful industry initiative
with the vision and resources
to recapture and expand the
independent agent's share of the
personal lines insurance market.
Project CAP received operating
investment from IIABA and six
key carriers, including The Central
Insurance
Companies,
Safeco
Insurance, State Auto Insurance
Companies, Selective Insurance,
The Main Street America Group and
Westfield Insurance. Project CAP
is a trademark of Consumer Agent
Portal, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company formed in 2011.
For more information, visit www.
projectcapmarketing.com.
A surprising majority
of drivers would trade
privacy for a discount
on auto insurance
C
arinsurance.com
recently
commissioned a survey of
500 licensed drivers over
18 years old regarding trade-offs
they would be willing to make to
reduce their cost of car insurance.
Surprisingly, almost two-thirds of
those surveyed would allow an insuror
to install a breathalyzer in their car in
exchange for a discount. About half
that number would make the trade
for a cell-phone disabling device.
While no auto insurance companies
currently offer either of these
Table of Contents
discounts,
the trend of direct
monitoring of specific vehicles
is already moving forward - as in
Progressive’s Snapshot or Allstate’s
Drive Wise. These “pay as you drive”
programs monitor both mileage as
well as braking and acceleration.
While some discounts were more
popular than others, even an onboard
observation camera would be
acceptable to 20% of drivers.
See “Goodbye Privacy” Page 15
15
O’Reilly’s Ambush
Interviewer Tracks
Down Obama’s Illegal
Immigrant Uncle
F
ramingham, MA - Jesse Waters Onyango became agitated and
recently located President claimed to have called the police.
Obama’s uncle, an illegal Click on the video below to watch.
immigrant with a DWI
working in a liquor store.
“Do you think you should
be allowed to stay in this
country?” Waters asked
Onyango Obama repeatedly
while chasing him around
the liquor store.
Florida
reports
on the
“Freedom to
Travel Act”
Law
T
ALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Florida
Insurance Commissioner Kevin
McCarty today submitted
the “2013 Report on Life Insurance
Limitations Based on Foreign Travel
Experiences” to the Florida Legislature.
The report details implementation of
the “Freedom to Travel Act,” which was
passed in 2006 and codified into law at
Section 626.9541(1)(dd), Florida Statutes.
The legislation placed limitations on
insurance companies’ ability to deny
coverage or increase premiums for
life insurance based on past or future
foreign lawful travel.
“This is the seventh year of this report
and it highlights the success of legislative
and regulatory actions taken to prevent
unfair discrimination for life insurance
and annuities policyholders and
applicants,” said Commissioner McCarty.
“We appreciate the insurance industry’s
cooperation with this important
legislation preserving Floridians’ rights to
travel freely outside of the United States.”
There were two administrative action
fines/penalties of $21,000 in 2012 for
two companies who self-reported
the violations for travel to Mexico and
Venezuela prior to the 2012 report.
The Office is currently reviewing
three potential violations which were
self-reported from three companies
involving denial of coverage for travel to
Israel, Colombia, and to the Bahamas.
16
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Table of Contents
17
U
.S. Chamber Institute for Legal
Reform (ILR) recently reported:
Florida’s lawsuit climate remains
among the worst in the country,
according to Lawsuit Climate 2012:
Ranking the States, a recent study
released by the Participants in
the survey were comprised of a
national sample of 1,125 in-house
general counsel, senior litigators
or attorneys, and other senior
executives who indicated that they
are knowledgeable about litigation
matters at companies with at least
$100 million in annual revenues.
A
ccording to a recent report by
WebMD, “Ground roast coffee
has about 115 mg per 5-ounce cup
if it’s made in a drip brew pot. The
same size cup made in an older
percolator would have 80 mg. Instant
coffee doesn’t brew as long. That’s
partly why it has only about 65 mg
of caffeine per cup.” The report went
on to say, “We get more antioxidants
(which help protect cells) from
coffee than any other source. That’s
partly because we drink so much
coffee. But also the drink itself is rich
with them. Dates, for example, are
packed with antioxidants, too. But
coffee is a lot more popular than
dates.”
from 4,469 in 2009. According to the
latest data available from the Federal
Highway Administration, there were
8.2 million private and commercial
motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2010,
compared with 8.0 million in 2009.
Fatalities among motorcyclists
age 50 and older increased
by 119 in 2010, compared
with 2009, whereas fatalities
among
motorcyclists
under
age
55
decreased by 1,391.
Some
106,000
motorcycles were
involved in crashes
in 2009, including
property damage-only crashes,
according to latest data from the
NHTSA. Motorcyclists were about
30 times more likely than passenger
car occupants to die in a crash per
vehicle mile traveled in 2010 and
five times more likely to be injured,
according to NHTSA. The fatality
rate per registered vehicle for
motorcyclists in 2010 was six times
the fatality rate for passenger car
occupants, according to NHTSA. The
National Insurance Crime Bureau
(NICB) said that motorcycle thefts fell
6 percent in 2011 from a year earlier,
based on data from the National
Crime Information Center of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The NICB noted that motorcycle
thefts fell in 2011 while motorcycle
sales increased. According to the
Motorcycle Industry Council,
motorcycles sales increased
in 2011 to 440,899 units, up
0.3 percent from 439,678 in
2010. - Source: Insurance
Information Institute.
U
niversal Insurance Holdings,
Inc. (“Company”) (NYSE MKT:
UVE) announced today that, as
expected, the Board of Directors
appointed Sean P. Downes to
K
ey facts on motorcycle
crashes: 2010 Crash Data:
According to the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s National Highway
Traffic
Safety
Administration
(NHTSA), in 2010, 4,502 people died
in motorcycle crashes, up 0.7 percent
18
Table of Contents
succeed Bradley I. Meier as President
and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, effective as of the close
of business today. Mr. Downes will
remain a director of the Company.
N
ewsmax recently released a
report stating: “Britain suffered
its first ever sovereign ratings
downgrade from a major agency on
Friday when Moody’s stripped the
country of its coveted top-notch
triple-A rating, dealing a major blow
to finance minister George Osborne.
Moody’s said weak prospects for
British economic growth, which have
thrown the government’s deficit
reduction strategy off course, lay
behind its decision to cut the rating
by one notch to AA1 from AAAA.”
S
toneRiver, Inc., the trusted
insurance technology partner
with solutions across multiple business
lines, announced the introduction and
immediate availability of CompSuite,
StoneRiver’s new generation Software
as a Service (SaaS) solution for workers’
compensation. The company claims
CompSuite is uniquely positioned to
address the Workers’ Compensation
business needs of the mid-market
insurance carrier and Third Party
Administrator and Managing General
Agency initiatives.
A
ccording to a recent report
in Newsmax Health, “Pour on
the olive oil, preferably over fish and
vegetables: One of the longest and
most scientific tests of a Mediterranean
diet suggests this style of eating can
cut the chance of suffering heartrelated problems, especially strokes, in
older people at high risk of them. The
study lasted five years and involved
about 7,500 people in Spain. Those
who ate Mediterranean-style with lots
of olive oil or nuts had a 30 percent
lower risk of major cardiovascular
problems compared to others who
were told to follow a low-fat diet.
Mediterranean meant lots of fruit, fish,
chicken, beans, tomato sauce, salads,
and wine and little baked goods and
pastries.”
G
ary Henning, Northeast region
vice president for the American
Insurance Association (AIA), testified
about the industry’s response to Super
Storm Sandy and the lessons learned
at a hearing yesterday before the New
York Assembly Standing Committee
on Insurance.
AIA’s testimony
emphasized the insurance industry’s
remarkable performance in handling
a record number of claims following
the storm. AIA also noted that many
consumers remain unaware of the
differences between homeowners
insurance and flood coverage. Finally,
Henning cautioned the legislature
against mandating unrealistic and
counterproductive claims adjusting
requirements.
E
tta Mae Credi, called the
“backbone” of the Illinois
Department of Insurance and former
deputy director, died in February at
age 80.
K
eynote Competitive Research,
the industry analysis group
of Keynote Systems, once again
recognized
Progressive.com
as
number one among online car
insurance websites. Progressive has
sat atop the list for 20 of the last 21
scorecards dating back to 2000,
demonstrating consistent excellence
in the insurance space. The Keynote
Insurance Carrier Scorecard praises
the site for offering so many features
to the customer in real-time, while
providing excellent customer support
options that make the insurance
shopping experience easy.
S
eaPass Solutions, Inc. (hub.
seapass.com),
a
leading
independent provider of web-based
insurance distribution solutions to
Table of Contents
the property and casualty (P&C)
insurance industry, today announced
that the SeaPass Hub’s registered
number of users now exceeds 6,000,
representing an annual growth of
more than 1000%. The SeaPass
Hub was developed to provide
independent agents, wholesalers and
aggregators a way to shop for and
quote insurance online. With access to
multiple product lines, from multiple
carriers, agents are able to quickly
obtain and compare premiums, and
quote the majority of popular risks for
their customers, including business
owners policy (BOP), general liability
(GL), package, commercial auto,
workers compensation, and now
surplus lines. This unique platform
helps insurance industry partners
serve all of the insurance needs of
their customers, while driving market
share, retention and increasing
revenue per customer. The addition
of the Hub offering for wholesalers,
aggregators, and MGAs has added
significantly to this year’s growth.
T
he
publication
Business
Insurance reported last month
that a former UPS driver was awarded
$600,000 in a gender bias case: “A
former United Parcel Service driver,
whose case was revived by a federal
appellate court last year after being
dismissed, has secured a $600,000
verdict in her gender discrimination
case. A jury in federal court in
Midland, Texas, last week awarded
Amber Ibarra $150,000 in economic
losses, $150,000 in mental anguish
and emotional distress, and $300,000
in punitive damages. The verdict
was announced this week by her
attorneys.”
“
A former New Smyrna Beach,
Fla., firefighter on Tuesday was
awarded a $444,000 verdict in her
gender discrimination and retaliation
case against the city.” Source: Business
Insurance
19
Marketplace
Recently Announced P&C Markets
M
Agent’s E&O
K
odern Insurance Consultants - #1
writer of Agent E&O in Florida 18 markets - 24 hour quote turn-around.
305.248.9495 - www.modernins.com [email protected]
ingsway/Amigo
Competitve
commercial auto program. Any size
fleet, - all types of cars, light trucks and
vans - specialty services, like landscaping,
electrical,
plumbing,
lunch
trucks
and other various occupations. info@
kinswayamigo.com
rofessional Underwriting Group - $974
min premium - $1K to $10K ded. New
Agencies OK - Association discount. 800281-4234 - [email protected]
www.professionalunderwritinggroup.com
T
P
N
ational Ins Underwriting - Limits
$300K to $2M - Premiums starting at
$1400 with low ded. Available most states.
Discounts for loss-free experience and losscontrol efforst. Call Craig Calver - 800-3382680 X 507.
A
Aviation
viation Products & Liability Insurance
from Arlington/Roe & Company
- MGA - representing mulitple markets.
Contact: 800.878.9891 X 2401. Cfrench@
arlingtonroe.com [11-6]
F
Chemical Mfg
& Distribution Risks
uel additives, Industrial gases, paints,
varnishes, lacquers, enamels, solvents,
adhesives, sealants and a multitude of other
chemical manufacturing and distribution
risks.
Min Prem $20,000 and other
underwriting criteria. See Sloan Mason:
Contact Grant Kanamori @ 619-814-2488 or
[email protected]. [11-7]
A
Collectables
merican
Collectors
announces
updated specialty coverage for
valued collections. The company claims
coverage available for almost any type of
collection with multiple coverage options.
www.AmericanCollectors.com/Agents
(800) 620-5052
12-7
N
Commercial Auto
ational Ins Underwriting - Light,
medium & heavy up to 66,000 lbs. up
to 500 mile radius, Up to $1M CSL or $1/$2M
split, Phys Dam up to $100K - Med Pay, Hired
and NOL. Contact: Call Craig Calver - 800338-2680 X 508.
Condo Assoc Program
rident is offering tailored coverage
designed for condominium town
home and single-family community
associations claiming competitive rates
and terms. Coverages available include
property, including flood, earthquake and
coastal windstorm, general liability, D&O,
umbrella, worker’s comp, auto, crime and
property mgrs E&O. Trident Community
Association Program - 5100 N. O’Connor
Blvd, #200, Irving, Texas 75039 or email to
[email protected] 877590-0775 [11-6]
H
Contractors
eavy construction risks including
steel erection contractors, concrete
contractors, roofing contractors, bridge,
street & road contractors, etc. Norman
Spencer
- Contact Brian Harrold p:
937.432.1469
[email protected] [11-7]
M
Contractor’s Pollution
ost contractors - including those
with mold exposures and cleanup contractors. Program includes CPL
- Occurrence or Claims Made form - mold
coverage available - Annual & Per Project
policies. Highly competitive rates claimed.
All Risks, Ltd - Lou Ann Cook - 800-3665810 X 3030 email: [email protected]
[12-4]
A
Convenience Store
rgo Insurance announces expanded
program and competitive rates for
convenience store accounts. Company
is looking for stores open until 11PM,
fuel sales up to 90%, alcohol sales up to
30% with no fuel hauling exposure. Not
available in Florida at this time. Email
[email protected] 877590-0775 [11-6]
20
Design &
Construction Industry
A
rchitects, engineers & surveyors,
construction managers, contractors,
environmental consultants, landscape
architects,
specialty
construction
consultants.
Contact Jeff Grigsby 877.453.2071 - [email protected] [116]
O
Energy & Utility Risks
il & Gas Companies, pipeline
operations,
utilities,
HVAC
contractors and water & sewer contractors.
Contact Victor O. Schinner & Co., Inc.
Jeff Grigsby - 877-453-2071 or jeffg@
schinnerer.com [12-1]
P
ropane Dealers - PowerWrap is an
endorsed insurance program offering
specialized, full spectrum coverage.
Contact Alteris: 877-590-0775 [12-1]
K
Entertainment & Sports
&K
Insurance
claims
“over
75
programs
available
on
admitted paper with no prior approval
or appointment needed to submit
applications for quotation. “ The MGA
can be reached at 800-637-4757 or www.
kandkinsurance.com. [11-6]
G
Group Homes
roup Homes Programs for such
risks as Hospice, Agencies for Aging,
Homeless Shelters, Rehab Facilities, Adult
Day-Care Facilities, etc. Comprehensive
packages available - limits up to $1M/$3M
- customize with many optional coverages.
AFC Insurance - Toll Free: 877-456-5323
S
Hair & Beauty
Insurance Program
ASS - Salon & Spa Specialty Insurance
administered by Brownyard Group open to agents seeking access to program.
888-823-9380 or Email: sassi@brownyard.
com [11-7]
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A
Health & Human Services
FC Insurance - Package programs
or ala carte. Contact: 877-4565323 www.afcins.com submissions@
afcins.com [12-2]
N
Homeowners
A
Kidnap & Ransom
ational Ins Underwriting -Webbased
quick
quotes,
most
protection classes & zip-codes OK
- $40K - $750K dwelling values with
replacement cost available. No credit
scoring. Renters policies available.
Contact: Craig Calver - 800-338-2680 X
508.
cademic institutions, energy
companies, engineering firms,
hospitals and healthcare, houses of
worship, manufacturing firms, etc.
Contact Victor O. Schinner & Co., Inc.
Jeff Grigsby - 877-453-2071 or jeffg@
schinnerer.com [12-1]
L
Life Agent E&O
ife agent E&O from Rockwood
Programs. Coverage limits from
$250K to $1 Million. Base rates from
$400 to $550.
Individual policies.
Indentity theft included. No shared
aggregates.
Includes mutual fund
placement. Call 877-242-2487 or email
[email protected]. [12-4]
Marine Risks Worker’s
Comp & Longshore &
Harbor Workers’ Comp
S
eaBright
Insurance
Company
offers high quality workers’
compensation coverage for your clients
who are small maritime employers
and other marine-related businesses.
SeaBright provides seamless cov All
Risks, LTD 410-828-5810 rlang@allrisks.
com or Appalachian Underwriters, Inc.
– Oak Ridge, TN 865-425-1051 warren.
[email protected] or Peachtree
Special Risk Brokers – Metairie, LA 504830-7347 [email protected] [11-7]
N
Marine, Recreational
orman
Spencer
announces
availability of a market for
multiple and vaious recreational
marine risks including marinas, docks,
boat rentals, boat mfgs, charters and
more. Contact Corky Breeden at 937432-1631.
12-7
Have a P&C Product Announcement?
Send your press release or one-paragraph
announcement to [email protected]
K
Martial Arts
&K
Insurance
announces
expanded coverage & lower
minimum premiums on martial arts
coverage. General Aggregate Limit
increased to $5M - Participants
Med Pay to $150K. The MGA can be
reached at 800-637-4757 or www.
kandkinsurance.com. [11-6]
W
Ocean &
Inland Marine
prdwode Facilties, Inc. Contractors doing:
piers,
docks, wharfs, bridges, breakwaters,
cranes, dredging, etc. 6455 East Johns
Crossing, Suite 115 Johns Creek, GA
30097 (678) 736-6720 • Facsimile:
(678) 736-6726 - Carter, Kimberly
- 678 736-6720, Ext. 1000 - kcarter@
wwfi.com [11-7]
T
Professional Liability
echnology & Cyber, Architects &
Engineers, RE Agents, Insurance
Agents E&O, Misc. Pro Liability - and
more:
Contact Atlantic Specialty
Lines [email protected] 877545-9100 [12-1]
V
ictor O. Schinnerer - A-rated
carriers -Real Estate Agents,
Healthcare
Consultants,
General
& Artisan Contractors, Architects,
engineers & consultants, public
entities such as school leaders and
public officiials. Contact: 877-4532071 www.schinnerer.com
jeffg@
schinnerer.com
C
Real Estate E&O
overage for open houses,
mold,
network
risks
and
privacy claims are now part of
Victor O. Schinnerer & Company’s
Real Estate E&O policy. Schinnerer
includes the three new coverages
at no additional premium. Call to
ck on your state: Starr Crusenberry
[email protected]
- 301-951-6904 [11-6]
A
Restaurant
rgo Insurance announces
l o we r
rates
filed
on
restaurant
c o ve r a g e
including
fo o d s p o i l a g e c o ve r a g e.
Fu l l
commission
and
no
agency
a p p o i n t m e n t n e c e s s a r y. Co m p a ny
i s l o o k i n g fo r f a m i l y s t y l e, f a m i l y
g r i l l s, c a s u a l s t y l e, f i n e d i n i n g a n d
limited cooking restaurants such
a s p i z z a a n d s u b s h o p s.
Email
csmktgprograms@argogroupus.
com 877-590-0775 [11-6]
N
o r m a n S p e n c e r ’s R e a l E s t a t e
Pr o g r a m - “o n e o f t h e m o s t
c o m p r e h e n s i ve p o l i c i e s i n t h e
m a r k e t w i t h h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i ve
p r i c i n g”
Co ve r a g e i s av a i l a b l e
to risks whose ser vices include
R e s i d e n t i a l a n d Co m m e r c i a l S a l e s,
Le a s i n g, Pr o p e r t y M a n a g e m e n t ,
Real
Estate
Co n s u l t i n g,
Au c t i o n e e r i n g,
Mortgage
B r o k e r i n g, B P O ’s a n d A p p r a i s a l,
and Escrow Ser vices - Michael
R yd e r
m i c h a e l r yd e r @ n o r m a n s p e n c e r. c o m
800.477.9192 x204
[11-7]
B
Security Guard
r o w ny a r d
Pr o g r a m s
announces
c o ve r a g e
fo r
security
g u a r d s,
claiming
to
insure 15 of the top 40 security
g u a r d c o m p a n i e s i n t h e U. S .
B r o w ny a r d
Pr o g r a m s
w w w.
b r o w ny a r d p r o g r a m s. c o m
or
pvancott@brownyardprograms.
com [12-4]
Tech
Consultants E&O
M
odern
Insurance
Co n s u l t a n t s
we b s i t e
d e s i g n , s o f t w a r e d e ve l o p m e n t ,
d a t a b a s e a d m i n , we b h o s t i n g,
software/hardware sales - and
m o r e. I T c o n s u l t a n t s u p t o $ 1 5 M
i n a n n u a l s a l e s. Co n t a c t A n d r e w
Lawrie - 305-248-9495 X 9108 a l a w r i e @ m o d e r n i n s. c o m [ 1 2 - 2 ]
21
Table of Contents
Massive sinkhole swallows Tampa
man along with entire bedroom
S
Brother attempted to rescue doomed man but was
almost sucked in as well - only pulled out by deputy.
effner, FL - In a scene right out
of a late-night horror movie,
around 11PM one evening
in March, 37 year-old Jeff Bush was
relaxing and preparing for bed when
his entire bedroom was sucked into
a giant and growing sink hole. He
screamed for help, but it was too late.
By the time his brother, Jeremy Bush
arrived from across the home, only the
top of his mattress was visible.
Jeremy jumped into the deepening
hole and tried to dig his brother
out, but to no avail. Jeff had been
22
swallowed completely - not even his
screams could be heard. Now Jeremy
himself was trapped and unable
to claw his way out of the growing
sinkhole without the help of a deputy.
surrounding area for stability. Within
a few days, the search for Jeff was
abandoned as futile and dangerous
and the home was demolished. Click
on the image below for more news
coverage:
Five others in the
home, including Jeff’s
brother Jeremy, escaped
unharmed. The home was
immediately condemned
and adjoining homes
were evacuated in an
abundance of caution
as geologists tested the
Table of Contents
The INSIDER’S
“The Final Authority on Everything!”
First, Kill All The Lawyers...
M
y agency just lost a small claims
court case because of a sleazy
lawyer and an incompetent judge. We
had written a policy on a young lady’s VW
in August. In November we received a
call from her boyfriend reporting a claim
where his furniture delivery vehicle was
involved in an accident causing $4,200 in
property damage. He claims he added
the vehicle to her policy in October via
phone although neither our agency
nor the insured had any record of having
done so, nor would the carrier have
accepted or added a commercial use
vehicle in any event - and we had expert
testimony on that point. There was no
record in our agency of any payment of
additional premium or contact by the
boyfriend. This should have been a nobrainer win for our agency yet the judge
found for the plaintiff because, he said,
“I think my State Farm agent would
have paid this claim...” The lawyer for
the other side knew darn well that
the claim was contrived and even
admitted as much to my lawyer. Just
venting here I guess. - H.L. Ocala, FL
ADVISOR
of very rare and expensive cigars, then
insured them against, among other
things, fire. Within a month, having
smoked his entire stockpile of these great
cigars, the lawyer filed a claim against
the insurance company. In his claim, the
lawyer stated the cigars were lost ‘in a
series of small fires.’
The insurance company refused to pay,
citing the obvious reason, that the man
had consumed the cigars in the normal
fashion. The lawyer sued and WON!
Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed
with the insurance company that the
claim was frivolous. The judge stated
nevertheless, that the lawyer held a
policy from the company, in which it had
warranted that the cigars were insurable
and also guaranteed that it would insure
them against fire, without defining what
Have a question for The Advisor?
Click HERE!
is considered to be unacceptable ‘fire’
and was obligated to pay the claim.
Rather than endure lengthy and costly
appeal process, the insurance company
accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to
the lawyer for his loss of the cigars that
perished in the ‘fires’.
NOW FOR THE BEST PART... After the
lawyer cashed the check, the insurance
company had him arrested on 24 counts
of ARSON! With his own insurance claim
and testimony from the previous case
being used against him, the lawyer was
convicted of intentionally burning his
insured property and was sentenced to
24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine. This
true story won First Place in last year’s
Criminal Lawyers Award contest.
Your emotions regarding certain
lawyers is well taken by the Advisor
- and most professionals in the
insurance industry. Lawyers come
in all sizes and shapes and degrees
of integrity - and thank God for
insurance defense lawyers.
Here’s an interesting story circulating
on the Internet that may make you
feel a little better.
This took place in Charlotte North
Carolina. A lawyer purchased a box
Table of Contents
23
classifieds
FREE CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www.underwritersinsider.
com/classifieds. Ads must be less than 501 characters plus a title line. Eligible
free classifieds include help wanted, position wanted, personal ads, agency for
sale/purchase, or the one-time sale of an item or items.
REGULAR CLASSIFIED RULES:
Submit all ads online at:
www.
underwritersinsider.com/classifieds. Only $1.00 per word, including title line
and response info. Payment must be received prior to print date.
Position Wanted in
Premium Finance,
Carrier or MGA
Marketing in Florida
Experienced Relationship
Manager with established
agency base seeking salaried position with premium
finance
company,
MGA,
carrier or vendor. Licensed Fla. 2-20
Agent, years of experience calling on personal lines and commercial
lines agencies in south
and
central
Florida.
Able to travel - proven performer.
Contact
[email protected]
for resume.
9-12
220 Producer Anywhere in Florida
Well established commercial
agency specializing in the
realm of workers’ comp seeks
producer.
You can be located anywhere in Florida.
Excellent commission splits
- training and leads. Other commercial markets also
available - GL, etc.Contact:
[email protected]
9-5
Coral Springs, FL
Experienced 2-20 Agents
Experienced P & C Agents required for a Coral Springs
office. Good commission and
renewal offered.
Contact:
[email protected]
9-1
24
CSR and Licensed
Producers for
Norcross GA office
GA based agency going for expansion needs CSR ( two) and
licensed producers (two),
attractive salary OR commission offered to a right candidate with a minimum of two
years experience & honest,
hard working candidates are
welcome, Please e-mail your
resume ASAP. Contact:
[email protected]
10-3
Dir of P&C Claims, LV, NV
Claims Director or Manager
position wanted. 20 years experience in non-standard P&C
Ins Claims for NV, NM, & AZ.
60+ employees supervised;
including Claims, SIU, & Legal. Corporate budget & goal
planning. Contract negotiations for all states. Resume
& References available upon
request. Available immediately for hire. Home is LV,
NV. However, would consider
southern California opportunity as well. Please contact
@ 702-292-4215 or [email protected]
10-1
CSR 440 or 220 Agent
N Miami area
Looking for a 2-20 agent or CSR
Bilingual ( English-Spanish
), Excelent on Customer service Email resume to jamie@
jmendezandassociates.com
10-1
Table of Contents
FREE!
free insider
subscription!
sign up yourself
or any associate
at this link
HERE
2-20 Producers
Wanted: Miami
Westchester
Area
Looking for Personal & Commercial
Lines
producers.
Salary plus commission!!!
Rapidly expanding ageny.
Please
contact
us
via
email or call
Yudanis or
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25
“
Insurers promptly responded to what was an
unprecedented weather-related insurance event
in New York’s history. Insurers have rightfully been
expected to play a major role in the recovery effort and
AIA is proud that our industry as a whole has fulfilled
its obligations with distinction.” - Gary Henning,
Northeast region vice president for the American
Insurance Association (AIA), testifing about the
industry’s response to Super Storm Sandy and the
lessons learned at a hearing in February before
the New York Assembly Standing Committee on
Insurance.
Obama also proved again that negative advertising
works, invective sells, and harsh personal attacks
succeed. That Romney never engaged in such diatribes
points to his essential goodness as a person; his
“negative ads” were simple facts, never personal abuse
- facts about high unemployment, lower take-home
pay, a loss of American power and prestige abroad, a
lack of leadership, etc. As a politician, though, Romney
failed because he did not embrace the devil’s bargain of
making unsustainable promises. It turned out that it was
not possible for Romney and Ryan - people of substance,
depth and ideas - to compete with the shallow populism
and platitudes of their opponents. Obama mastered
the politics of envy - of class warfare - never reaching
out to Americans as such but to individual groups,
and cobbling together a winning majority from these
minority groups. If an Obama could not be defeated with his record and his vision of America, in which free
stuff seduces voters - it is hard to envision any change in
the future. If this election prove[d] one thing, it is that
the Old America is gone. And, sad for the world, it is not
coming back.” - Provocative article by Rabbi Steven
Pruzansky, the spiritual leader of Congregation
Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck, New Jersey. It may be
away the most succinct and thoughtful explanation
of how our nation is changing and appeared in The
Israel National News - directed to Jewish readership.
70% of American Jews vote as Democrats for reason
that are entirely unfathomable to the Insider.
up the jails. Hundreds of illegal alien criminals have
been released from illegal alien jails. Now, I know
Obama thinks that he’s harming Republican - this
is exacting harm on the country — and it’s entirely
unnecessary. None of these so-called budget cuts are
necessary. None of this panic is necessary. Apparently,
Obama never gets tired of sticking it to Arizona.
The purely cynical view is that Obama has just let
loose 30,000 new Democrat voters. So this is how far
Obama’s willing to go to try to punish this country
and anybody who stands in the way of him doing
and getting what he wants. He’s not even in charge of
his own Department of Homeland Security. He’s not
even in charge of his own Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency. All of this stuff happens; he
doesn’t know anything about it.” - Conservative
talk-show host Rush Limbaugh lambasting the
Obama administration for releasing thousands of
illegal alien criminals from Arizon jails in the wake
of impending “sequester” budget cuts - and after
Jay Carney, the White House spokesman deflected
any responsibility by claiming a “career official at
ICE” made the decision without any input from
the White House.
now armed with lighter, smaller and diversified nuclear
warheads and are placed on a standby status. When
we shell (the missiles),
Washington, which is the
stronghold of evils, .... will
be engulfed in a sea of
fire.” - North Korean Army
Gen. Kang Pyo Yong at a
mass rally in Pyongyang
in early March told the
assembled crowd that his
rogue nation is ready and
willing to fire long-range
nuclear-armed missiles
N. Korea’s Glorious Supreme
at Washington.
Pyo
Leader Kim Jong-Un
Yong and the paranoid
delusionals who run
the dysfunctional North Korean government were
enraged at the prospect of new, harsh U.N. sanctions
resulting from North Korea’s recent rocket launch
and underground nuclear testing. Such fanatical
outbursts seem to be typical of isolated, paranoid
communist regimes.
“
Tonight we have a stark reminder of the debt
problems facing our country and the clearest possible
warning to anyone who thinks we can run away from
dealing with those problems. Far from weakening our
resolve to deliver our economic recovery plan, this
decision redoubles it.” - Bristish Finance Minister
George Osborne reacting to a credit rating
downgrading by Moody’s.
“
“Intercontinental ballistic missiles and various other
“The president of the United States has opened missiles,
which have already set their striking targets, are
26
Table of Contents
U.S. Auto Insurance
Policyholders
Benefit from Highly
Competitive Markets
Auto Coverage Widely
Available; Commissioners
Found Expenditures
Dropped from 2006 - 2010
N
EW YORK, January 28, 2013
— Highly competitive auto
insurance
marketplaces
are the key to making coverage
available and affordable for all
drivers, according to the Insurance
Information Institute (I.I.I.).
“Auto insurance provides important,
cost-effective financial protection
to millions of Americans, and most
drivers have dozens of auto insurers
constantly competing for their
business,” said Dr. Steven Weisbart,
a senior vice president and the I.I.I.’s
chief economist. “The price is riskbased, and always will be.”
The I.I.I. pointed out that the
National Association of Insurance
Commissioners (NAIC) found that
the typical U.S. motorist had seen
his or her annual auto insurance
expenditures drop to $791.22 in
2010, more than 3 percent less than
they were paying in 2006 ($817.99),
according to the NAIC’s 2009/2010
Auto Insurance Database Report.
Auto insurance policyholders also
have a degree of control over the
price they pay for coverage because
the premium is determined in part
by their driving record, the type of
car they drive and the miles they
drive each year. These rate-setting
variables were downplayed in
an analysis released today by the
Consumer Federation of America
(CFA).
In addition, the I.I.I. noted that
many consumers are volunteering
to have telematic devices, which
monitor miles driven, placed in
their vehicles. These usage-based
programs, also known as Pay-As-YouDrive (PAYD) policies, give drivers a
financial incentive to drive less and,
depending on the information that
is monitored, to drive more carefully.
State insurance regulators already
review and approve the various
rating criteria (e.g., a driver’s age,
gender and, in some instances,
credit-based insurance scores, and
education and occupation) auto
insurers are allowed to employ when
pricing a prospective or current
policyholder’s policy. The mandatory
minimum liability coverages a driver
must purchase varies from state to
state.
“As anyone who watches television
commercials knows, auto insurance
coverage is widely available in every
U.S. state,” said Dr. Weisbart. “And
competitive marketplaces drive
down prices. Drivers should shop
around if they feel as though their
current auto insurer is not meeting
their needs, or is charging too high
a price.”
Table of Contents
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Select Back Issues
2013 Issue 2
2012 Issue 10
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2013 Issue 1
2012 Issue 9
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2012 Issue 11
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INSURANCE • POLITICS • TECHNOLOGY • PEOPLE
VOLUME 9 • 2012 • ISSUE 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2012 Issue 4
2012 Issue 3
2012 Issue 2
2012 Issue 1
2011 Issue 7
2011 Issue 6
2011 Issue 5
2005 Issue 2
Table of Contents
2005 Issue 5
29
T
florida Announces Arrest of
Ringleader in ‘Operation Dirty
Money’ Worker’s Comp Scheme
ALLAHASSEE – Florida Chief
Financial Officer Jeff Atwater
today announced the arrest
of Domenick Pucillo, one of the
ringleaders in the fraud schemes
targeted as part of continuing
enforcement
efforts
under
“Operation Dirty Money.” Pucillo
filed false documentation with the
Florida Office of Financial Regulation
seeking to become a principal of
I&T Financial Services, LLC,
a business that allegedly
was set up to execute a
large-scale check-cashing
scheme for the purposes of
evading the cost of workers’
compensation coverage.
compensation fraud and grand
theft. The individual listed as the
straw owner is cooperating with the
investigation. Pucillo was arrested
yesterday by agents from the New
Jersey Attorney General’s Office and
will be prosecuted by the office of
Miami-Dade County State Attorney
Katherine Fernandez-Rundle.
Pucillo is charged with filing a false
Division of Insurance Fraud and the
Broward Sheriff’s Office in August
2011. The Palm Beach County
Sheriff’s Office is now a partner in
the Task Force as well.
Through joint efforts, the task force
has been able to successfully shut
down 27 shell companies and
identify $300 million in fraudulent
transactions associated with these
companies.
“Pucillo is charged with filing a
false and fraudulent document,
forgery, uttering a forged
instrument and operating
an unlicensed money service
business.”
During this investigation,
approximately $1 million
was seized by the Workers’
Compensation
Fraud
Task Force. The Workers’
Compensation Fraud Task
Force investigation revealed
that
Pucillo
became
business partners with
Evelio Suarez in January
2012 to form I&T Financial
Services, LLC. Suarez, a convicted
felon, could not legally obtain a
license to run a money service
business, and therefore, Pucillo
allegedly knowingly concealed the
true identity of his business partner
and instead listed a straw owner as
the licensee of the business in order
to obtain a license.
“If convicted on all charges, he
faces up to 45 years in prison.”
Anyone with information
about these or any other
incidents of suspected
insurance fraud is asked
to call 1-800-378-0445.
Citizens who provide tips
can remain anonymous.
The
Department
of
Financial
Services
to
date has awarded almost
$275,000 to more than 40
citizens as part of its AntiFraud Reward Program.
The program rewards
individuals up to $25,000
for
information
that
and fraudulent document, forgery, directly leads to an arrest and
uttering a forged instrument and conviction in an insurance fraud
operating an unlicensed money scheme. Chief Financial Officer
service business. If convicted on all Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected
charges, he faces up to 45 years in official, oversees the Department
prison.
of Financial Services. CFO Atwater’s
priorities include fighting financial
The Office of Financial Regulation fraud, abuse and waste in
assisted the task force by providing government, reducing government
financial
data
support
and spending and regulatory burdens
Suarez was arrested in October licensure information. The Workers’ that chase away businesses,
2012 on multiple charges including Compensation Fraud Task Force was and providing transparency and
conspiracy to commit workers’ jointly created by CFO Atwater’s accountability in spending.
30
Table of Contents
Continued from Page 10
Zalma
– a common everyday waste product
– could lead to absurd results and
negate essential coverage.
The negligence per se claims were based
on several La Junta city ordinances
in effect at the time, including city
ordinance
13.12.250(b),
entitled “Restricted Discharges
to Sewers,” which says,
(b) Substances which are
prohibited are:
(3) Solid or viscous pollutants
in amounts which will
cause obstruction to the
flow in the [Publicly Owned
Treatment Works (“POTW”)]
or other interference with the
operation of the POTW.
(5) Pollutants which result in the
presence of toxic gases, vapor or fumes
within the POTW in a quantity that may
cause acute worker health and safety
problems.
THE POLICY
After respondents filed the lawsuit,
Kirkpatrick notified his liability insurer,
Mountain States, who had renewed a
commercial general liability policy (the
“insurance policy” or “policy”) issued to
Hog’s Breath in 2003 that contained a
FREE
CLASSIFIEDS!
CLICK HERE!
pollution exclusion clause stating, This
insurance does not apply to: ….
f. Pollution
(1) “Bodily injury” or “property damage”
arising out of the actual, alleged
or threatened discharge, dispersal,
seepage, migration, release or escape
of pollutants:
respondents obtained a monetary
judgment against Kirkpatrick and were
awarded costs. Apparently unable to
collect from Kirkpatrick, respondents
served a writ of garnishment on
Mountain States.
(a) At or from any premises, site or
location which is or was at any time
The question here is whether the
pollution exclusion clause at issue
excludes
the
conduct
that occurred in this case.
Respondents do not dispute
that cooking grease was
“discharged”
from
the
restaurant in quantities large
enough to create the sewer
clog, nor do they dispute their
injuries “arose out” of such a
discharge.
http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm
owned or occupied by, or rented or
loaned to, any insured; . . .Pollutants
means any solid, liquid, gaseous
or thermal irritant or contaminant,
including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes,
acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste.
Waste includes materials to be recycled,
reconditioned or reclaimed.
Mountain States brought a declaratory
judgment action in federal court
asserting that it had no duty to defend
Kirkpatrick based on the pollution
exclusion clause. The federal court
found Mountain States had no duty
to defend because “under the plain
meaning of the words and in the
context of the facts and circumstances
alleged in the Underlying Lawsuit….
[t]he grease and oil, in the quantities
allegedly at issue,” are contaminants
and therefore pollutants.
Thereafter, Mountain States did not
defend Kirkpatrick and Hog’s Breath.
After a one-day trial on damages,
Table of Contents
ANALYSIS
When
interpreting
an
insurance contract, a court
must first give effect to the plain
meaning of its terms, and only find
ambiguity where a term is reasonably
susceptible to more than one meaning.
While a resident of La Junta who dumps
an occasional pan of greasy water
into a sewer may not contaminate
and therefore not pollute the sewer,
a restaurant that repeatedly dumps
large amounts of cooking grease or
greasy water into a sewer over time,
thereby creating a five- to eight-foot
clog, is dumping contaminants (and
thus pollutants as defined by Mountain
States’ insurance policy) into La Junta’s
sewers.
Respondents seek to avoid this
conclusion by invoking the reasonable
expectations doctrine. They claim
that pollution exclusion clauses
were incorporated in commercial
See Zalma Pg 35
31
Experts and Consultants for Insurance Disputes
4441 Sepulveda Boulevard
Culver City, California 90230
310-390-4455
[email protected]
http://www.zalma.com
Consultation from Zalma Insurance Consultants (ZIC) can save you or your client thousands of
dollars in the defense or prosecution of an insurance dispute. ZIC provides expert advice and
counsel insurers and plaintiffs’ counsel find indispensable. Consultation from ZIC can save you,
your counsel or client hundreds of hours of investigative and legal work.
ZALMA INSURANCE CONSULTANTS is a service of Barry Zalma, Inc. a California
professional corporation.
Barry Zalma is an internationally recognized expert on insurance coverage, insurance claims
handling, insurance bad faith, insurance fraud detection, the defeat of false and fraudulent claims, Barry Zalma, Esq.
insurance claims handling, and the resolution of insurance disputes. As a consultant, expert
witness, lawyer, author, mediator or arbitrator he serves all parties who need consultation or expert testimony on matters
relating to insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance fraud and the tort of bad faith.
Barry Zalma founded Zalma Insurance Consultants to help resolve any insurance claim problem faced by you or your
clients that do not need Mr. Zalma’s services as a lawyer. His experience and skill as a consultant and expert witness can
make the difference before a jury or other trier of fact. For more than 44 years as a claims
person and insurance coverage attorney, Barry Zalma has represented insurers, advised
insurers on claims handling, interpreted coverages and testified as an insurance coverage,
insurance bad faith, insurance claims handling and insurance fraud expert on behalf of
insurers and policyholders in state and federal courts.
Expert Testimony
Zalma Insurance Consultants serves insurers, policyholders, underwriters, brokers, agents,
adjusters, public insurance adjusters, lawyers and any person involved in an insurance
dispute. Because he is an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of California M r.
Zalma may be prohibited by California case law from acting as a consultant or expert witness
and, therefore, refuses to serve in any situation where a past client of his law firm, Barry
Zalma, Inc. is adverse to anyone seeking his services.
Y ou can obtain M r. Zalma’s C.V . at http://www.zalma.com and his e-book publications
http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm and blogs daily at Zalma on Insurance, http://zalma.com/blog.
32
Table of Contents
at
Continued From Page 9
Kim
Komando
hard drive to a solid-state drive. Click
here to learn why you would want a
solid-state drive.
While convenient, it’s less expensive to
buy the base model of the computer
and perform your own upgrades. You
can find RAM and SSDs for much less
at an electronics store or online than
computer manufacturers charge.
free.
app available for
operating systems.
iPhones are preloaded with Apple
Maps - again, it’s free - which may
or may not be good depending on
where you live. However, you can
download Google Maps free from the
App Store.
Want to try something else? Waze is
another very popular free navigation
both
mobile
5. Tablet data plans
If you’re on the go quite a bit, a tablet
with a cellular connection sounds like
a good idea. Click here to see what
See KIM KOMANDO Page 37
For example, if you order a Mac mini
from the Apple Store and bump the
RAM from 4GB to 8GB, Apple will tack
on $100. The RAM itself only costs $60
elsewhere. HP and other PC makers
have similar markups.
A PC maker will charge $300 or more
to put a 256GB SSD in a desktop.
A similar drive costs $220 or less
elsewhere. Apple charges $400 to put
a 256GB SSD in a non-Retina MacBook
Pro.
Click here for step-by-step instructions
to install RAM.
4. Carrier-provided GPS
For an extra $5-$10 per month, wireless
carriers will turn your smartphone
into a GPS navigation device! Isn’t that
great?
There’s just one catch.
Every Android phone comes loaded
with Google Maps. It’s the best
navigation software you can get,
with spoken turn-by-turn directions,
millions of points of interest, live traffic
information and more. Don’t forget it’s
Table of Contents
33
Identity Fraud
Incidents Continue
Upward Trend
O
ne million more consumers
became victims of identity
fraud in 2012, and the dollar
amount stolen rose to $21 billion – the
highest level since 2009.
The 2013 Identity Fraud Report by
Javelin Strategy & Research found 12.6
million victims of identity fraud in the
United States in the past year, which
equates to 1 victim every 3 seconds.
The report also found that nearly 1 in
4 data breach letter recipients became
a victim of identity fraud, which is the
highest rate since 2010. This underscores
the need for consumers to take all
notifications seriously, Javelin said.
Breaches involving social security
numbers were the most damaging. The
study found consumers who had their
social security number compromised in
a data breach were five times more likely
to be a fraud victim than an average
consumer.
The good news is that companies
appear to be responding more quickly
to incidence of fraud. The study found
a consumer’s information is being
misused for an average of 48 days in
2012, down from 55 days in 2011 and 95
days in 2010.
Misuse time was down for all types of
fraud including fraud on cards, loans,
bank accounts, mobile phone bills as
well as other types.
Small businesses in particular are
losing out to fraud as victims become
34
more selective where they shop after
an incident. The study found that 15
percent of all fraud victims decided to
change behaviors and avoid smaller
online merchants after an incident.
What to
tell your
clients to
Maximize
Their
Insurance
Dollars
While
Avoiding
Five
Common
Insurance
Mistakes
N
EW YORK — Facing higher
tax rates, sluggish job growth
and a faltering economy,
consumers are reevaluating the way
they spend their money. There are many
smart ways to save on homeowners
and auto insurance, but making the
wrong choices can result in being
dangerously underinsured, according to
the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Table of Contents
“There are simple steps you can take
to cut the cost of your home and
auto insurance while continuing to
be financially protected against a
catastrophe,” said Loretta Worters, vice
president with the I.I.I.
Following are five of the biggest
insurance mistakes consumers make—
not only will we show you how to avoid
them, we also have some practical
suggestions for better ways to cut your
insurance costs:
1. DON’T: Confuse Real Estate and
Rebuilding Value
Insuring a home for its real estate value
instead of for the cost of rebuilding is
false logic. With home prices still down
in many parts of the country, you might
think it makes sense to reduce the
amount of insurance on your home,
too. But insurance is designed to cover
the cost of rebuilding your home Make
sure you have enough coverage to
completely rebuild your home and
replace all your belongings in the event
of a disaster.
DO: Raise your deductible. An increase
from $500 to $1,000 could save up to 25
percent on your annual premium.
2. DON’T: Judge a Policy Just on Price
Competitive pricing is important, but
should not be your only criterion for
choosing an insurance company. It
is a good idea to also make sure the
company is financially sound, provides
good customer service, and offers the
policy that is right for you.
See Help Your Clients Page 37
Zalma
liability policies to relieve insurers
of liability for clean-up and other
costs
associated
with
federal
environmental protection laws such
as the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”). From this, they
argue that a reasonable insured would
expect pollution exclusion clauses to
exclude coverage only for “traditional”
pollution as contemplated by CERCLA,
not cooking grease..
The
reasonable
expectations
doctrine may override exclusionary
policy language, where an ordinary,
objectively reasonable person would
be deceived into believing that he or
she is entitled to coverage, while the
insurer would maintain otherwise.
The pollution exclusion clause in the
policy says nothing about federal
environmental protection laws, or
“traditional” pollution. Instead, the
policy uses general language to
exclude coverage for discharges of
waste or substances that irritate or
contaminate. The dumping of large
quantities of cooking grease into
the sewer such that a clog would
form would run afoul of at least one
city ordinance should not cause an
ordinary person to read the pollution
exclusion clause to exclude “traditional”
pollution but preserve coverage for
conduct that violated a city ordinance
prohibiting the discharge of “solid or
viscous pollutants in amounts which
will cause obstruction to the flow.”
a great volume as to clog the sewer.
Respondents, in addition, produced
no facts in this case to suggest such
deception.
The court of appeals based its decision
on its concern that because cooking
grease is a common everyday waste
product, considering it to be “pollution”
would lead to the negation of essential
insurance coverage and absurd results.
While the Supreme Court was mindful
of the concerns expressed by the court
of appeals, it fond them inapplicable
because, in this case, the restaurant
The Supreme Court, therefore, agreed
with the trial court that, under the
circumstances of this case, the discharge
of cooking grease amounted to a
discharge of a pollutant. Concluding
that the pollution exclusion clause bars
coverage, and the insurance policy
cannot be garnished to compensate
respondents for their bodily injuries,
the Supreme Court reversed the
decision of the court of appeals.
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The Supreme Court reasoned that an
ordinary reasonable person would
not have been “deceived” into thinking
that there would be coverage for the
dumping of cooking grease in such
discharged enough cooking grease
into the sewer system to create a five- to
eight-foot clog that led to a dangerous
buildup of toxic gas – conduct that
violated a city ordinance prohibiting
the discharge of a pollutant in an
amount that creates an obstruction to
the sewer flow.
Table of Contents
Insurance policies are contracts that
require interpretation with reason.
Those who write insurance policies,
and courts that interpret them, expect
insurance contracts to be interpreted
reasonably with common sense. Snake
venom, for example, is a deadly poison
that would seldom be considered
medicinal. However, when injected
into the facial tissue of an aging person
it can tighten the skin and make the
person look younger without harm.
Used bacon grease is healthful and
often used to increase the flavors of
other food products. However, when
dumped improperly into a sewer
where it builds up an eight foot clog
and mixed with the sewer water
creates toxic gas is clearly a pollutant.
The Supreme Court of Colorado,
intelligently, interpreted the insurance
policy to provide meaning to its clear
and unambiguous terms. Insurance
covers many risks of loss but can never
cover every possible risk of loss.
35
Goodbye
Privacy
Among the survey results:
• 64 percent would let an insurance
company install a breathalyzer in
their cars.
company install a data-monitoring
device.
• 37 percent would install a
cellphone disabling device.
company limit how fast their car
can go.
• 27 percent would severely restrict
their driving miles.
• 24 percent would severely restrict
when they drive.
company install an observation
camera.
Editor’s Note: When one considers
how Americans are willingly trading
away freedoms and privacy for some
perceived benefit, one can’t help but
recall that old frog metaphor - where
a frog placed in a pot of hot water will
instinctively jump out - while a frog
sitting in a pot of slowly heating water
will happily and complacently sit still
- while it is boiled to death.
Are we slowing boiling to death as we accept the intrusion of Big
Brother into our daily lives? When
the Congressional Budget Office
announced recently that Obamacare,
36
a program that will rob Americans of
a multitude of individual freedoms,
would cost twice it’s original estimate
($1.76 Trillion over 10 years!). But
it’s the loss of personal freedoms
that should concern us even more
than the cost: Dr. Donald Berwick,
Obama’s former head of Medicare
once noted: “ The primary function of
regulation in health care, especially
as it affects the quality of medical
care, is to constrain decentralized,
individualized decision making.” As
well as the “individual mandate,”
requiring Americans to purchase
insurance, there are many more
mandates and controls contained
in Obamacare, as noted by PJMedia.
com:
•
Doctors must purchase and
use expensive electronic medical
record systems.
•
Doctors must electronically
record certain patient data such as
ethnicity, BMI (body mass index),
blood pressure, and smoking status
— and turn over patient data to the
government upon request.
•
Doctors treating Medicare
patients must practice according to
government “quality” guidelines or
face economic penalties.
•
Insurance companies must
offer numerous “free” benefits,
including various preventive health
services, birth control, and coverage
of “children” up to age 26.
•
Insurers may not raise their
rates to cover these new expenses
unless the government agrees those
rate increases are “reasonable.”
•
An Independent Payment
Advisory Board (IPAB) of unelected
bureaucrats will set prices for
Medicare services that will lead to
de facto rationing.
Feel the water warming yet?
Table of Contents
Insurance
Fraud
Suspect
Arrested
on Arrival
at RDU
R
ALEIGH
-Insurance
Commissioner
Wayne
Goodwin
today
announced the arrest of Arkadiusz
Waldemar Kyc, 39, who fled from
prosecution in Wake County to an
address in Poland; he is charged
with one count each of insurance
fraud and obtaining property by
false pretense.
Department of Insurance criminal
investigators allege that on May
1, 2011, Kyc filed a fraudulent
insurance claim with Liberty
Mutual Fire Insurance Company,
stating that his Raleigh residence
had been burglarized of jewelry
and other items. After settling the
claim with Kyc for $1,900.44, Liberty
Mutual’s special investigations unit
was informed by Kyc’s estranged
wife that on two occasions she
had returned to Kyc’s home with
Raleigh police officers and retrieved
the items he claimed were stolen.
Kyc
turned
himself
in
to
Department of Insurance criminal
investigators at Raleigh Durham
International Airport on Feb. 26
after disembarking from an Air
Canada flight and was held on a
$25,000 secured bond.
Help Your
Clients
DO: Check the financial health of a
company with independent rating
agencies and ask friends and family
for recommendations. You should
select an insurance company that has
a reputation for excellent customer
service and will respond to your needs
and handle claims fairly and efficiently.
Also, ask questions as different insurers
companies may offer different services
or coverages.
3. DON’T: Neglect to Purchase Flood
Insurance
Damage from flooding is not covered
under standard homeowners and
renters insurance policies. Coverage
is available from the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) as well as from
some private insurance companies.
Many homeowners are unaware they
are at risk for flooding, but in fact 25
percent of all flood losses occur in low
risk areas.
DO: Go to Floodsmart.gov to check your
flood risk and the cost of an NFIP flood
insurance policy. If you are purchasing
a new home, make sure that you factor
the cost of flood insurance into your
housing budget. If you can’t afford the
insurance, you can’t afford the home. If
you already own a home in a high-risk
flood zone then you should get flood
insurance. And, remember, even if you
live in a low-risk zone it does not mean
floods can’t happen.
4. DON’T: Do the Minimum
Purchasing only the legally required
amount of liability insurance for your
vehicle means you are likely to pay
more out-of-pocket if you are sued—
and those costs may be steep in today’s
litigious society. The insurance industry
and consumer groups generally
recommend a minimum of $100,000 of
bodily injury protection per person and
$300,000 per accident.
DO: Consider shopping around for
best policy, taking a higher deductible
and dropping collision and/or
comprehensive coverage on older,
less expensive cars. It is also smart to
consider the cost of insurance when
purchasing a new or used vehicle.
5. DON’T: Count on Your Landlord
Too many people neglect to buy renters
insurance thinking that their landlord
is responsible for their belongings.
But your landlord is only responsible
for the structure of the building not
your personal possessions. A renters
insurance policy covers your possessions
and additional living expenses if you
have to move out of your home due to
an insured disaster such as a fire. Equally
important, it provides liability protection
in the event someone is accidently
injured in your home. And your injured
guest can submit medical bills directly
to your insurance company. If someone
were to decide to sue you, renters
insurance would also include coverage
for your legal defense and possible
court judgments up to the limits of the
policy.
DO: Look into all available discounts.
Buying several policies with the same
insurer, such as renters, auto and life will
generally provide savings. You may also
receive a discount for installing deadbolt locks, fire extinguishers and alarm
systems.
Table of Contents
Kim
Komando
good tablets on the market have
cellular. HERE
Before you drop more than $100
dollars for the privilege, however,
there’s an alternative. Those with a
4G smartphone and a shared data
plan from Verizon or AT&T can share
Internet with other gadgets - even a
laptop.
Enabling Internet sharing on your
phone - also known as tethering creates a Wi-Fi hotspot for your other
gadgets to connect to. It’s great when
you need a minute or two to send or
receive a file securely on a laptop or
tablet.
That’s better than spending $10-$20
every month for a tablet data plan or
dedicated mobile hotspot.
Be careful, though. Tethering chews
up cellular data very quickly and drains
your phone battery even quicker.
Android users who aren’t on a shared
data plan can try third-party tethering
apps like FoxFi or Easy Tether.
Copyright
2013,
WestStar
Multimedia Entertainment. All
rights reserved. Kim Komando
hosts the nation’s largest talk radio
show about consumer electronics,
computers and the Internet. To get
the podcast, watch the show or
find the station nearest you, visit:
http://www.komando.com/listen.
To subscribe to Kim’s free email
newsletters, sign-up at: http://www.
komando.com/newsletters.
37
A pplied S ystems
A nnounces A g reeement to
A c q uire P & C B usiness of I VA N S
U
niversity Park, Ill., Applied
Systems, Inc., a leading
provider of software that
powers the business of insurance,
today announced it has entered into
a definitive agreement to acquire the
Property & Casualty (P&C) business
of IVANS, a leading provider of
technology solutions that enable
data exchange and integration
between insurance carriers and
agencies.
The transaction will combine
two complementary technology
providers and longtime trusted
partners of the P&C insurance
industry. The combined company
will be better positioned to deliver
technical
innovation,
develop
product enhancements and improve
carrier-agency integration for the
benefit of the entire P&C insurance
industry.
Following the closing of the
transaction, the IVANS P&C business
will operate as a separate business
division of Applied Systems led by
Jim Ochiltree, president of IVANS
P&C, and the entire existing senior
management team. The acquisition
will return IVANS to its original
founding of being solely focused
on and addressing the technology
needs of the P&C insurance industry.
Applied Systems plans to maintain
and invest in IVANS P&C’s open
platform and integration with all
carriers and agency management
systems in the marketplace today.
“Applied Systems has been a
supportive and key technology
partner to us throughout our
history. This is an exciting and logical
combination that will provide us
greater technical expertise and
development resources to drive
“Applied Systems has a longstanding product efficiencies for the benefit of
partnership with IVANS and was our customers and partners,” said Jim
the first technology provider to Ochiltree, president of IVANS P&C.
assist in the development of IVANS’ “As part of Applied Systems, we will
open platform solutions utilized become a stronger organization and
throughout the P&C insurance can further our mission of supporting
industry today,” said Reid French, the industry through innovation
CEO of Applied Systems. “All of us at in our data exchange and carrier
Applied Systems are excited about interface technology solutions.”
the product innovation and growth The transaction is subject to
opportunities that will be created by customary conditions to closing and
combining the businesses. We are is expected to be completed in the
committed to investing in the IVANS first half of 2013. Simultaneous with
P&C solutions to drive additional the Applied Systems acquisition of
workflow efficiencies for the benefit the IVANS P&C business, ABILITY
of our customers, partners and the Network, a leading healthcare
P&C industry as a whole.”
technology company, will acquire
38
Table of Contents
the IVANS Healthcare and Retail
businesses.
###
About Applied Systems
Applied Systems is a leading
provider of software that powers
the business of insurance. The
company is recognized as a pioneer
in agency management systems and
data exchange between agencies,
brokers, carriers and their clients. By
automating the insurance lifecycle,
Applied Systems software enables
millions of people around the world
to safeguard and protect what
matters most. To learn more, please
visit www.appliedsystems.com.
About IVANS
For 30 years IVANS, Inc. has been the
largest insurance carrier exchange
in the United States that is trusted
by more than 350 insurance carrier
customers and 30,000 independent
agents nationwide. Known for being
a forerunner of ACORD standards with
numerous ACORD awards and ACE
Certified Specialists, IVANS focus on
agency-company interface solutions
includes AL3 based policy and claims
download, and XML real-time quote,
issue and service transactions. IVANS,
which was founded by 21 insurance
companies and is headquartered in
Stamford, Conn., also has offices in
Tampa, Fla. and Cincinnati, Ohio. For
more information, visit www.ivans.
com/property-casualty.
More Than
300 Attend
Inaugural
IRMI Energy
Risk and
Insurance
Conference
H
ouston, TX, March 11,
2013—More than 300 risk
managers, insurance agents,
brokers, attorneys, and underwriters
who specialize in managing or insuring
the risks associated with the oil and
gas industry convened here March
4–6 for the inaugural IRMI Energy Risk
and Insurance Conference.
Oil and gas operators, drilling
contractors, and well servicing
contractors large and small sent their
risk, insurance, and safety managers.
In addition, virtually all the major
providers of insurance or surety
services were represented. World
Risk and Insurance News (WRIN.tv)
interviewed several attendees to
understand the market needs this
Conference addresses. Video coverage
is available at http://www.irmi.com/
conferences/energy-risk/video.aspx.
The IRMI Energy Risk and Insurance
Conference is the only national
symposium devoted to managing
and insuring the risks of oil and gas
exploration and operations. Attendees
experienced
a
preconference
workshop, a general session, and 12
workshops presented by more than
30 nationally recognized risk and
insurance, economic, and oil and gas
industry experts. Handouts from these
sessions are now available at no cost
on the IRMI website. Twelve charter
sponsors signed on to help provide
several networking opportunities.
“Many unique risks are inherent
in exploring for, extracting, and
transporting oil, gas, and other
hydrocarbons, and there is a great
need in the industry for a forum
where best practices for managing
and insuring them can be shared,”
said IRMI President & CEO Jack Gibson.
“The attendees gave the Conference
rave reviews on the quality of
the educational sessions and the
networking opportunities, allowing us
to conclude that we are on the right
track with this Conference. We will
begin planning next year right away
with a goal of making it even better.”
The next IRMI Energy Risk and
Insurance Conference is planned for
March 2014. For more information, visit
http://www.irmi.com/conferences/
energy-risk/default.aspx or contact
International
Risk
Management
Institute, Inc. (IRMI), at 12222 Merit
Drive, Suite 1450, Dallas, TX, 75251, or
phone (800) 827–4242.
About International Risk Management
Institute, Inc. (IRMI) International Risk
Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI), is a
Dallas-based research and publishing
organization focusing on insurance
and risk management. IRMI reference
services, conferences, and webinars
give insurance buyers, risk managers,
agents, brokers, adjusters, coverage
lawyers, and underwriters knowledge
to deal effectively with complex and
rapidly changing insurance and risk
management issues and problems.
For more information, visit www.IRMI.
com, or write to International Risk
Management Institute, Inc., 12222
Merit Drive, Suite 1450, Dallas, TX
75251.
Table of Contents
BEYOND
INSURANCE
GLOBAL
NETWORK
our mission is pretty simple – the
network goes beyond insurance
to total risk management. Our
members provide risk solutions that
deliver the results their clients are
looking for to protect and grow their
business.”
The Beyond Insurance Global
Network consists of best-practice
independent insurance agencies
in North America that are focused
on transforming the customer
engagement process. The new
name and logo employ a masterbrand approach that brings
together the Beyond Insurance
process, resources, products, and
publications under a single logo.
A new website will follow later this
year and also carry the new logo and
look.
About the Beyond Insurance Global
Network:
The Beyond Insurance Global
Network is an exclusive peerto-peer
group
of
best-inclass
independent
agencies.
Network members are dedicated
to enhancing the customer
experience by applying innovative
systems, strategies, and tools to
serve as outsourced risk managers.
For more information about the
Beyond Insurance Global Network,
visit www.beyondinsurance.com.
39

HERE - The Underwriter`s Insider

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