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What “Sunset clauses” in Insurance Policy Means?

The idea of limiting the reporting period for claims is old and relatively self-explanatory. You, as insured have a limited period in which to report a claim potentially covered under your liability policy. Any claim reported after a certain period of time may not be covered. The amount of time a claim may be reported differs between policies and carriers. The operative language is typically attached to a policy as an endorsement. However, a new “statutes of repose” related to residential construction defects was announced recently. These relatively new statutes, that took effect Jan. 1, 2003, provide the time in which… Read More »What “Sunset clauses” in Insurance Policy Means?

Laws Regarding the Recording of Phone Calls

Many businesses and other organizations record their phone calls so that they can document business transactions, train their employees, and improve customer service. It is extremely important to seek legal advice from an attorney if you are considering recording telephone calls or oral communication between parties. This article is not meant to serve as legal advice. However, we want to remind that there are federal and state laws regarding this practice. Florida, for example, is a “two-party consent” state, which requires that all parties of a conversation must give consent when one party wants to record a phone conversation. This includes the… Read More »Laws Regarding the Recording of Phone Calls

Customer of Size Policy

A woman suing Southwest Airlines Co. over its policy regarding overweight passengers says she’s not interested in the airline’s money. Back in spring of 2011, miss T. allegedly was told that she would have to buy a second seat to board a SW  flight, according to her website. T. alleges she was “humiliated and harassed” by a gate agent who asked for her weight and clothing size before determining that she was too big for a single seat. In her blog T. said she offered to demonstrate that she could fit in a single seat, but reportedly was denied the… Read More »Customer of Size Policy

Public Servant Wins Compensation Over Work Trip Sex Injury

An Australian public worker has won the workers comp. claim hearing, for the injury she got having sex in a motel during the business trip, according to ABC News. Now the federal government should pay not only the money spent on her treatment, but also cover the legal costs. The woman, whose name was not released, sued her employer back in 2007,  for the denied workers compensation claim for the injury done by a glass light fixture that fell off the wall above a bed as she was having sex. In addition, as she said later, after the injury she… Read More »Public Servant Wins Compensation Over Work Trip Sex Injury

Paperless Proof Insurance

Arizona motorists will be able to use their smart phones to prove to a police officer that they have insurance for their vehicles. Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law a bill to have Arizona join Idaho in permitting motorists to use a wireless communication device to show proof of auto insurance. Arizona was the second state to approve such a bill. Idaho on Wednesday became the first state in the nation to pass an electronic proof of insurance bill. A California legislator’s bill to enable auto insurance policyholders to issue proof of coverage verification via a mobile electronic device, such… Read More »Paperless Proof Insurance

Risk Transfer: Managing 3rd Party Relationships

Introduction: Case Scenarios – A painter’s scaffold collapses resulting in severe injury to the painter and a pedestrian. The painter had no insurance. The building owner is held liable for all losses. – A cabinet installer puts a long screw into a wall. It punctures a water pipe causing water damage. The installer’s insurance policy was not renewed. The homeowner’s insurance company sues and recovers the damages from the cabinet retailer who recommended the installer. – A small motor manufacturer, to get the business of a big new customer, agrees to sign a contract which the customer requires of all… Read More »Risk Transfer: Managing 3rd Party Relationships

Purchase Order is Not Formal Contract

How many times, we as insurance agents, process requests to add additional insured to the policy of our client? At least several times a day. Some insurance agencies have dedicated staff that is primarily working on underwriting those requests. It is not complicated, but could a time consuming function, specifically, when such request must be processed by the insurance carrier, to properly endorse it on the policy. In the same time, many insurance companies have a policy form, that describes who is an insured, and extends the coverage automatically when it is required by a formal contract between insured and another party. Sometimes,… Read More »Purchase Order is Not Formal Contract

“Super Losses” of Healthcare Sector

The overall cost and frequency of so called $50 million plus “super losses” in the U.S. healthcare insurance sector are on the rise. According to a report from specialist healthcare insurer Hiscox, the large losses keep on getting larger with juries in the last two years alone awarding more than $1 billion in total damages for just seven medical liability cases. The rise in large claims is happening despite the clear benefits of the implementation of quality and patient safety measures, Hiscox said. Record awards are being made in cases ranging from inadequate staffing at nursing homes to medical negligence… Read More »“Super Losses” of Healthcare Sector

Is Siri As Smart As Apple Claims?

In many of Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple Corp.’s television advertisements about its new iPhone 4S, individuals are shown using the smartphone’s new voice-activated assistant feature Siri to make appointments, find restaurants and even learn the guitar chords to classic rock songs. But if iPhone 4S users ask Siri what she thinks about a recently filed lawsuit accusing Apple of false advertising, she probably won’t understand the question, much less direct them to the complaint, according to disgruntled customer Frank F., who filed his complaint March 6 in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif. The suit, which seeks class action status… Read More »Is Siri As Smart As Apple Claims?