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CGL Independent Contractor Exclusion

Many insurance policies include the following standard provision: “This insurance does not apply to bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, advertising injury, or medical payments for operations performed for you by independent contractors or your acts or omissions in connection with your general supervision of such operations” (exclusion). Relying on this exclusion, your insurer may deny coverage for injuries sustained by subcontractors and decline to defend you in the underlying litigation or personal injury suit. A Massachusetts court recently ruled in favor of insurer Lloyd’s in a dispute over a general liability policy excluding coverage for independent contractors. The case is No.… Read More »CGL Independent Contractor Exclusion

What Every Business Owner Should Know About Credit Card Protections

Protecting Against Consumer Identify Theft The use of credit and debit cards and electronic payments has become a way of  life for public and private businesses and their customers. With this, vulnerabilities to credit card fraud and identity theft have increased. To help improve credit and debit card security, the credit card industry and federal and state governments have set standards and regulations. Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act and Receipt Requirements Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA), significantly amending the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Effective Dec. 4, 2006, 15 U.S.C. §1681c amended the act to require any… Read More »What Every Business Owner Should Know About Credit Card Protections

Reduce the Chances of Dog Biting

With dog bite claims accounting for over one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars in 2011, we remind dog owners to take preventative measures to protect themselves from the potentially serious financial consequences of aggressive canine behavior. • Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for the insured’s household and neighborhood. • Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home with an infant or toddler. A dog with a history of aggression is inappropriate in a household… Read More »Reduce the Chances of Dog Biting

Avoiding Liability on Your Website

The Internet provides a rich environment for creative communication. Used with care, it can assist in increasing product safety. But in their enthusiasm to capitalize on its power, some companies are increasing their liability potential. • A company president was not aware of a product on his company’s website. The marketing department put it there because it was a product they were thinking about developing. • A Vice President of Administration was unaware they even had a website. • Operator instructions normally in the manual provided with the product were posted on the website, but warning labels were left out.… Read More »Avoiding Liability on Your Website

California Signs Electronic Proof Of Insurance Bill

Yes! It happens right now. We witness a great moment of the history! Gov. Jerry Brown made California the seventh state in the nation to allow drivers to show proof of insurance coverage using their smart phone. Brown on Friday signed Assembly Bill 1708, a bill authored by Assemblyman Gatto, which will give drivers the option to show proof of financial responsibility electronically using a mobile electronic device. “Governor Brown just brought proof of coverage into the 21st Century by signing AB 1708,” said Armand Feliciano, with the Association of California Insurance Companies. “California has long been known as ground zero… Read More »California Signs Electronic Proof Of Insurance Bill

Vote for Pet Insurance Claims of the Year

Here are the 12 unusual claims nominated for the 2012 Hambone Award: July 2011 – Ginger the golden retriever (Rocky Hill, Conn.). Sniffing turned snippy when a feisty snapping turtle chomped down on Ginger’s nose, causing quite a scare and lacerations to her muzzle. August 2011 – Havee the Havanese (Pompton Plains, N.J.). A cleaning spree resulted in a trip to the local animal hospital when Havee’s tail was run over by the vacuum after he fell asleep under the dining room table. September 2011 – Kei the shiba inu (Wadswoth, Ill.). An escalator excursion landed Kei in the animal… Read More »Vote for Pet Insurance Claims of the Year

Business Insurance Market Update

The hardening insurance marketplace has led to a great deal of success for us in a variety of our niches recently. We continue to develop new products at the same time. Below are several items we wanted to highlight: 1) Apartments / Lessors Risk (Office Exposure – Real estate schedules that generate more than $100,000 in premium in the “better weather” states have been a good fit for us recently. We are interested in the properties that are built after 1980 and located in the western US for the most part. If it is large and we can write casualty… Read More »Business Insurance Market Update

Small Business Safety Tips: Business Property

Possible accidents: Fire occurs due to outdated or old wiring damaging both the building your business owns and some of your equipment inside A roof leak causes significant damage to the goods in your warehouse Computers and media equipment are stolen from your place of business over the weekend How can I protect my building/premises, equipment, and materials from water damage and fires? The following questions point out basic building maintenance and fire prevention controls that should be in place: Is the building’s exterior structure, including all equipment, in good condition? Are drain pipes, signs, tanks, fences, canopies, etc. secured?… Read More »Small Business Safety Tips: Business Property

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