Nicholas J. Macera

Coverage Challenges with Common Property Endorsements

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Monday 10:30 - 12:00

Anthony Antonellis, JD, Attorney, Sloane and Walsh, LLP
Nicholas J. Macera, AIC, AINS, Sr. Claims Examiner, Amica Mutual Group
Mark E. Wilson, CPCU, Head of Claims-Marine & Surety, Hanover Insurance Group

Dissect critical provisions contained in common property endorsements, such as sewer and drain backups, mold/fungi, cosmetic damage, and hurricane deductibles, among others

Evaluate new and emerging commercial and homeowners property endorsements and their implications for established claim adjusting practices

Identify frequent and unique coverage issues arising from common property endorsements

Describe recent court rulings impacting the application of common property endorsements

Mark Majewski

Smart Buildings & Claims Forensic Investigations

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 10:30 - 12:00

Robert Bragdon, AIC, PCLS, Sr. Training Consultant, Hanover Insurance Group
Mark Majewski, Ph.D., PE, Project Engineer, Envista Forensics

Describe how active building monitoring systems and smart building technologies operate to form the “Internet of Things”

Review information obtainable from building systems and their application to events prior to and subsequent to the loss

Utilize smart building system information in a variety of claims case studies

Danielle N. Malaty

Fraternity & Sorority Hazing: Liability, Exposures & Coverage

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 10:30 - 12:00

Danielle N. Malaty, JD, Shareholder, Kopka Pinkus Dolin PC

Describe the graduated levels of duties owed by fraternities and sororities to their social guests

Scrutinize case law, social host statutes, and anti-hazing statutes as they apply to personal injury suits arising out of events hosted by these social organizations

Review applicable policy forms providing coverage and pinpoint key provisions

Examine effective defense strategies

Christopher W. Martin

Declaratory Judgment Actions: How, When & Why?

Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00
Monday 10:30 - 12:00

Christopher W. Martin, JD, Partner, Martin Disiere Jefferson et al

Explore reasons for and against seeking a declaratory judgment

Assess the most effective time to bring a declaratory judgment action

Identify parties that should be joined in the declaratory judgment action

Address potential responses that an adverse party may have to the declaratory judgment action and examine methods to combat them

Larry Mason

Ethical Decision-Making: Choosing the Right Path

Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday 3:30 - 5:00

Larry Mason, JD, Partner, Goldberg Segalla
Crystal Uebelher, CPCU, Claims Attorney, SECURA Insurance Companies

Identify common ethical challenges in claims handling

Analyze potential risks of unethical claims handling practices

Discuss approaches to resolving ethical dilemmas

Explore the benefits of ethical claims handling

Ryan Matchack

Mobile Apps for Adjusters

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 10:30 - 12:00

Nathan Clay, Dir.-CAT & Vendor Operations, American National P&C Group
Ryan Matchack, Property Claims-HO Specialist, Grange Mutual Casualty Group

Explore available apps that can assist claims adjusters

Highlight how apps can improve performance and efficiency for adjusters

Review the way apps are shifting and impacting the claim handling industry

Describe the advances and future impact of apps for adjusters

Andrea Matott

Property Case Law Developments: Commercial Lines

Monday 3:30 - 5:00
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00

James A. Kitces, JD, Partner, Robins Kaplan LLP
Andrea Matott, CPCU, AIC, AIC, Claims Manager, Beazley Group
Wayne Taylor, JD, Attorney, Mozley Finlayson & Loggins LLP

Review current trends and improve your ability to forecast court decisions in connection with commercial lines property claims issues

Identify current issues and concerns in connection with commercial lines property claims

Practice reasoning skills in applying policy provisions to factual scenarios

Share viewpoints with other claims professionals and attorneys from around the country on commercial lines property claims issues

Dean McCall

Customer Service Markers for Success

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 10:30 - 12:00

Dean McCall, AIC, AIM, ARM, SCLA, AVP-P&C Claims Training, American National P&C Group
Steven Sloboda, Field Territory Manager, Farmers Insurance Exchange

Examine the many ways to deliver exceptional claims customer service

Help set customer service expectations as you adjust various claims

Review ways to salvage adjustments that have gone sour

Evaluate opportunities to build your own vital customer-centric claim organization

Brandan McGehee

Large Agricultural Claim Challenges

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00

John Jennings, CPCU, Director-Property Claims, American National P&C Group
Brandan McGehee, General Adjuster, Midwest Claims Service

Review coverage provisions related to agriculture losses

Determine when and how experts should be engaged in large agricultural claims

Evaluate loss strategies with common losses, including poultry houses, grain bins, milking parlors, and other agricultural structures

Describe Business Interruption and Extra Expense loss exposures and ways to mitigate these types of claims

Mike McKee

Fraud with Catastrophic Losses

Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday 3:30 - 5:00

Jonathan H. Colman, JD, Founding Partner, Colman Law Group
Mike McKee, Special Agent, NICB
Dawnde Pence, CPCU, SCLA, CIFI, Unit Manager, SIU Claims, Auto Club Enterprises Group

Describe how catastrophe environments can encourage insurance fraud

Identify various cat fraud scams and indicators with catastrophe losses

Devise strategies to effectively investigate and respond to potential fraud with various claims: wildfires, hurricanes and floods, etc.

Review fraud exposures and appropriate responses with additional living expense and fair rental value catastrophe claims

John McLaughlin

Homeowner Conundrums: Issues & Analysis

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 3:30 - 5:00

John McLaughlin, AVP-Claims, Narragansett Bay Insurance
Michael T. Ryan, JD, Partner, Merry, Farnen & Ryan, P.C.

Evaluate residency and determine who is an insured

Decide who has an insurable interest and can bring a claim

Identify who should be named on an insurance proceeds check, including mortgagee, loss payee, lien holder, etc.

Kevin T. Merriman

Social Media Liability Exposures & Coverage

Monday 1:30 - 3:00
Tuesday 3:30 - 5:00

Kevin T. Merriman, JD, Partner, Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy
Meghan E. Ruesch, JD, Associate Attorney, Lewis Wagner, LLP
Nicole Weir, JD, Senior Claims Attorney, SECURA Insurance Companies

Examine liability exposures and coverage for cyberbullying and other conduct arising out of social media use

Explore present and emerging causes of action enhanced or generated by social media use

Assess coverage issues under personal and commercial liability policies for social media-related claims

Charles Mondello

Drones & Their Use in Claims

Monday 3:30 - 4:30
Tuesday 10:30 - 11:30

Charles Mondello, President, Property Drone Consortium

Please look at learning objectives. Review the emerging regulatory environment for drone operations

Explore potential use cases for drone flights in claims

Describe hardware and software options available to support drone operations

Evaluate other issues, such as privacy concerns, that may impact successful drone operations

John Mumford

Determining the Number of Occurrences Under CGL Policies

Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

John Mumford, JD, Partner, Hancock Daniel Johnson et al

Identify the scenarios in which the issue of the number of occurrences arises

Discover how the parties' respective positions on this issue may change based on the policy provisions (including limits and deductible) and facts of the claim

Review the key liability policy provisions which impact the determination of the number of occurrences

Describe the different "tests" utilized by courts nationally for determining the number of occurrences and survey recent case law addressing this issue

Roy A. Mura

Use of Social Media to Investigate Claims

Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00
Monday 1:30 - 3:00

Roy A. Mura, JD, Managing Partner, Mura & Storm, PLLC

Describe how to gather and record social media evidence with first- and third-party claims

Evaluate admissibility and authentication of evidence and the power of a preservation letter

Review the risks and regulations in collecting evidence and how to manage the risk

List social media resources and third-party profile services