Ill. Complies With Surplus Lines Law; Does Not Join Compact

July 22, 2011
By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com
NU Online News Service, July 22, 2:46 p.m. EDT

Illinois has become the latest large state to adopt a regulation to implement the federal surplus lines reform and modernization law that doesn’t mandate it share revenues with other states.

Through a bulletin issued Thursday, Illinois said it will tax 100 percent of the premiums for multistate policies “and is not currently participating in any tax-allocation agreement.”  read more..

Understanding Disability

Claims That Just Won’t Go Away

Claims Magazine July 2011
By Ken Brownlee, CPCU

Considering that AFLAC’s duck acquired a new voice this past spring, adjusters and claim handlers who deal with disability claims, whether under disability insurance policies, workers’ compensation, or liability for bodily injuries, may have to rethink some of the previous standards for what constitutes a “disability” and whether the duck will come to the rescue. In fact, the adjuster may be that duck.  read more..

Adjusters’ Pet Peeves

Ten Habits That Drive Us Crazy
Claims Magazine July 2011
By Charles Hunter Mcree

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” were some of Julie Andrews’ favorite things in The Sound of Music. Adjusters have their own favorite things, but that is not usually what claims professionals grouse about to each other. It is more likely to find adjusters comparing notes about the stuff that drives them crazy. This offers more than cathartic effect. Knowing adjuster pet peeves and their hot buttons can help those who work with adjusters to foster better relationships.  read more..

Where Would We Be Without Workers’ Compensation?

July 11, 2011
By Sam J. Friedman

Consider for a moment where we would be—as a society, an economy and an insurance industry—without workers’ compensation.

With workers’ compensation celebrating its centennial this year, it is worthwhile to examine just how big an impact this critical line of coverage has had on our lives.  read more..

Operational Intelligence for Homeowners Inspection Optimization

June 23, 2011
By Chris Cartwright

In the area of homeowners insurance, U.S. carriers spend about $190 million dollars a year on inspection programs to support risk management of new and renewal business. Yet many underwriters have difficulty quantifying the ROI of these programs. Those who can quantify inspection program results often find a negative or break-even ROI at best—although these programs are seen as a necessity of good underwriting. 

read more..

Recovering From Construction Defect Claims

Navigating Builder-Friendly State Statutes

Claims Magazine July 2011
By Kevin D. Bush, Douglas B. Fox

In the past 10 years, more than 25 states have enacted specific builder-friendly construction defect notice and resolution statutes that may affect your subrogation claims. If you are not aware of the provisions in your state, then your otherwise solid subrogation claim could be at risk.  read more..

The Eight Common Mistakes of Dog Bite Cases

July 11, 2011
By Ron Berman

Dogs are wonderful companions that we as humans have become very fond of. There are approximately 68 million dogs in the U.S., making pets and pet products a very big business. Living with a dog has been shown to benefit children, adults, and senior citizens both physically and emotionally. At the same time, however, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs, resulting in an estimated 800,000 injuries that require medical attention.  read more..

Sub-Contractors Face Workers’ Comp Experience Mod Dilemma

June 29, 2011
By Kevin Ring

If the anecdotal evidence can be trusted, it’s becoming more and more common that contractors are being put on notice that they will lose the opportunity to bid on jobs if their workers’ compensation experience mods hit a certain point.  read more..

The Future Is Turbo Charged!

July 1, 2011
By Greg Horn

As increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards co-mingle closely with the customer desire for performance, turbo chargers are seeing a rise in popularity. Honeywell automotive systems alone has experienced a 10 percent increase in its business supplying turbo chargers to the auto industry.  read more..

Civil Justice Reforms

2011 a great year in Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Alabama

American Agent & Broker July 2011
By David Golden

Television pundits have spent an inordinate amount of time this year discussing the meaning of the 2010 elections in terms of the 2012 elections. Civil justice reform proponents, on the other hand, have quietly seized the initiative to enact common sense liability legislation. As a result, 2011 will go down as one of the great years for balancing civil litigation in the states.  read more..

“Sitting” Judged Lethal and Compensable

July 6, 2011
By Joan E. Collier, PropertyCasualty360.com


The husband of an AT&T manager who died from a blood clot after sitting at her desk for more than 10 hours is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, a New Jersey appellate court has ruled.  read more..

Top 10 Regulatory States for P&C Insurers

June 28, 2011
By Eric Gilkey, PropertyCasualty360.com

For the past four years, The Heartland Institute has graded states on their property and casualty insurance regulatory environment.  read more..

Employment Dangers for Teens

National Consumer League issues Five Most Dangerous Jobs report

June 13, 2011
By Joan E. Collier, PropertyCasualty360.com

The National Consumers League (NCL) has issued its 2011 Five Most Dangerous Jobs for Teens report. The annual study by the nonprofit advocacy group is designed to help teens and their parents select safe jobs this summer—if they can find them.  read more..

Family Strain, Emotional Trauma Rank High On List Of Cat-Adjuster Challenges

Working amid extraordinary situations separates these adjusters from other professions

National Underwriter P&C June 13, 2011
By Eric Gilkey, PropertyCasualty360.com

With the unprecedented spring tornado activity and the recent commencement of the 2011 tropical storm season, independent and staff catastrophe claims professionals are ramping up for a busy year after an extended period of sporadic disasters and few land-falling hurricanes.  read more..

Claims Adjusters Should Keep Off the Stairs

June 13, 2011
By Rebecca Shafer

Whenever a claims quality auditor or actuarial auditor sees numerous small upward changes in the workers’ compensation claims reserves, he knows he has a case of an adjuster stair-stepping the reserves. If you draw a graph of the reserves, it looks like a set of steps—flat, up, flat, up, flat, up.  read more..