While the two appellate court cases reviewed earlier relate to environmental claims, would not workplace torts, workers' compensation and other types of claims normally covered by other policies the insured might have also give rise to similar issues - especially in...
An example of a claim against an environmental engineering firm in Florida demonstrates how absolute exclusionary wording should be considered. The firm was hired "to conduct a 'Phase I Site Assessment' of real property" the client was considering purchasing. The...
Two mutually exclusive goals are beginning to result in apparently unintended results within the executive and professional liability markets. The quest for underwriting profits and the desire to develop clear (to whatever extent possible) coverage language have...
Zurich is now offering all commercial property/casualty agents, whether Zurich-appointed or not, free access to 50 specialty insurance programs.
Agents can access the programs through a Web site at www.ZProgramsMatch.com. This Web site, first launched in January...
Medical professional liability insurers experienced a very profitable year in 2009 despite a continuous decline in premium, according to a recent report released by SNL Financial, which ranked the insurers based on their 2009 statutory property and casualty...
The beer industry, like many others, has been impacted by the economy with one notable exception: craft brewers. The microbrewery, brew pub and brewery industries have actually seen sales jump in the last few years while the big three beer companies, Anheiser-Busch,...
Specialty insurer Ironshore Inc. has entered the personal lines market to underwrite a high value homeowners program for properties valued in excess of $1 million. The program will be offered in partnership with Hull & Co., Inc., a wholesale insurance...
Last year saw the biggest drop in motorcycle thefts since 2006, according to a report released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The report stated that the theft of motorcycles went down 13 percent in 2009 when compared to 2008, and the NICB and...
The blame game for the recent British Petroleum (BP) oil rig accident and subsequent oil spill is just getting started as are the insurance implications of this disastrous event, according to underwriters and other observers.
"It's going to take several years to...
Excess and surplus insurers endured another year of declining premiums in 2009, writing 7.5 percent fewer direct premiums versus the prior year, according to SNL Financial's analysis of the U.S. E&S market. The slide comes after significant declines in 2008,...
