2019 Regional Adjusters Conference Sessions
Property Claims Track
1.
Aggressive Contractors and Assignment of Benefits Challenges
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Describe the relationship between insurer, insured, and service
providers involved in property restoration following losses
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Review recent trends with building contractors soliciting assignment of
benefits with personal and commercial lines property claims
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Evaluate adjuster strategies to confront aggressive maneuvers by
contractors and service providers
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Review the law in various jurisdictions that govern the assignment of
benefits
2.
Building Code Issues with Commercial Property Claims
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List the major features of commercial buildings that most often result
in costly building code upgrades following a major loss
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Work through several commercial building code examples, including energy
code requirements, roofing, sprinklers, and ingress/egress scenarios
- Identify helpful resources for adjusters when faced with building code
challenges involving commercial building losses
3.
Building Damage Estimating Challenges
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Identify typical challenges in estimating residential and commercial
buildings
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Evaluate new tools and resources now available to help accurately
estimate these damages
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Review challenges with repair vs. replacement options in various
building losses
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Identify ways to isolate and evaluate estimate differences and work
toward successful resolution of these claims
4.
Common HVAC Damages: Repair vs. Replace
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Recognize typical residential and light commercial HVAC damages caused
by hail, wind, fire, vandalism, winter storms, and wear and tear
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Determine the impact these types of losses have on HVAC equipment and
assess whether repair or replacement is needed
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Review recent government regulations imposed on repairs and replacements
of air conditioning equipment that impact claim resolution
5.
Controlling Large Commercial Contents Claims
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Review techniques to accurately scope large commercial contents claims
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Identify ways to properly repair, restore, or replace specialized
contents, including computers, lost data, fine arts, stock, and inventory
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Accurately adjust claims with contents salvage in a variety of loss
scenarios
6.
Evaluating Documents: Potential Fraud
- Evaluate various claim documents for potential fraud implications
- Distinguish between hard fraud and soft fraud
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Identify tips for investigating fraud with claim documentation in a
variety of scenarios
7.
Fire and Arson Investigation Tips for Adjusters
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Trace recent developments in fire and arson investigation strategies
with NFPA 921 and 1033
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Describe effective evidence collection, including interviews with
claimants, first responders, and witnesses
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Identify ways to communicate sensitive information to local law
enforcement officials
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Create a checklist of arson investigation procedures and tips
8.
New Apps for Property Adjusters
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Identify the latest apps for property adjusters
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Highlight new apps for building damage estimating now available to
adjusters
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Evaluate new apps for measuring buildings and structures, capturing
data, photos, and reports, and communicating with insureds and other
parties
- Identify new apps for use with contents claims
9.
Property Claim Resolution Strategies for the 21st Century
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Identify the reasons that some claims do not resolve in a timely fashion
and offer strategies for resolution
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Explore ways to take "dormant" claims and move them toward successful
completion
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Deny claims appropriately when coverage does not exist
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When inheriting flawed claims from others, move them toward prompt and
fair resolution
10.
Recent Property Case Law Update
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Review current property case law trends and improve your ability to
forecast court decisions
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Identify current issues and concerns in property case law
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Use reasoning skills to apply policy provisions in various claim
scenarios
11.
Residential Roof Adjustment Challenges
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Identify hail, wind, and freeze damage to residential roofs
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Review other types of damage to residential roofs, including design
errors, material defects, installation errors, and wear and tear
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Evaluate storm resistance of various roofing materials, including
shingles, tile, slate, and metal
12.
The Subrogation Landscape: What's Changing
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Review recent case law to evaluate the potential liability of
subrogation targets
- Identify how current case law impacts subrogation claims
- Utilize recent case law to help make strategic decisions on the merits
of subrogation challenges
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Manage subrogation recovery expectations by evaluating winning and
losing arguments in recent cases
13.
Water Damage Coverage Snafus
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Review challenging water loss scenarios and typical coverages afforded
under homeowners, businessowners, and commercial property forms
- Trace the recent evolution of coverage language for water damage under
various HO-3 policies
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Evaluate coverage in a variety of water damage claim scenarios,
including surface water, backup and overflow, water with mold, the interior
water damage limitation, and accidental discharge claims
14.
Wildfires and Catastrophe Response Challenges
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Identify the unique challenges posed by wildfire claims in the 21st
century
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Review the ways local authorities and governments have played a role in
the adjustment of wildfire claims and recovery for insureds
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Evaluate new tools available to investigate and adjust wildfire claims
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Describe key resolution strategies in handling wildfire claims
General Interest Track (Appeals to both Property and Casualty Claim
Professionals)
1.
Customer Service Challenges and Solutions
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Review current successes and strengths of the customer service
operations across your company
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Identify opportunities to deliver more effective customer service within
your claim organization
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Align corporate strategies with customer expectations to meet and exceed
expectations
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Describe ways to enlist your staff in building a customer-centric claims
organization
2.
Cyber Investigation Challenges
- Review various types of losses that can lead to cyber claims under
first- and third-party policies, including hacked data and data loss from
different perils
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Describe methods for investigating distinct types of cyber claims to
determine the cause, impact, and recovery options
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Develop crisis response techniques, including assembling an effective
response team, gathering and retaining evidence, preventing further damage,
and fulfilling notification obligations
3.
Ethical and Good Faith Claim Handling Strategies
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Describe possible ethical dilemmas that may confront claims
professionals in the course of their work
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Identify a system that will help you evaluate ethical dilemmas and
solutions
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Survey various states to identify the good faith claims handling
practices expected with every adjustment
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Highlight the many ways that ethical claims handling supports society
and the greater good
4.
Managing Claims Operations with New Tools
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Identify management areas where new technology tools can drive
operational improvements
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Devise ways to integrate new tools for maximum benefits
- Review the ways employees respond to new tools and changes
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Align your organizational objectives with these new tools and
improvements
Casualty Claims Track
1.
Advanced Topics in HO Liability
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Describe the expansion of homeowners policy liability coverage to
respond to increasing exposures affecting personal liability
- Survey evolving state and federal law to review the courts' broadening
interpretation of policy language to address coverage for exposures posed
by cyberbullying, defamation, intentional acts, and more
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Analyze approaches to coverage for these and other high-risk liability
exposures, such as slip-and-fall and employment claims
2.
Biomechanics of Injuries
- Describe the biomechanics and reconstruction of vehicle collisions and
other accident scenarios
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Examine the use of engineering and other scientific data to evaluate
damage and injuries
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Identify and evaluate various injuries and their mechanisms through
accident scene analysis
3.
CGL Exposures and Investigations
- Identify new and emerging risks that CGL insurers should be prepared to
evaluate
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Explore relevant policy language and how courts may resolve coverage
disputes involving these emerging risks based on the coverage afforded
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Analyze investigative techniques and policy provisions to determine
liability
4.
Condo Claims and Directors & Officers Liability Claims
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Distinguish between general liability coverage for a condominium itself
and coverage for individual board members under a directors & officers
liability policy
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Evaluate the most common condo liability claims and challenges
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Interpret association bylaws and determine how they may interact with
liability policies and state and local rules and regulations
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Investigate injuries and alleged actions of board members to determine
if coverage exists under each policy
5.
Construction Defect Claims and Additional Insureds
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Survey trends in construction defect claims against builders and
subcontractors
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Describe differences in coverage issues and insurer obligations relating
to contractors, subcontractors, additional insureds, and indemnitees
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Analyze key policy provisions, including what constitutes an
"occurrence," "damage to property," "your work," and others
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Evaluate how tenders of defense and indemnity should be made under both
policy and trade agreements
6.
Contract Analysis for Casualty Adjusters
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Identify the fundamental components of a contract, including offer,
acceptance, and consideration
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Explain the basic rules and laws governing contract interpretation
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Recognize the different types of contracts that can impact general
liability claims, including leases, indemnity agreements, construction
contracts, and service contracts
- Examine contractual provisions, such as hold harmless agreements, to
determine their potential legitimacy and applicability
7.
Evaluating and Negotiating Bodily Injury and Wrongful Death Claims
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Describe claim investigation techniques for pre- and post-litigation
bodily injury and wrongful death claims, including proper injury
evaluations
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Identify the key components of an effective negotiation strategy
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Build an effective negotiation strategy based on the merits of the case
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Evaluate various claim scenarios and create negotiation strategies for
success
8.
Food Contamination Claims and Liability
- Identify the various parties and issues involved in food contamination
claims based on negligence or product liability
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Describe liability insurance coverage for those claims, including
coverage under CGL policies and other stand-alone coverage applicable to
food liability
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Formulate proper investigation and documentation techniques, including
gathering information from witnesses, documents, and regulatory bodies to
evaluate liability and coverage
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Utilize experts and other resources to help resolve causation questions
and provide crisis management
9.
Medicare/Medicaid Set-Asides and Claims Management
- Explain a liability insurer's essential obligations under the Medicare
Secondary Payer Act
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Identify actions or omissions that could subject liability insurers to
litigation under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act
- Establish strategies to avoid potential litigation and satisfy
Medicare's right to recover
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Outline resources for staying abreast of changes in the applicable rules
and regulations
10.
Social Media Liability Exposures and Coverage
- Examine liability exposures and coverage for cyberbullying and other
conduct arising out of social media use
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Explore present and emerging causes of action enhanced or generated by
social media use
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Assess coverage issues under personal and commercial liability policies
for social media-related claims