Expert Commentary

Market Practices

Risk Assessments and Peer Reviews

Peter Polstein | December 1, 2007

Whether conducted in-house or by an outside consultant, a risk and insurance review is a good idea. Peter Polstein explains.

Ethics

Insurance Evolution: Response to a Changing World

George Head | December 1, 2007

Dr. George Head wonders whether the rise in natural/manmade catastrophes and the industry's response will effect fundamental industry change.

Risk Management: Protecting Assets When Home Ownership Is Transferred to a Trust

Jack Hungelmann | December 1, 2007

Jack Hungelmann explains the insurance coverage dangers when a trust owns tangible property, like a residence, and offers a solution.

Property Insurance

Demystifying Appraisal: Getting through the Process

Jay Levin | December 1, 2007

Jay Levin examines methods appraisers, umpires, and parties use to make the process proceed more smoothly and maximize the likelihood of a fair award.

Environmental

Epoxy Fumes Are Unambiguously Excluded from Coverage as "Pollutants" under the CGL Total Pollution Exclusion

Kent Holland | November 1, 2007

Kent Holland relates a case on the CGL total pollution exclusion and the definition of "pollutants," "discharge," "dispersal," "seepage," "migration," "release," and "escape."

Captives

Captive Insurance Exit Strategy

Michael R. Mead | November 1, 2007

Mike Mead warns that ending the use of a captive is not so simple as ceasing to do business with it or funding its operations.

Liability Insurance

Insurance Law and Exclusion (m): It's Not Broken If You Can Fix It

Steven Rawls | November 1, 2007

Insurance Law and Exclusion (m) Steve Rawls discusses cases addressing the impaired property exclusion in the commercial general liability insurance policy.

Captives

Has the IRS Lost Its Collective Mind?

Donald Riggin | November 1, 2007

The recently proposed IRS regulations for single-parent captives are a step in the wrong direction. Don Riggin explains.

Valuation of Insurance Organizations

Property/Casualty Insurer Valuation Insights

Jeff Balcombe | November 1, 2007

Jeff Balcombe provides greater insight property and casualty insurer valuation and the market's current pricing.

Courts and Coverage

The Measure of "Reasonable" Defense Costs in Independent Counsel Situations

Brent Cooper | November 1, 2007

In independent counsel situations, who determines what costs are reasonable? Brent Cooper and Dana Harbin peruse state positions.