Glossary

Means and methods of construction is a term used in construction to describe the techniques and tactics (usually temporary structures) a contractor employs to complete construction of a permanent project or structure. In some cases, these activities may require design or engineering elements; the rigging of scaffolding for a particular purpose, calculations to support trenching/shoring activities, or engineering associated with tower crane bases are just a few examples of such "means and methods." Means and methods of construction are ordinarily understood to be covered under general liability (GL) policies, but the lack of coverage for economic damages makes insuring this professional risk under a GL policy only semi-effective. Contractors can obtain broader coverage for these activities by purchasing contractors professional liability insurance.

The mean reserve is the average of the initial and ending reserve, used in life insurance reserve estimating.

The mean/variance/covariance (MVC) risk modeling method is a special class of statistical risk modeling methods that relies on only three parameters: mean, variance, and covariance matrix.

The mechanism of injury is, in workers compensation, an explanation of the injured worker's injury, preferably one that is extremely detailed. What part of the body was injured and how? It's imperative to interview the employee and tactfully obtain a complete description from the employee of the way the accident unfolded, if the event was unwitnessed, and from any bystanders to guard against manipulation of the facts later. A full description allows for an accident reconstructionist to comment on what body parts could truly have been impacted by the fall should litigation become inevitable.

med-mal is a common abbreviation used by insurance professionals to refer to medical malpractice.

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process where a neutral third person called a mediator assists adverse parties in resolving or settling their dispute.

A mediation incentive deductible provision features a reduced deductible amount and is offered within some lawyers professional liability policies. It is available to firms requiring their clients to sign agreements stating that the client must use alternative dispute resolution (ADR), rather than the judicial process, if the client pursues a claim against the firm. The rationale for this provision is that both indemnity and defense costs will generally be lower when claims are settled by mediation compared to the traditional judicial system.

Media liability coverage is a type of errors and omissions (E&O) liability insurance designed for publishers, broadcasters, and other media-related firms. Media liability coverage offers policies that are typically written on a named perils basis and cover the following broad areas: defamation, invasion of privacy, infringement of copyright, and plagiarism.

Media wrongful act coverage, found in some network security liability insurance policies, may cover any negligent act, error, or omission by the insured. The injury must result in copyright, trademark, or service mark infringement; misappropriation of intellectual property rights; disparagement, libel, patent infringement; wrongful eviction, interference with rights of privacy, occupancy entry; plagiarism; reputational harm; and other such risks as detailed in the particular policy. Such policies may also cover the insured for misappropriation or misdirection of the lnternet content messages of third parties by the insured. This would include metatags, website names and domains, and other cyber information.

Medicaid is the US government welfare system administered by the states and subsidized by the federal government covering various medical expenses for those of low income, below limits set by state laws.