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Linking Expert Insight with Insurance Industry Decision-Makers |
Letter from the Editor
A.M. Best Company has been the world's best-known and most trusted source of insurance industry information for decades. In our experience with various insurance claims contacts, one common denominator shines through -- outsourcing for legal, adjuster and expert services is often a matter of necessity. A.M. Best understands that regardless of size, no single company has all the answers or resources all of the time, and when an outsourcing need arises, you need to turn to someone that you trust.
By making Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters part of your selection process, you will leverage our unique position and find insurance professionals attuned to your specific needs. As a subscriber to BestConnect, you also have insight into the perspective of our listees regarding recent trends and events through their published press releases and articles.
We are pleased to introduce a remarkable individual who is featured in our inaugural "Community Showcase." Also included in this Edition is our second "Member Spotlight." As usual, we welcome your comments, feedback and opinions.
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Best regards, John Czuba Editor, Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters |
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 Luks, Santaniello, Petrillo & Jones is a Florida Corporate & Insurance Defense Litigation firm that defends businesses and insurers in Liability & Workers' Compensation matters. The firm also offers Medicare Lien Negotiation, MSA and Medicare Reporting services.
In addition to representing claims and law suits, the firm provides clients with law alerts, legal updates and training that is informative and useful to their claims handling. Members will present at FDLA Young Lawyers "Boot Camp" on March 9, 2012. In January 2012, members presented to doctors attending the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians Conference and provided the legal perspective on Florida Impairment Rating Guidelines. Members also spoke at the Florida Defense Lawyers Association 2012 Winter Seminar on social media usage in investigation and discovery. On an annual basis, members provide many complimentary CEU and CLE seminars to its clients. The firm is also a frequent contributor to A.M. Best's insurance law podcast and was featured this past February.
Below is the firm's most recent newsletter as well as an article they have written on Medicare set-asides. We are pleased to spotlight this firm in this Edition.
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"Member Spotlight" puts the focus on Directory listees who have made notable or significant achievements in the insurance industry. You'll learn about ground-breaking cases, innovative strategies and important thought leadership that affect the insurance industry.
To find out more about the "Member Spotlight," visit our FAQ page.
In the Press 
Each quarter, "In the Press" brings you the most important press releases, announcements and achievements from Directories listees.
Personnel Changes| Title | Firm Location/Date/Firm Name |
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| Andrew J. Wilson & Steven E. Achelpohl Join Gross & Welch as a Directors |
(Omaha, NE) February 2 & 20, 2012
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Awards/Recognitions/Nominations
| Title | Firm Location/Date/Firm Name |
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| Barrett & McNagny LLP Listed in 2011-2012 "Best Law Firms" Rankings |
(Fort Wayne, IN) December 22, 2011
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| McKay Firm Attorney One in 11 Selected For 2012 South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy |
(Columbia, SC) January 17, 2012
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| New Appointments/Positions for McKay Law Firm's Workers' Compensation Attorneys |
(Columbia, SC) February 9 & 14, 2012
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Firm News
| Title | Firm Location/Date/Firm Name |
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| 2nd Edition of Daniel Raab's Reference Dictionary, Transportation Terms & Condition, Now Available |
(Miami, FL) January 11, 2012
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| Baird, Lightner, Millsap & Harpool PC Join the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance |
(Springfield, MO) January 25, 2012
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| Millburn Attorney to Speak at National Conference |
(Millburn, NJ) March 8, 2012
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Community Showcase |
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 Dan Thompson
We are pleased to present our inaugural BestConnect "Community Showcase": Owner Dan Thompson of DeeGee Rehabilitation Technologies, Ltd. in Yucca, Arizona. His listing appears in a new category in Best's Directory of Recommended Expert Service Providers for Vocational Rehabilitation. Dan has provided inspirational leadership and guidance to individuals with disabilities. He has overcome his own personal physical challenges and his company provides assessment services for Life Care Plans, Vocational Reports, Case Management Services, Rehabilitation Plans and Housing. He is an effective and accomplished expert witness who has traveled across the nation and Canada helping individuals who have sustained a variety of injuries.
Below are two articles that Dan has recently written on rehabilitation and disabilities and we're pleased to showcase a particularly inspiring individual and his company in this Edition.
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The BestConnect "Community Showcase" is a forum for highlighting significant contributions that current Best's Directories listees have made in their communities. Contributions may include pro bono cases, community outreach projects, volunteer work or charity efforts.
Do you know of a firm or individual who has made a difference in their community? Visit our Community Showcase FAQ page to learn more about this new feature and how to make a nomination.
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For the Record 
"For the Record" showcases the latest articles from current Directories listees.
| Title of Article | Author/Firm |
| Door Panic Hardware - Getting to Know the Basics |
Michael Panish, Expert Witness & Consultant
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| What Every Insurer Should Know...About Discovery and Proof in First-Party Bad Faith Claims |
Robert A. Mich, Jr.
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| The Risk of Having Too Many "Friends" - Social Media and the Collection of Evidence |
Hartley Lefton, Senior Associate - McMillan LLP's Business Law and Insurance Law Groups |
Legally Speaking 
Each quarter, "Legally Speaking" highlights the newest Insurance Law Podcasts from A.M. Best. To listen to a podcast, please click on the podcast title. A new window containing an audio player will open. At the end of the podcast, please close the audio player window to return to your BestConnect newsletter. If you enjoy the podcasts below, be sure to visit our archive for other podcasts you may have missed.
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Tuesday, 7 March 2012
Attorney Jay Tentinger from the Tentinger Law Firm, P.A. in Eagan, Minnesota discusses cell phone use and texting and the liability for insurers. |
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Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Attorneys Dan Santaniello and Heather Calhoon from the law firm of Luks, Santaniello, Petrillo & Jones in Florida, discuss the Stored Communication Act, the use of social media in investigation and discovery and the possible impact on claims outcomes. |
Sign up now to have new Insurance Law Podcasts sent directly to you.
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A.M. Best Special Reports provide in-depth analysis that focuses on larger industry issues. We hope you find this P/C Industry report informative. To view or purchase a full report, visit our Special Reports page. |
In Brief 
"In Brief" highlights important insurance industry news from A.M. Best's award-winning news publications. Access to full stories may require a subscription to the publication.
| Title of Article | Article Date |
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| Louisiana Citizens Proposes $80 Million Settlement in Hurricane Katrina Case | February 27, 2012 |
| Workers' Comp Writers Tackle 30% Drop in Rates, Stiff Competition | February 27, 2012 |
| China Regulator Sets Three-Year Deadline for Insurers to Improve Motor Insurance Claims Management | February 10, 2012 |
| Perspectives: Capital Issues and Cat Modeling Continue to Complicate Reinsurance Pricing | January 30, 2012 |
It's the LawThe Law Digest is a summary of the insurance laws for each U.S. state and the Canadian provinces. Our aim is to provide a reference source that covers some of the general insurance principles in leading case decisions. |
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- Alabama courtesy of Spain & Gillon, L.L.C., Birmingham, AL
- Pennsylvania courtesy of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, Philadelphia, PA
To see the full list of updates, click below.
We would like to welcome our new revisors:
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Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins, L.L.P.
Little Rock, Arkansas -
Smith Smith & Feeley LLP
Irvine, California -
Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins, P.C.
Fairfax, Virginia -
Murphy Collette Murphy (Revising for Prince Edward Island)
Moncton, New Brunswick
Notable Listings 
We are pleased to welcome the following new listees this quarter, and to recognize those who have reached a milestone with Best's Directories.
New Listings
Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys
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Silver Spring, MD
Little Rock, AR
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI |
Best's Directory of Recommended Expert Service Providers
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OPTIS Partners, LLC - Fairness Opinions
Venus International Language Services - Consultants |
Chicago, IL
West Covina, CA |
Best's Directory of Insurance Auditors
| Kay Payer, APA, CIPA - Expert Audit Services | Glendale, CA |
Notable Listing Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following listees with Major Anniversaries with Best's Directories this quarter:
Informative A.M. Best WebinarsA.M. Best produces innovative online presentations that connect you with industry leaders and provide the opportunity to learn first-hand about trends and developments facing insurance today. Click on a title to open the video of your choice. At the end of the webinar, simply close the video player to return to the BestConnect newsletter. Don't miss any of the upcoming webinars!
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View our full webinar schedule, or register to attend a session.
Upcoming Insurance Industry Trade Shows, Conventions and EventsView the latest schedule for up-to-date information on insurance industry events from the Meetings & Conventions database.
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Meeting Name / Association |
Event Date |
Location |
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Council on Litigation Management (CLM) |
March 28-30, 2012 | San Diego, CA |
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Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS) |
April 15-18, 2012 | Philadelphia, PA |
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Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) |
April 15-18, 2012 | Orlando, FL |
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National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters (NAIIA) |
June 18-21, 2012 | Rio Grande, PR |
Important A.M. Best Announcements 
Community Showcase Nominations Now Being Accepted!
BestConnect Community Showcase is a forum for highlighting significant contributions that current Best's Directories listees have made in their communities. Contributions may include pro bono cases, community outreach projects, volunteer work or charity efforts. If you know of a listed firm or individual who has made a difference in the community, please contact DirectoriesNewsletters@ambest.com with the following information:
BestConnect Community Showcase is a forum for highlighting significant contributions that current Best's Directories listees have made in their communities. Contributions may include pro bono cases, community outreach projects, volunteer work or charity efforts. If you know of a listed firm or individual who has made a difference in the community, please contact DirectoriesNewsletters@ambest.com with the following information:
- Nominee's firm name, contact person and mailing information
- Name and contact information for the person submitting the nomination
- A 500-word essay about the nominee's contribution to the community
- A photo of the nominee
Law Digest Tables Now in Excel
We have recently converted the Law Digest Tables into an Excel spreadsheet. The Digest Tables provide a convenient summary of various aspects of insurance law including: Automobiles, Negligence, Limitation of Time for Commencement of Action, and Financial Responsibility Law for Automobiles. With this new format, users will be able to zero in on the information they need. We hope you find this new format useful.
We have recently converted the Law Digest Tables into an Excel spreadsheet. The Digest Tables provide a convenient summary of various aspects of insurance law including: Automobiles, Negligence, Limitation of Time for Commencement of Action, and Financial Responsibility Law for Automobiles. With this new format, users will be able to zero in on the information they need. We hope you find this new format useful.