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Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the tenth issue of BestConnect, our quarterly e-newsletter that provides you with timely articles and announcements pertaining to the insurance industry.
 
Of note in this issue is an upcoming webinar pertaining to the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the Northeastern U.S. claims industry. Read more about this complimentary webinar, which I'll be co-hosting, in the Informative A.M. Best Webinars section of this newsletter.
 
We are also pleased to announce the recent launch of our Anniversary BestMark program, which recognizes those companies and firms that have been listed in Best's Directories for over ten, twenty-five, fifty or seventy-five years. You'll find a special, milestone-anniversary icon that complements the distinctive classic BestMark in the online listings of qualified attorneys, adjusters and expert service providers.
 
We hope you enjoy this latest issue. As always, we value your opinion and welcome your comments at directoriesnewsletters@ambest.com.
 
John Czuba Best regards,
John Czuba
John Czuba
Editor, Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters
Member Spotlight
 
Renée DeMoss
Renée DeMoss, shareholder with the insurance law and litigation firm GableGotwals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has more than 26 years of legal experience consulting of national insurance companies and large and small businesses. Ms. DeMoss serves as the President-Elect of the Oklahoma Bar Association and will be President in 2014 as well. She is currently the chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association Litigation Section. Renée is a past president of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, the Tulsa County Bar Association and the Tulsa County Bar Foundation. She recently participated in the A.M. Best Insurance Law Podcast "Oklahoma Weather Catastrophes" where she discussed the catastrophic weather conditions in Oklahoma and its impact on homeowners and the insurance industry.  She pointed out the fact that the impact from the weather was so great that insurance companies were having challenges paying out claims.  This along with financial difficulty with reinsurers and with rising costs had a great impact on insurance companies in Oklahoma and in surrounding states such as Kansas and Texas.  With Ms. DeMoss's many accomplishments in the insurance industry, we are pleased to feature her in this Edition.
 
"Member Spotlight" puts the focus on Directory listees who have participated in groundbreaking cases or developed innovative strategies and important thought leadership that affect the insurance industry. If you know of a firm or individual who has made notable or significant achievements in the insurance industry, and would like to make a nomination, visit our "Member Spotlight" FAQ page for additional information or fill out our "Member Spotlight" Nomination Form. Nominations are accepted year-round.

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In the Press In the Press

Each quarter, "In the Press" brings you the most important press releases, announcements and achievements from Directories listees.

Title Firm Location/Date/Firm Name
(Ridgeland, MS) December 2012
Bennett & Guthrie, PLLC, Rod Guthrie, Selected for Best Lawyers in America
(Winston-Salem, NC) January, 2013
Wells Marble Hires Two New Firm Members
(Ridgeland, MS) January 2013
Coleman Talley LLP Promotes Hansell Watt to Partner
(Valdosta, GA) February 1, 2013
Bishop & Hummert, P.C. Welcomes Texas Board Certified Civil Appellate Attorney
(Dallas, TX) February, 2013
Scott Spriggs, Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs, Recently Accepted into Two Prestigious Forums
(Riverside, CA) February 28, 2013
Kinkle, Rodiger & Spriggs
Veritas Claims Hires Ed DeMask as Director of Sales & Marketing
(Joliet, IL) February 27, 2013
   

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Community Showcase

Archer Norris "Food from the Bar" Helps to Combat Hunger

 
Best's Directories of Insurance Professionals is pleased to recognize Archer Norris for its continued commitment to community involvement.
Each year, Archer Norris, a law firm based in Walnut Creek, Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA organizes and supports a month-long program of activities to combat hunger and improve food insecurity, Food from the Bar. It is a hands-on, collaborative effort by legal professionals, under the leadership of local bar associations, which parlays law firms' competitive natures to raise money for those at risk.

Interested volunteers, drawn from every level of law firms, come together in friendly competitions to increase the resources available to regional food banks. The long-running participation in Food from the Bar epitomizes the intent of the Archer Norris' Social Impact program. Archer Norris is proud of their sustained commitment to a cause truly making a difference in the daily lives of so many.  For this we feel the firm deserves a place in our Community Showcase. Read their full story.

"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 feature or complete our "Community Showcase" Nomination Form. Nominations are accepted year-round.

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For the Record For the Record
"For the Record" showcases the latest articles from current Directories listees.
 
Title of Article Author/Firm
Contractor Fraud: Beware of Unscrupulous Contractors
Michael Panish
Contractor Fraud: Don't Become a Victim, Home Renovation Projects
Michael Panish
Law Alert: Smart Act and its Implication for Settlements with Medicare Beneficiaries
Reinaldo Alvarez, Esq. & Kate Kmiec, Esq.
Coverage for Prevailing Party Attorneys' Fee Awards
Richard W. Zevnik
Hollins Law
 

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Legally Speaking 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.
Posted: Fri, 8 Mar 2013
Attorneys David McMahon and Jack Pierce from the law firm Barger & Wolen LLP in California discuss insurance issues that the cruise line and travel industries may face in the wake of the recent fire and power outage aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
Attorneys Dissect the Smart Act
Posted: Tue, 26 Feb 2013
Attorneys Rey Alvarez and Kate Kmiec from the law firm of Luks & Santaniello LLC in Florida on the new Smart Act, aimed at making settlements with a Medicare beneficiary go more efficiently, and reduce Medicare spending by $45 million.

 Posted: Fri, 1 Feb 2013
Attorney David Dodge from the McCathern, LLP law firm in Dallas on a case pertaining to an employee pension transfer involving Verizon Communications Inc., and Prudential Insurance Co.
Posted: Tue, 11 Dec 2012
Harry Baumgartner from the law firm of Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. in Florham Park, N.J., discusses insurance issues related to Hurricane Sandy from an attorney's perspective.
 
Sign up now to have new Insurance Law Podcasts sent directly to you.
 

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The insurance industry faces a constantly escalating level of exposure from rapidly developing technologies with risks that are not well understood. In many situations, the science associated with understanding these new risks is in the early stages of development. None of the current emerging technologies appears to be the next asbestos.
 
Insurance industry losses from Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy are expected to approach $25 billion; based on loss estimates to date, property/casualty insurers remain resilient and hold sufficient capital to effectively absorb these losses.
 
If you would like to view other reports, visit our Member Center to register.
 

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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

Hiscox: Contractors Could Face Mold Claims From Sandy

Friday, February 22, 2013

Insurers Express Surprise Over NY Investigation of Sandy Claims Complaints

Friday, February 22, 2013

A.M. Best Requests Comments on Draft Criteria: Analyzing Insurance Holding Company Liquidity

Friday, February 22, 2013

BestWeek: AM Best: 2012 US P/C Results Faring Fine Until Hurricane Sandy Socked East Coast

Friday, February 08, 2013

Utah MPL Company to Merge With MMIC, Rather Than Doctors Co.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

California Insurer Group Concerned New Aftermarket Part Rules Could Result in Higher Rates

Thursday, January 10, 2013

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It's the Law

The Law Digest is a summary of the insurance laws for each U.S. state and Canadian province. Our aim is to provide a reference source that covers some of the general insurance principles in leading case decisions.

 It's the Law
The following U.S. Law Digests have been recently updated:

We would like to welcome our new Ohio revisor Davis & Young, Cleveland, OH. 

To see the full list of updates, click below.

 

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Notable Listings 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

Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Adjusters

Best's Directory of Recommended Expert Service Providers

Fargo, ND - Insurance Experts
Austin, TX - Economic Consultants
Stamford, CT - Structured Settlements
Newport Beach, CA - Structured Settlements
Sherman Oaks, CA - Insurance Expert

Best's Directory of Insurance Auditors

 

Notable Listing Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following listees with Major Anniversaries with Best's Directories this quarter:

Years Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys Location
75 Reid, Burge, Prevallet & Coleman Blytheville, AR
50
Albuquerque, NM
Fort Smith, AR
San Francisco, CA
Tuscaloosa, AL
Phoenix, AZ
Houston, TX
Garden City, NY
25
Lafayette, LA
Chicago, IL
Bridgeton, NJ
Metairie, LA
10
Toronto. ON
Monroe, LA
Alexandria, LA
Manchester, NH
Years Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Adjusters Location
25
Hampton, NH
Columbus, OH
San Jose, CA
Hamden, CT
West Babylon, NY
10
Houston, TX
Orlando, FL
Years Best's Directory of Recommended Expert Service Providers Location
10
Boca Raton, FL

 

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Informative A.M. Best Webinars

A.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.

A panel of experts offer their perspective on questions that insurance buyers, large and small, are asking their agents and carriers. Topics will include the complex regulatory environment, carrier underwriting processes, claims trends, importance elements of 'control', breach preparedness, legal landscape, operational risks that network interruptions cause, social media, loss control needs and identifying what risks are encouraging a decision maker to buy insurance.
 
Insurance associations and companies regularly warn of a growing shortage of talented younger executive candidates. The problem is particularly acute in smaller insurance organizations and among those that concentrate on more sophisticated areas of coverage. A panel that includes experts on insurance recruiting and development review how companies are finding new ways to identify and attract incoming insurance talent, what it takes to bring future standouts up to speed, and why some stay and others leave.
 
We are excited to announce an upcoming Webinar on April 17, 2013, Insurance Adjusting and Legal Coverage in a Post Sandy Environment.  A panel of insurance claims and adjusting experts along with an insurance coverage attorney will examine how the super storm that ravaged the Northeastern U.S.  is changing the game for professionals and what can be expected going forward as a result.  Three of the four panelists are listed in Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters.  Chris McDowell,  Vice President of Business Development/Managing Partner, Aplin Peer McDowell, Inc./Aplin Peer & Associates, Inc., and William "Bill" Sharpe Manager and Vice President, Tenco Services, Inc. are in the adjuster directory; Eric A. Fitzgerald, Esq. CPCU, CLU, Chair, Insurance Coverage and Life, Health & Disability Practice Groups, Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, is in the attorney directory.  Also on the panel is Kenneth P. Carter, CPCU, www.ambest.com Casualty Claim Manager from Merchants Insurance Group.

Don't miss any of the upcoming webinars! View our full webinar schedule, or register to attend a session.

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Upcoming Insurance Industry Trade Shows, Conventions and Events
View the latest schedule for up-to-date information on insurance industry events from the Meetings & Conventions database.
 
 
 Upcoming Insurance Industry Trade Shows, Conventions, and Events

Meeting Name / Association

Event Date

Location

American Association of Insurance Services
 April 7-9, 2013 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
April 10-12, 2013 San Antonio, TX
Intermediaries & Reinsurance Underwriters Association (IRU)
April 21-23, 2013 Southampton, Bermuda
Risk & Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
April 21-25, 2013 Los Angeles, CA
 
 April 28-30, 2013 St. Louis, MO
International Association of Insurance Professionals
June 5-8, 2013 Orlando, FL

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Important A.M. Best Announcements Important A.M. Best Announcements
New Anniversary BestMark Program
We are pleased to announce the new Anniversary BestMark icon program. All firms or companies who have continuously listed with A.M. Best for over ten, twenty-five, fifty or seventy-five years have received a special Anniversary BestMark icon to place on their website. We have also included this icon on all A.M. Best listings that qualify for the program. The BestMark icon emphasizes the company or firm's status as a professional whose reputation and expertise are recommended by A.M. Best Company. Look for the seal of approval when you select your Insurance professional. Start searching www.ambest.com our online search tool today.

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