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Forward to a Colleague| Best's Special Report |
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A complimentary special report for our valued subscribers. In this edition: P/C Segment's Net Income Estimated to Rise.
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A relatively subdued year for catastrophes helped clear a path for the U.S. property/casualty industry to achieve an underwriting profit for the first time in four years. Underwriting results reached their best level since 2007, with the industry producing an expected combined ratio of 97.6 for the year.
If you would like to view other reports, visit our Member Center to register. |
| Member Spotlight |
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"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.
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 Michael M. Salem
Michael M. Salem is an attorney with the insurance coverage law firm Nelsen, Thompson, Pegue & Thornton, A.P.C. in Los Angeles, California. Over the course of a year, Mr. Salem has received recognition for his significant contributions to the insurance industry by way of published articles and podcasts.
Mr. Salem recently published an article entitled "Emerging Issues in Insurance for Fracking and Application of EPLE Endorsement" that was featured in the December edition of BestConnect. He also participated in an A.M. Best Insurance Law Podcast episode outlining insurance issues related to fracking. He co-authored of a chapter discussing insurance and indemnity in Food Safety Law, published by Law Journal Press, which serves as a manual for insurance coverage matters related to food safety and recalls. Last year, inspired by issues surrounding the Bernie Madoff case, Mr. Salem also authored "Employee Dishonesty Coverage: The Danger of Expanding Coverage to Investment Advisors" for the American Bar Association's mid-year meeting. He was featured in an A.M. Best Insurance Law Podcast episode on the same topic.
His practice focuses on handling insurance coverage litigation matters in the areas of intellectual property, professional liability, toxic torts, construction defects, and clergy sex abuse. Mr. Salem works closely with the firm's clients to avoid litigation when possible and reach favorable resolutions.
Mr. Salem was recognized as a 2013 Southern California Super Lawyers "Rising Star" according to and Politics Media, Inc. He is a member of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association. Mr. Salem received his J.D. from Loyola Marymount University and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. |
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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.
In the Press  |
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Each quarter, "In the Press" brings you the most important press releases, announcements and achievements from Directories listees.
For the Record  |
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"For the Record" showcases the latest articles from current Directories listees.
| Title of Article | Author/Firm |
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Damages experts' reports in intellectual property cases often contain valuable information for allocation of loss by time, by geographic region and between advertising and non-advertising uses. In intellectual property disputes potentially covered by insurance, several allocation problems surface with respect to settlements and judgments. |
Timothy M. Thornton, Jr.
Los Angeles, CA
The Brief, Summer 2013, ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section |
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Articles include: "No Physical Injury Theories of Liability" by Joseph Kopacz, Esq.; "H.B. 187: Will it reduce Bad-Faith Lawsuits?" by Kate Kmiec; "5th DCA Rules Medicaid Lien Formula Not Mandatory" by Philip Partridge and "The Rise of the Qui Tam" by Justin Schwerling. |
Edited by Maria Donnelly, CR & Daniel J. Santaniello, Esq. Luks, Santaniello, Petrillo & Jones Fort Lauderdale, FL |
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The impact of social media in litigation continues to expand. As a matter of first impression, the Superior Court of New Jersey in Blank v. FJC Security Services, Inc. (an unpublished opinion) compelled plaintiffs to disclose non-public content of social networking sites ("SNS") including MySpace and dating Web sites. |
Ted M. Schaer, Esq. Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy, P.C. Philadelphia, PA |
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Many door cases are the result of malfunctioning door components. Other cases are created by the inappropriate use of door operator products that simply do not provide the needed services. However, one other critical factor continually plays a significant part in many door injury accidents - the overall physical condition of the user of any door system. |
Michael Panish Construction Witness/Construction Systems Woodland Hills, CA |
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Two articles detailing recent developments in Workers' Compensation law in Tennessee. |
Kent Thomas Jones, Esq. Jones & Associates, PLLC Chattanooga, TN |
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Update on Insurance, Construction Defect, and Commercial Auto Law in Arizona and New Mexico. |
Evans & Co. New Orleans, LA |
Legally Speaking  |
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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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Posted: Tue, 04 Mar 2014
Attorney Sid Degan with the law firm of Degan, Blanchard & Nash in Louisiana on the complex "tri-partite relationship" that exists between attorneys, insurers and insureds and how it impacts the insurance industry. |
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Posted: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 Attorney Stu Panensky from the law firm of Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP introduces the legal framework around data security and cyber losses. |
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Posted: Wed, 18 Dec 2013
Daniel Raab of Daniel W. Raab, P.A. in Miami explores liability and other considerations surrounding a case where a US-flagged vessel is accused of damaging the gas turbine it was hired to transport. |
Sign up now to have new Insurance Law Podcasts sent directly to you.
In Brief  |
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"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.
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Esurance, the direct-to-consumer unit of Allstate Corp., plans to deploy an avalanche of cash on advertising in the first quarter of 2014 to help grow the business and take more direct aim at Warren Buffett's Geico. |
February 12, 2014 |
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Global insured losses were about $20 billion less than average last year, although there were several major events and several severe floods, according to a 2013 Catastrophe Review . |
February 13, 2014 |
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Lawmakers in Florida's House of Representatives are ironing out the details of private flood insurance legislation, and Rep. Bryan Nelson, chairman of the insurance and banking subcommittee that likely will handle the bill, said the measure could be introduced at the start of the coming session in early March. |
February 14, 2014 |
It's the Law  |
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The Insurance 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.
Legal Precedents Impacting the Insurance Industry within the Past Year:
| Digest | Revisor |
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Colorado's Prompt Payment Statute affects virtually all insurance contracts with few exceptions, one being, workers' compensation. The Prompt Payment statutes are codified at C.R.S. §10-3-1115 and -1116, and provide remedies to certain first-party insurance claimants, including recovery of two times the covered benefit, attorney fees and court costs. The statutes are worthy of note to insurance companies because insurers may be liable for twice -- if not three times -- the covered amount and their insured's attorney fees, even if the insured cannot show willful and wanton actions that are required for punitive damages. |
James E. Gigax
Bloom, Murr, Accomazzo & Siler, PC Denver, CO |
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The modified Workers' Compensation Act represents a substantial revision to the previous act. Twenty-eight existing statutes were amended or repealed. The new act amended certain statutory definitions, adopted the prevailing factor standard, and changed some of the notice provisions. |
McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, P.A.
Kansas City, Kansas |
The following Digests have also been recently updated:
| South Carolina | Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney, P.A. of Columbia |
To see the full list of updates, click below.
Notable Listings  |
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We are pleased to welcome the following new listees this quarter and to recognize those listees who have reached a milestone with Best's Directories.
New Listings
Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys
| Denham Springs, LA
Elkins, WV
Carmel, IN
Chattanooga, TN Saipan, Mariana Islands
Charleston, SC
Portland, OR |
Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Adjusters
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Mobile, AL |
Best's Directory of Recommended Expert Service Providers
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Dane Street, LLC - Insurance Experts
Ernest Chiodo P.C. - Accident Reconstruction, Toxiclogy |
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL |
Best's Directory of Third Party Administrators
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Portland, OR
Hamden, CT
Nashville, TN |
Best's Directory of Insurance Auditors
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Brooklyn, NY |
Best's Directory of Insurance Actuaries
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Parsippany, NJ |
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 |
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| 75 | Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C. | Buffalo, NY |
| 50 | Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC | Huntington, WV |
| 25 | Princeton, NJ Sioux City, IA | |
| 10 | Heard & Medack, P.C. Masterson & Newell, L.L.C. Meyer Orlando LLC Morris & Morris, P.A. |
Houston, TX Mobile, AL Houston, TX West Palm Beach, FL |
| Years | Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Adjusters | Location |
| 25 | Mid-America Company Morris Claims Service New England Claims Service, Inc. Roberts Claim Service LLC Tieken Claim Service, Inc. Wisconsin Adjustments, Inc. |
Urbandale, IA Benton, KS Beverly, MA McAlester, OK Wichita Falls, TX Madison, WI |
| 10 |
Salem, OH Dallas, TX New Bedford, MA San Diego, CA San Juan, PR Marquette, MI | |
| Webinars |
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A.M. Best produces innovative online presentations that connect you with industry leaders and provide the opportunity to learn firsthand about trends and developments facing insurance today.
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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. An industry panel examines regulatory developments from the NAIC Fall 2013 National Meeting, including the latest on ORSA, principles based reserving, agent impact, budgeting, unclaimed benefits, health issues, terror risk, impact of other international regulation and more.
More than 60% of auto insurance policies in the UK are purchased online, but not from insurance carriers. In less than a decade, insurance aggregators have become the dominant distribution channel for auto insurance in the UK. As aggregators are starting to establish a foothold in the US, will the market here follow a similar pattern? In this webinar, a panel of experts dives deep into this topic and provides insight into questions such as: what is an insurance aggregator vs. lead aggregator, what drove the phenomenal success of aggregators in the UK, will structural differences hinder this channel in the US, how will the entry of aggregators alter the US distribution mix over the next decade and what should insurers and agents do to be on the forefront of these changes in auto insurance distribution?
Register for our Complimentary Webinar
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 2:00:00 PM
A panel of experts will give 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, legal landscape, operational risks caused by network interruptions, social media, loss control needs and identifying what risks are encouraging a decision maker to buy insurance. |
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Don't miss any of the upcoming webinars! View our full webinar schedule, or register to attend a session.
Tradeshow/Events  |
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View the latest schedule for up-to-date information on insurance industry events from the Meetings & Conventions database.
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Meeting Name / Association |
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Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB) |
Mar. 16 - 19, 2014 | Indianapolis, IN |
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Claims & Litigation Management Alliance |
Apr. 9 - 11, 2014 | Boca Raton, FL |
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Self-Insurance Institute of America |
Apr. 23 - 24, 2014 | Washington, DC |
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RIMS 2014 Annual Conference & Exhibition Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS) |
April 27 -30, 2014 | Denver, CO |
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International Association of Insurance Professionals |
Jun. 5 - 7, 2014 | San Diego, CA |