A Deep Dive Into a Premises Liability Claim, Part 1

The “A Deep Dive Into a Premises Liability Claim, Part 1” course teaches insurance professionals how to approach claims handling using a pre-suit premises liability scenario involving complex construction relationships and early mediation. The module is presented by Jennifer Kalvestran, Partner at Gust Rosenfeld, P.L.C.; Pete Fowler, Chief Quality Officer at Pete Fowler Construction Consultants; and David Heeman, Claims Coverage Counsel at Mutual of Enumclaw.

The course begins with an explanation of the facts of the hypothetical claim and an initial examination of those facts with an eye towards initial investigation. After discussing the various roles played by the insured and the duties implied by the initial investigation, the presenter discussed how the presentation is to proceed in the hypothetical. The presenters walk through the steps for analyzing coverage, starting with the Declarations Page and proceeding through the terms of the insuring agreement, applicable exclusions, and state-specific endorsements. The issue of tender is raised, and the course compares and contrasts Indemnity Agreements with Additional Insured coverage before concluding with a section on the role of counsel.

After completing the course, the attendee will be able to identify potentially responsible parties and the theories under which they may be considered liable; conduct an on-site inspection and ask appropriate questions of the parties in issue; proceed through a step-by-step coverage analysis; discuss available concerning faulty work; read and use Indemnity Agreements, Additional Insured clauses, and Certificates of Insurance properly; and increase awareness of the role of an attorney in early mediation. The course is designed for insurance professionals working in the area of casualty adjusting.