Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance helps cover defense costs and damages arising from allegations of wrongful acts and lawsuits brought against an organization’s board of directors and/or officers. Under certain circumstances, the directors and officers themselves could even be held personally liable, and claims for coverage can arise under a broad array of scenarios:
- Shareholder Suits
- Whistleblower Actions
- Regulatory Agency Investigations
- Misconduct
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Discrimination
- Wrongful Termination
- Interference with Business Relations
- Corporate Insolvency
- Violation of any number of laws, including the False Claim Act, Sherman Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Dodd-Frank Act and Federal and/or State Unfair Trade Practices Acts
D&O claims are on the rise and are increasingly common for private corporations, public companies and not-for-profits, but a multitude of exclusions may bar coverage for all or part of claims:
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage Exclusion
- Pollution Exclusion
- Intentional Acts Exclusion
- Prior Notice Exclusion
- Publicly Traded Securities Exclusion
- Employment Practices Exclusion
- ERISA Liability Exclusion
- Insured v Insured Exclusion
- Uninsurability Exclusion
SDV’s directors and officers insurance attorneys understand the unique intricacies involved in handling D&O coverage issues and closely monitor merging issues and coverage trends. Our liability insurance attorneys work with clients to review their existing policies to ensure the coverage meets their needs as well as to assist in the negotiation of more favorable terms at policy renewal. If a client finds themselves in need of filing a claim for coverage under their D&O policy, SDV helps guide them through the claims process, and will zealously advocate on their behalf in the event of litigation, to ensure they receive the full value of the coverage purchased.