Events

Unfair Claims Settlement Practice Act

Bethany L. Barrese, SDV and Valerie A. Vladyka, Schenck, Price, Smith & King
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
10:15 am – 11:15 am.

This year’s Insurance Law Institute will focus on recent developments in bad faith law. With the passage of the New Jersey Insurance Fair Conduct Act, bad faith law in New Jersey continues to evolve. This program is an overview of bad faith law in New Jersey for both new and experienced insurance coverage attorneys. Join experienced insurance coverage practitioners as they discuss bad faith law in New Jersey, the UFCSPA and NJIFCA, as well as settlement and excess verdicts and exposures. The presenters will also discuss new trends and where we are going in New Jersey. Learn the impact of existing case law on the newly enacted NJIFCA and pick up tips that will enable you to counsel your clients and advocate their positions.

The tuition for Section and NJSBA members is $180. The general tuition is $225.

Construction Insurance Law Update

Bethany L. Barrese
1:40PM

NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 7.0 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 1.0 qualify as hours of credit for diversity and inclusion and 1.2 qualify as hours of credit for ethics/professionalism.

A Call to Action to Break the Barriers

K. Alexandra O’Neill, SDV, Denise Berger, Director of Strategy/Innovation, AECOM, Deborah Bradley, CEO and Founder, DBC Construction, Alexandra Greene, Executive Deputy Commissioner, Office of General Services, Kristen Gowen, Executive Manager, NECA Boston, Sally Librera, Senior Vice President & North America Transit Leader, AECOM, and Genevieve McJilton, Senior Project Manager, Target Properties – Construction
Friday, June 17, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

This panel will examine major issues impacting women. Several leaders will address what women need to understand about how to transform the current and historical dynamic in the construction industry.

Understanding Insurance: What Does Indemnification Really Mean?

Moderator: Jayne Czik, Vice President & General Counsel (Citnalta Construction)
Speakers: K. Alexandra O’Neill, Partner (Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.) Jeffrey J. Vita, Partner (Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.)
Tuesday, May 10th, 2022   12:00–1:00 p.m. EST

Join a 60-minute session designed to help you better understand what indemnification really means. This session will explore the scope of indemnification and how it impacts your responsibility to several parties on a construction project. Learn more about what should be included in an indemnification provision and how to manage your risk through this provision. Also discover from leading insurance professionals what must be included and what can be excluded in an indemnification provision. Take away a better understanding of how to use an indemnification provision to manage your risk and control your exposure.

Construction Coverage for Owners and Contractors

In this program, panelists will provide an overview of the coverage considerations facing owners and contractors on construction projects, common misconceptions by owners and contractors regarding coverage, and a discussion of how to help advise clients so they obtain coverage they expect and understand the limitations of that coverage.

You Will Learn
• Types of construction-related coverages
• Common coverage misconceptions
• Frequent legal issues that arise under construction-related coverages

Risk Management Strategies – What Is Your Best Solution?

Moderator: Karen Keniff, Vice President, Construction, CNA
Panel: Melinda Young, Vice President of Risk Management, Alberici Group
Jeremiah Welch, Partner, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. and
Josh Billings, Project Solutions Leader, Aon Construction Services Group

Owners are faced with uncertainty and challenges when building in today’s fluid market.

Often times, risk management is last to know. There are many considerations when embarking on a construction project and managing your risk during the procurement and contract negotiation phases. Join our panel discussion where experts from risk management, legal and insurance discuss navigating the best options. Topics will include ensuring you have the right contractual language and what to watch for when not using a standard contract.

Additional subjects will include solutions for Builder’s Risk, OCIP vs. CCIP and Professional Liability as well as how stakeholders can share benefits of a successful risk management approach. Our panel will share how and more!

Managing a Catastrophic Claim

Jeremiah Welch (Managing Partner SDV WC) and Russ Johnson (Vice President, Insurance and Surety – Skanska USA Building Inc.)
12:10 – 12:55 PM Central on October 19, 2020

This session is about the management of catastrophic claims that could destroy a company if not handled properly. Some examples include building collapse, explosion, toxic exposure, and natural disasters. The speakers will share their personal experiences and advice on subjects including navigating complex liabilities, managing multiple counsel and consultants, dealing with media attention, and maintaining relations with government entities.

Keys to a Successful Builders Risk Claim

Greg Podolak (Managing Partner SDV SE) and Mike Campo (Executive Vice President, Director – National Construction Practice – IMA Financial Group)
1:45 – 2:30 PM Central on October 20, 2020

Session Description: No aspect of construction insurance recovery is more often misunderstood and given cursory attention than the builders risk claim. This program will explore the most common pitfalls in claims that fail and identify key strategies for effectively presenting and resolving a claim.

Through The Looking Glass: The Legal Risk Landscape

Gregory D. Podolak (SDV) & Marialuisa S. Gallozzi, Esq.
October 20, 2020.  9:00am – 9:45am

Wish you had a crystal ball to foresee shifting legal exposures that might affect your nonprofit in 2021? Look no further than this workshop led by legal gurus who serve as in-house or external counsel. Panelists bring vast experience counseling nonprofit leadership teams. Enjoy a fast-paced tour of the top regulatory changes and legal risks these psychic presenters anticipate in the coming year.

Introduction to Enterprise Risk Management

Jeremiah Welch was again invited to speak in a panel discussion for USC Leventhal School of Accounting’s Introduction to Enterprise Risk Management course along with other leading insurance industry professionals. The presentation will help students understand the activities carried out by insurers and the roles of different insurance industry professionals. It will also cover the impact of COVID-19 on the insurance industry.

Coverage for an American Epidemic: Insurance Coverage Issues Stemming from Opioid Litigation

September 14, 2020  10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Brian J. Clifford (SDV), Daniel E. Bryer (Robinson+Cole) & Kevin P. Dean (Marsh USA Inc.)

Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50. This epidemic has sparked over 3,000 lawsuits throughout the nation against pharmaceutical companies, suppliers, distributors, and healthcare providers for their alleged role in contributing to the epidemic. With the targets of these lawsuits vigorously defending these suits, it was inevitable that complex insurance coverage issues would emerge. This program will analyze the insurance coverage issues implicated by the opioid epidemic, including an overview of the existing litigation and decisions to date.

You Will Learn

• The general background behind the opioid crisis
• An overview of the litigation the opioid crisis has spawned
• The insurance coverage issues raised by the opioid epidemic and existing litigation
• Anticipated future litigation and the coverage issues that will likely result

CLE Credit: 1.0 CT (General); 1.0 NY (AOP)

Effective Risk Management Planning and Claim Response to Natural Disasters

Speakers:
Tracy Saxe, President/CEO, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Frank Russo, MBA, ARM, CRIS, Founder and Principal, Procor Solutions + Consulting, LLC
Joseph Poliafico, CSP, Director, Risk Management & Global Insurance

Description:
Natural disasters are on the rise around the world. This presentation will focus on key strategies for preparing for such events to ensure that your organization can be in a position to resume operations quickly and effectively recover insurance or FEMA proceeds. This panel of experts includes perspectives from risk management, disaster restoration, insurance claims, and law. Attendees will learn about the best practices to recover from all of these crucial aspects following a major disaster and submission of a claim.

Attendee Takeaways:

• Pre-disaster strategies for preparing for property losses and business interruption
• Immediate post-disaster mitigation strategies
• Best practices for preparing and presenting a detailed insurance claim
• Common claim disputes/coverage issues faced and strategies to navigate