Will Bennett Featured on Insuring Cyber Podcast

SDV’s Will Bennett joined the latest episode of Insuring Cyber Podcast. Will and host Elizabeth Blosfield, Deputy Editor at Carrier Management, took a dive deep into the captivating world of generative AI chatbots in the insurance industry and explored the benefits and risks associated with their use and the use of AI in the insurance […]

Courts Rule on Additional Insured Endorsements and Vicarious Liability

Originally published on IRMI.com, copyright 2022 International Risk Management Institute, Inc. Since the advent of the modern Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO),1 standard additional insured (AI) endorsement in the early 2000s, many insurance companies have advocated for an exceedingly narrow application, arguing that coverage is available only for the AI’s vicarious liability for the named insured’s […]

Achieving Business Resiliency to Natural Disasters Through the Lens of Risk Management and Insurance

*Published in the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning Volume 15 Number 2. August 13, 2021 Natural disasters have been occurring more frequently and with greater potency, creating a real and heightened financial and operational risk to businesses around the globe. This article aims to enhance traditional business continuity techniques and strategies by discussing how […]

“Multiple Claims” Provisions on Contractor’s Professional Liability Policy Creates a Trap for Policyholders

In Berkley Assurance Company v. Hunt Construction Group, Inc., 465 F.Supp.3d 370 (S.D.N.Y., 2020), professional liability insurer Berkley sued its insured, Hunt, a construction management firm, seeking a declaration that it did not owe Hunt a duty to defend and indemnify against breach of contract claims. The United States District Court for the Southern District of […]

Beyond the COI: The Importance of an Owner’s or Facilities Manager’s Downstream Insurance Review Program

The risk of bodily injury lawsuits is an unavoidable reality for property owners and facilities managers (“FMs”) of large commercial sites such as universities, malls, office buildings, or stadiums. Any person who steps foot on the property is a potential plaintiff, including students, tenants, customers, contractors, and vendors. Insurance mitigates these risks, but a property […]

“Protecting Yourself from Downstream Risks,” featured in FMJ Magazine

Jeremiah Welch and Cheryl Kozdrey’s recent article, “Protecting Yourself from Downstream Risks,” was recently featured in the May/June 2020 edition of FMJ Magazine, the official magazine for International Facility Management Association (IFMA). This article explores effective risk management processes, including contractual risk transfer and insurance protections from downstream parties, and simple tools Facilities Managers can […]

Construction Calamity: Risk Transfer Tips for Contractors After a Catastrophic Loss

From structural collapses to fires, the construction industry has experienced a number of high-profile catastrophes over the past decade. These disasters test the mettle of even the most experienced risk professionals and the strongest insurance programs. Issues can arise in all facets of the company’s contracts and insurance policies, and dealing with the aftermath is […]

Are COVID-19 Claims Covered by Builders Risk Insurance Policies?

If you are an attorney, insurance broker, or other professional representing developers and contractors, then your clients have likely reached out with concerns about losses related to COVID-19. One common question is whether there is potential coverage under builders risk insurance policies. The short answer is: It depends. As with most questions pertaining to insurance […]

Congress Considers Pandemic Risk Insurance Act to Address COVID-19 Business Interruptions Losses

The draft legislation, entitled the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020 (“PRIA”), would establish a Federal Pandemic Risk Reinsurance Fund and Program (the “Program”), that is intended to provide a system of shared public and private compensation for business interruption (“BI”) losses resulting from a pandemic or outbreak of communicable disease. PRIA, in its current […]

IRMI: Additional Insured Coverage: Don’t Overlook Auto Insurance

International Risk Management Institute, Inc. recently published an article written by Greg Podolak, with the assistance of Celia Waters on Additional Insured Coverage and Auto Insurance. Auto insurance can play a vital role as an insurance recovery asset to an upstream party, therefore properly navigating coverage on a downstream party’s auto policy is important. Be […]

The Murky Waters Between “Good Faith” and “Bad Faith”

In honor of Shark Week, that annual television-event where we eagerly flip on the Discovery Channel to get our fix of these magnificent (and terrifying!) creatures, I was inspired to write about the “predatory” practices we’ve encountered recently in our construction insurance practice. The more sophisticated the business and risk management department is, the more […]