As a bit of an optimist, I prefer to think of things that grow. Have you ever wondered why Hawaii is so beautiful and such a huge tourist attraction? It's because it was once a steaming pile of fire and ash. Whether it is mankind or the world within which we live, the only constant is everything changes.

$6.2 million, $8.6 million, $20 million, $125 million, $150 million, $175 million, what do all these numbers have in common? Are they lottery jackpot payouts? Close but not quite. These are dollar amounts that medium to large corporations have paid out as settlements for missteps in the absence and disability space.

In 2015, Los Angeles neurosurgeon Mark A. Liker, M.D. performed surgery on plaintiff Ronald Zannini to relieve pressure on Mr. Zannini’s cervical spine. Eleven days after the surgery, Mr. Zannini experienced paralysis of his arms and legs and was taken to the emergency room.

A husband, wife, and kids were spending the night on his parents’ 65-foot yacht moored in the corner of the marina near the dock opening. The vessel was connected to two shore power lines that plugged into a pedestal on the dock.

State and federal courts in Tennessee do not recognize a common law cause of action against an insurer for bad faith. Tenn Code Ann. § 56-7-105, the “bad faith statute” is penal in nature, only applies to insureds under the policy and is to be strictly construed.

One of our adjusters was given a task assignment to investigate a claim of excess force and battery by security guards employed by the insured at a night club in the West Covina area of Los Angeles.

Stucco is an attractive and cost-effective exterior veneer system, but it has developed a bad reputation over the past couple decades because of many failures and problems with water intrusion.

“It’s a simple job,” Sandi Evans said to me from the doorway of my office. “Do you want it?” “Sure” I said, “why not?”

Figuring out your stride in any job or industry will increase productivity for you as well as your company. The question is, how?

The pleasant ambiance of a meal with friends at the Good Earth Restaurant was pierced by the sound of my phone ringing. I glanced at my watch. It was 7:33pm. With senses honed I got up from the table to return the call. My worst fears were realized; I was informed that there was a new assignment, and they needed me on the scene NOW.

Complex loss incidents require thorough and detailed investigations. As the name implies, "complex" or "major" losses require experts and litigation professionals with the knowledge and experience to efficiently complete the investigation and claim or dispute resolution.

Whether you are an insurance adjuster or fire investigator, when out on a loss site, such as a fire scene, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings and maintain situational awareness, the conscious knowledge of the immediate environment and the events that are occurring in it.

Those who practice insurance coverage law in Missouri understand the potential perils associated with an 065 agreement. Missouri passed legislation to help protect the insurers interests and thwart collusive arbitration awards and settlement agreements between plaintiffs and insureds. Missouri legislators introduced SB-HB 345 which amends two statutes—Missouri Revised Statutes 435.415 and 537.065. The bill was signed into law on June 29, 2021 and became effective August 28, 2021.

Although many states have relaxed regulations, cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, meaning that under federal law it is illegal to manufacture, sell, or distribute cannabis. This has meant that many large commercial insurance carriers, and particularly those that are publicly traded, have been hesitant to offer cannabis coverage due to the fear of federal illegality and reputational damage.

As property insurance claims slowed due to COVID-19 lockdown measures and quarantines, the frequency of cyber-attacks exploded. A study of more than 6,000 businesses by Hiscox, Ltd found that 43% of the companies had suffered some type of cyber-attack in 2020, with the victims of these attacks ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.