Errors and Omissions Coverage- Guest Bloggers- Dale Moore and Michael Hale for CPLIC

We’d like to thank Dale Moore, Client Relations Director and Michael Hale, President of CPLIC at www.cplic.net for providing answers to initial E & O questions posed by members at ClaimSmentor which we share with our blog readers as well today. Please feel free to pose additional questions in reply to this blog posting and we’ll get Dale to answer them in reply to this guest blog entry!

1)    Question:  Is Errors and Omissions (E & O) occurrence based?  Does it only cover what happens during the policy period?

Answer:  A few companies do offer E & O on an occurrence form but most professional liability insurance, of which E & O is a part, is written on a claims made basis and has been since around 1985.  On a claims made policy you can purchase retrospective coverage back for as long as you have been continuously insured.  Since this cost money you should look at the statue of limitations where you do your work and buy what you need.  Then as long as the inspection that you made or the event occurs that brings about a claim is within the retrospective period and you report to your carrier as soon as the claim is made against you, coverage at the time of your report would apply.

 2)    Question:  How long should the policy be kept in effect to cover one?

Answer:  The coverage should be in effect when you first start handling claims and should remain in effect by annual renewals until you retire or leave the business.  Most companies will offer you a one, two or three year extended reporting period after you cease handling claims for any reason which will apply to any claims brought against you during that time as long as the error occurred before you elected to start that extension. 

3)    Question:  What are the normal limits of Liability?

Answer:  Most companies offer limits from $500,000 to $5,000,000.  Most adjusters buy limits that are required by their clients as they do not have those size assets to protect. 

4)    Question:  What are minimum and maximum limits?

Answer:  A few companies will insure you for limits lower than $500,000, say $100,000 or $250,000 but not many above $5,000,000.  To obtain limits above you would buy an excess policy. 

5)    Question:  Do the different states regulate E & O?

Answer:  If you insure with a traditional insurance company that is admitted in the state that you do business then your state would regulate that insurance company.  Increasingly, adjusters are choosing to belong to and be insured by the only Risk Retention Group specifically created for adjusters. As a Risk Retention Group it is regulated by the state of domicile and registered in all other states. 

6)    Question:  What are the policies for Florida?

Answer:  Many of the traditional insurance companies would use the ISO forms to support their policies.  Some of the surplus lines companies may use some type of manuscript.  Claim Professionals Liability Insurance Company, RRG uses a manuscript policy written specifically for independent claim professionals and it may be viewed at www.cplic.net by clicking on the bar for policy.

 7)    Question:  If I already have E & O and work a storm for a company that offers E & O, what happens then?

Answer:  Your E & O is to protect you.  The company you are working for may also have a program that will protect you but you will have to see and read their actual policy to be sure.  However, their policy would not normally protect you from claims brought by them against you.  You are always better protected to have coverage specifically in your name.

 8)    Question:  Are attorney fees and court costs covered by E & O?

Answer:  A primary policy would cover defense costs if the claim against you is covered.  Defense costs would include both.

 9)    Question:  Are costs to travel to a different jurisdiction for depositions or court appearances covered?

Answer:  When your insurance company instructs you to travel that cost is generally covered; however, your lost income is not generally covered.  You will have to look at the specific language to be sure.  

10)    Question:  Is E & O higher when you are new and does it go down with experience?     

Answer:  The basis for charging for the coverage is generally the revenue you produce.  Therefore, your premium will generally increase as you become more productive.

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Note that we also think this article  from Sept 2007 which includes quotes by another CPLIC representative to be excellent info on E and O as well over at the Roughnotes.com site:

http://www.roughnotes.com/imp_cybercast/Archives/v004_September2007/index.htm

Direct contact information for Dale if you are more comfortable directly contacting them is: 

 

Dale Moore, CIC
Director Client Services
CPLIC, RRG & Carter Claims
17742 Irvine Blvd., Ste 102
Tustin, CA 92780
Tel: 877-572-7542
Fax: 714-731-4605

www.cplic.net

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CPLIC is endorsed by both the National Assn of Independent Insurance Adjusters (NAIIA) and the National Assn of Catastrophe Adjusters (NACA) based on information on both of their websites.

There is also informative information found on the Claim Professional Liability Insurance Company (CPLIC) website.

Here is also a link to their E & O survey application form found on their website.

http://www.cplic.net/Short_App.pdf

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Again, feel free to post your additional questions on E & O by replying below or in the ongoing topic at ClaimSmentor for replies by CPLIC. We’ll be sure to get the links to your additional questions to them for a response.

I’ll start off the first additional questions I’ve recently received below:

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1) What should an adjuster ask the adjusting firm for IF they are going to use their E & O carrier for coverage? At minimum, I would think they should get the carrier appropriate information such as policy number and limits and contact information. How about the coverage forms? Do you know if this is normally supplied by the Adjusting firms?

2) You mentioned the limits available. What do you recommend as a minimum for adjusters?

3) Is it hard for a new adjuster to be approved with no experience for E & O coverage?

4) What are some of the common reasons for claims…i.e..mistakes of adjusters/adjusting firms that bring forth claims under their policies?

5) Do attorney fees/ court costs mentioned in your Q & A reduce the E & O limits to pay a claim?

6) What are common exclusions on an E & O policy and typical reasons besides non payment for cancellation of an E & O policy?

7) Do needs differ for catastrophe adjusters who travel nationwide vs a daily adjuster working claims in a fixed territory?

8) Given the large number of adjusters named in lawsuits after Katrina, have you seen a large increase in E & O claims since 05 creating a need for higher limits and a definite higher priority that adjusters carry their own individual E & O policy?

9) If an adjuster does carry their own E & O policy and they are covered on an adjusting firms E &O, what is a typical “other” insurance clause as to which policy would be primary?

10) Should an adjuster work claims for multiple adjusting firms, would that change their coverage needs?

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Stayed tuned for E & O Part II when we get responses to the 10 new questions we’ve received!