All Sums v. Pro Rata: Allocating Damages in Insurance Claims

Indemnification Strategies in Continuing Property Damage and Personal Injury Claims

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar/teleconference with Q&A


Conducted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Recorded event now available


This seminar will discuss the new Massachusetts supreme court ruling that adopts pro-rata allocation of liability for covered continuous injury claims in light of a recent California decision that permitted stacking of policy limits. The panel will outline best practices for counsel to policyholders and insurers.

Description

Policyholders and insurers alike should fully review two recent significant court decisions to understand how liability may be allocated by the courts: Massachusetts' Boston Gas Co. v. Century Indemnity Co. and California's State of California v. Continental Insurance Co.

In July 2009, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court gave a major victory to insurers. The court adopted a pro rata time-on-the-risk allocation for long-term loss. The decision impacts insurers and policyholders facing claims for progressive injury that might have started years ago.

This decision is contrary to a landmark California appeals court ruling earlier this year (also called the Stringfellow litigation) that a policyholder facing long-term property damage or personal injury claims may stack liability policy limits across policy periods to maximize recovery.

Listen as our authoritative panel of insurance law attorneys examines methods of liability allocation, the Massachusetts and California rulings, and the implications of the decisions nationwide. The panel will offer best practices for addressing indemnity issues in long-term injury claims litigation.

Outline

  1. Allocation of liability
    1. All sums rule
    2. Pro rata/Time on the risk allocation
    3. Anti-stacking clauses
    4. Loss mitigation
    5. Annualization
    6. Allocation in defense cases—how are defense costs shared
  2. Court treatment
    1. Boston Gas Co. v. Century Indemnity Co.
    2. State of California v. Continental Insurance Co.
    3. Implications of the rulings
    4. Court treatment in other jurisdictions
  3. Best practices for addressing indemnity issues in long-term injury claims litigation

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • What is the impact of these decisions for Massachusetts insurance litigants? For insurers and policyholders outside Massachusetts?
  • How does the Massachusetts pro rata allocation decision compare with California's decision that permitted stacking of liability policy limits across policy periods?
  • What steps can policyholders and insurers take to recover damages or defend coverage under policies when facing long-term property damage or personal injury claims?

Faculty

Laura A. Foggan, Partner
Wiley Rein, Washington, D.C.

She co-chairs the firm’s Appellate Practice and is a member of the Insurance Practice. She advises and represents insurers in commercial insurance work and insurance-related litigation. She also represents insurers in arbitration and mediation settings, provides testimony before state legislatures, and has contributed to the development of key insurance law precedents.

Robert M. Horkovich, Shareholder
Anderson Kill & Olick, New York

He has substantial experience in trying complex insurance coverage actions for corporate policyholders. The Chambers Guide calls him the 'go-to person' in the area of insurance recovery. He served as Counsel in the State of California v. Continental Ins. Co. (2009) matter. He has also been engaged on several significant projects by the United Nations as its General Insurance Counsel.

Ordering

Online CLE - Audio Recording

Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*. Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, MO, MT, OR*, TX, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CO, CT*, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)

Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?


Recorded Event

Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, OR, TX, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com.

Webinar Download (Audio + Slide Presentation) $49.00
Available three business days after the live event

How does this work?

Webinar on DVD (audio + slide presentation) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

MP3 Download (Audio Only) $49.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?

Teleconference on CD (audio only) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Webinar/Teleconference

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Program Materials

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Program Materials

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Customer Reviews

This seminar covered a lot of territory in a short period of time. It also assumed that the attendees had a significant level of experience coming into the program, which I did.

Louis C. Long

Pietragallo

I enjoyed the speaker's helpful insights for insurance practitioners and I particularly liked their 'best practice' tips.

Daina Bray

Phelps Dunbar LLP

The speaker's use of practical examples and not just talking about legal concepts, was very good.

Jeffrey Kaplan

Gaglione, Dolan & Kaplan

The back-and-forth between the panelists made the program easy to listen to. The slides were very well done.

Chris Kelly

Mayer Brown

The seminar was convenient and affordable.

Keita Middleton

or call 1-800-926-7926

Insurance Law Advisory Board

John D. Green

Partner

Farella Braun + Martel

William O. Krekstein

Partner

Nelson Levine deLuca & Horst

Jay M. Levin

Counsel

Reed Smith

Peter J. Mintzer

Partner

Chamberlin, Keaster & Brockman

Barry S. Neuman

Counsel

Carter Ledyard & Milburn

Andrew G. Wanger

Partner

Clyde & Co.

Sandra I. Weishart

Partner

Barger & Wolen

or call 1-800-926-7926

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