Litigation

The administrator of BP's $20 billion oil spill fund says Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood could undermine the claims process by urging a court to intervene and by making allegations that border on defamation.

Ohio's insurance fund for injured workers is deciding whether to appeal a ruling that would allow thousands of businesses to sue over a state rate-setting plan.

The term “bad faith” is one of the most disparaging terms risk managers can level against their insurers. Bad-faith allegations are made after a claim has been poorly handled in the eyes of the risk manager, with a lawsuit often following.

Even when insurance policies clearly instruct otherwise, insureds often contact their agents instead of the carrier to report a claim. Attorney Matthew Marrone provides tips on how agents should respond to this tricky and delicate situation—to avoid their own E&O situations down the road.

As agencies focus on survival, they often overlook critical aspects of their own businesses, potentially placing themselves in a vulnerable spot. Agencies need to evaluate their own professional liability insurance coverage to be sure they are properly protected, according to Burns & Wilcox's Rochelle Elliott.

"Status-blind harassment" is becoming more of a concern to employers and their employment practices liability insurers, but while the consequences of workplace bullying are clear, appropriate steps to recognize and rein in the problem aren't always obvious.