XL Catlin is adding an employment practices liability insurance option to its professional liability insurance for architects, engineers, and other design businesses in the United States. It is available under XL Catlin's design professional liability policy form.
“No company is immune from employment litigation,” said Doug Strong, chief underwriting officer for XL Catlin's design professional insurance business. “The cost of litigating such claims can be overwhelming – settlements can easily run in the $250,000 to $300,000 range, even for single employee claims against small companies.”
According to XL Catlin, its employment practices liability (“EPL”) for design professionals coverage, with dedicated EPL limits separate from design professional liability limits, offers:
• Broad definition of insured person;
• Broad definition of employment practice wrongful act;
• Definition of loss includes back and front pay, pre- and post-judgment interest, multiplied damages and attorney fees;
• Defense for Americans with Disabilities Act and written employee contract claims; and
• Third-party coverage for claims from non-employees.
With capacity up to US$1 million, the design professional's EPL coverage is accompanied by loss prevention services such as a risk management website and a loss prevention hotline with access to employment legal expertise to address issues before they become a problem, XL Catlin added.
Learn more: xlcatlin.com.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].