Monthly Archives: <span>March 2004</span>

It Can’t Be Done: Article 21.55 and the Duty to Defend

Almost two years ago, I wrote a column for “Legal Beat” entitled It Couldn’t Be Done: The Policyholder’s Idea to Reinvigorate Third Party Bad Faith. The article outlined the attempts by a very clever Dallas policyholder attorney and his colleagues …

The Hard Market’s Over … Or Is It’

Although I’ve been around the specialty industry for more years than I care to reveal (this information is in poor taste, akin to discussing a woman’s age), and now have seen multiple hard and soft markets, I’m confused. Why such …

Small Businesses Start Small Then Grow into Big Businesses

According to the U.S. Census Bureau there were more than five million firms employing fewer than 20 people in 2001, not counting the millions of people who are self employed. Another 600,000 firms employed between 20 and 499 people and …

SLSOT Sees Slowing of Surplus Lines Rate Increases

The Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas was established in 1988 as a result of legislation drafted by a committee that included Texas Surplus Lines Association members, Texas Department of Insurance staff and other insurance industry professionals, and passed by …

Package and Commercial Auto

Nuts & Bolts: Superior Access Insurance Services Inc. is offering a package and commercial auto program featuring a replacement cost with optional ACV, no coinsurance and property value guard automatic increases. Building coverage includes all buildings, completed additions and maintenance …

Fine Dining

Nuts & Bolts: Axiom Insurance Managers is offering a new Fine Dining Program. Dollars: Policy limits of $1 to $2 million, $1 million for liquor. No deductibles and minimum premium of $2500. Carrier: Great American Insurance Co. rated “A,” admitted. …

Umbrella and Follow Form Excess

Nuts & Bolts: GE Commercial Insurance has increased capacity to write Umbrella and Follow Form Excess coverage. Examples of classes include, agricultural, alarm dealers, installation and service companies, amusement parks, athletic equipment manufacturing, commercial artisan contractors, commercial real estate, component …

Commercial Property, Liability, Crime

Nuts & Bolts: The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has updated its Customarq Classic property policy. Chubb’s Customarq Classic offers U.S. and Canadian commercial customers a choice of monoline property insurance protection or a package of property, general liability and …

Specialized Truck Equipment

Nuts & Bolts: With its newly enhanced STEP SPICE policy endorsement, The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. unveiled new additions to its multi-line program for manufacturers, distributors, installers and repairers of specialized truck equipment. The STEP program includes new property …

Stock Throughput and Marine Contractors

Nuts & Bolts: Marine Managers launched two new programs, the Stock Throughput Program and the Marine Contractors Package Program. Stock Throughput is a combination of ocean and inland cargo (road, truck, rail, air) plus location coverage in a warehouse or …