Rounding the Bases to Establish Negligence
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
We’re calling “foul ball!” A spectator at a local minor league baseball game was injured when a foul ball zipped through a tear in the safety net and broke his arm. The spectator claims that the stadium owed him a safe environment, that it knew about the tear and didn’t fix it, and that the mascot wasn’t even that funny. To score, our litigant is going to have to run all four bases of the core elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - A foul ball injury at a minor league game sets the stage for a negligence analysis, focusing on...
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My Cat Set My House On Fire
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A cat jumps on the stove to get leftovers, accidentally turns a burner, and starts a kitchen fire. The homeowner has heard of an exclusion that applies to damage caused by animals owned or kept by an insured, and is concerned that the fire will not be covered. Exactly how mad should the homeowner be with their cat? (And how long can they stay mad at that face?) Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - A kitchen fire caused by a pet can initially alarm insureds who may believe the animal exclusion automatically bars coverage for any damage involving their cat or dog. [ 00:53 ] - The discussion highlights...
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Wildfire: Why Do Adjusters Get a Bad Rap?
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Wildfire claims are emotional, public, and inconsistent across carriers, so adjusters often become the face of "no." Using a real fire example, we’ll explore empathy, advance payments, uneven guidance, social media comparisons, and follow-through as tools to protect our reputation. Notable Timestamps [ 00:09 ] - Wildfire claims can be highly emotional and public, and adjusters often become the visible representative of difficult coverage decisions. [ 01:28 ] - PLRB recognizes Outstanding Claims Professionals not only for technical skill, but also for restoring lives and setting standards in...
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[REPLAY] Bumping Brewery Bollards
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
[REPLAY] This week, check out a podcast featured in PLRB's new PACE Program: "The new PLRB Advanced Coverage Education (PACE) designation is more than a credential. It’s a powerful way to strengthen your claims expertise. PACE begins with a Core Curriculum that builds a foundation in insurance basics and the claims process. From there, professionals can grow through Business LineTracks that support field-specific development, and Claims Intensives that dive deeper into essential topics like fraud and ethics. Developed with PLRB’s long‑standing commitment to high‑quality education, PACE...
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Fact or Fixture? That Ceiling Tile is Personal Property!
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
The roof of a 100-year-old farmhouse suddenly collapses under the weight of water. The building was insured under a farm policy that, in this case, only provided coverage for personal property and not the dwelling or real property. The insured claims that the carpet, water heater, and even ceiling tiles are all personal property, and therefore covered! What is a fixture? Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode explores how fixture disputes affect insurance coverage, using a collapsed farmhouse roof scenario where coverage depended on whether damaged items qualified as personal property or...
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Classes & Categories of Water: a PACE Program Exercise
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A foot of stormwater in your home, and a contractor saying "Let's dry it in place?" That was the scenario explored in Courtney Makris' PLRB Presents talk "When the Storm Hits Home: Courtney’s Personal Journey through Hurricane Helene," and today Mike & Brennan will look at that scenario through the lens of the Categories & Classes of water, with the help of a PACE Program exercise. Notable Timestamps [ 00:06 ] - The episode introduces a real-world water loss scenario tied to a major storm, highlighting how widespread damage and contractor recommendations can complicate mitigation...
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The Personal Property Inventory Game Show!
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A fire broke out in the insured’s basement, where various household and personal items were stored. The insured husband is a recreational pilot. His wife is an accountant. Their two children and dog also live in the home with them. The fire caused heavy smoke and heat damage throughout the basement and adjoining utility room. The insured provided a personal property inventory form listing everything believed to be damaged or destroyed. What falls under Property Not Covered? In this preview of the PACE program's personal lines course, we'll explore the basics of the different roles in the...
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Who’s Who in the Industry?
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A major storm hits the city. Sarah’s bakery suffers roof damage, water leakage, and equipment loss. Sarah has heard lots of insurance job titles thrown around: policyholder, agent, broker, adjuster, underwriter, actuary-- who are all these people? In this preview of the PACE program's core on-boarding course, we'll explore the basics of the different roles in the insurance industry. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode opens with a storm-damage scenario at Sara’s bakery, setting up a practical lens for understanding insurance roles and how multiple professionals intersect during a...
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The PACE Designation Program
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A claims supervisor with plenty of adjusting experience is looking to open doors to new opportunities with a credential that will signal their advanced claims knowledge. They’re also responsible for onboarding some new adjusters who are brand new to the field of insurance, and need to get ready to handle claims. As PLRB members, they’ll have access to the PACE Designation Program, which can equip participants with the skills and confidence needed to excel in key areas of claims handling. Notable Timestamps [ 02:07 ] - Introducing a fun new segment called "The Dec Page," our hosts reflect...
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What's the Scenario? 100th Episode
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
For our 100th episode, we'd like to share these clips from three exemplary episodes: one each from a property, casualty, and auto example. My Son Set Off Fireworks in My House Is there an exclusion for stupid? Join Alissha, Mike, and Tim to discuss bad decisions, wedding rings stuck on fingers, dumpster fires, and whether the choice to set off a firework inside a house is considered “intentional” under the policy. Game Show Time! What Kind of Vehicle Is It? Anytime something with wheels leads to a claim, Parker's colleagues come to Parker to find out whether the claim should fall under the...
info_outlineYou're a new exhibitor, and you're excited and anxious about your first visit to the PLRB Claims Conference. How will you handle the rushes of attendees and the breaks between them? How will you build relationships that will last after you leave the Expo floor? What tone will you strike with members? Gemcor has been attending PLRB since 1984, just three years after our dad founded the company. It’s the one conference we commit to every single year, and today we'll share our perspective.
Notable Timestamps
[ 00:58 ] - In this scenario, a new exhibitor is hoping for success at the upcoming PLRB conference.
[ 03:27 ] - The team discusses their favorite conference locations.
[ 07:59 ] - Successful exhibitors emphasize consistency and face-to-face connection as the core driver of lasting client relationships.
[ 10:57 ] - Every conversation counts, even if someone isn't a potential client at that moment.
[ 12:07 ] - Conferences surface real-time industry trends and information, from informal hallway conversations.
[ 13:19 ] - Downtime isn’t wasted time if it's used appropriately.
[ 14:55 ] - Follow-up is critical to keep the momentum going after a conference.
[ 16:40 ] - Booth presence matters: engaged, approachable exhibitors attract more meaningful interactions.
[ 17:49 ] - Dana summarizes the key points above.
Your PLRB Resources
PLRB Events: Upcoming Events - https://members.plrb.org/events/
Claims Conference: Event Site - http://www.plrbclaimsconference.org/
Affiliate Membership: Which PLRB Affiliate Membership Is Right for You? - https://www.plrb.org/affiliate/
Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company.
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Please reach out to us at 630-509-8704 with your scenario! This could be your “adjuster story” sharing a situation from your claims experience, or a burning question you would like the team to answer. In any case, please omit any personal information as we will anonymize your story before we share. Just reach out to scenario@plrb.org.
Legal Information
The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate.
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