[REPLAY] Preparing for Hurricane Season with Tim Molony
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Release Date: 06/27/2023
There's Blood Everywhere...
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A young couple lives together in St. Pete, Florida. Their friend was vacationing in Italy for a month and asked them to dog sit for her 3 year old pit bull rescue, who had a checkered past but was doing well lately. The couple took in the dog, and one night they threw a dinner party. Out of nowhere, the dog attacked one of the guests, biting him in the leg. In the resulting chaos, blood got all over the expensive white wool carpet. The man got his leg treated at the hospital, he was fine– not suing! – the dog was returned to the shelter and now the couple is making an insurance claim to...
info_outline
Oh No, There’s Asbestos
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A derecho swept through Iowa damaging the insured’s siding, and it’s going to require a complete removal and replacement of the siding. The contractor informed the adjuster that the siding contains asbestos. It wasn’t disturbed by the windstorm and is safe now, but it will be disturbed when it’s removed, so that’s going to have to be done by specially-licensed professionals with hazmat suits according to procedure. The adjuster handling the claim is willing to pay for the siding replacement. However, she is not sure about all of those extra costs to handle and contain the asbestos....
info_outline
My Tenants Trashed My House
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
The insured bought a house in Oregon and took out insurance under a 2011 ISO HO3. He lived there for a month, but then moved back to California and started renting out the Oregon house to a local couple. Six months later, the couple disappeared with no trace and the house had been trashed. Walls were dirty; carpet was dirty; graffiti in the bathroom, hole in the bedroom wall; bottles and cans everywhere; dog urine. The insured wanted his homeowners insurer to pay for a full Coverage A cleanup and restoration. Notable Timestamps [ 00:16 ] - The homeowner rented out his house, then returned to...
info_outline
DIYer Did Their Own Repairs
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
The insured’s house in Rhode Island was destroyed in hurricane winds. The insured is a natural handyman (although his day job is an accountant), and he decided to rebuild the house himself from scratch, working diligently nights and weekends. Since he has a talent for this, materials & labor only ended up costing him less than the replacement cost estimate but more than ACV. Is he owed ACV, RC, actual cost, or policy limits? Notable Timestamps [ 00:15 ] - The insured’s home undergoes a total loss covered under the standard ISO HO3 with standard replacement cost and Coverage A limits of...
info_outline
Wildfire Smoke Never Went Away
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
The insured is a homeowner in Oregon. There were wildfires in the forests around his neighborhood, but the fire never got closer than 3 miles from his house, so he never had to evacuate. Nevertheless, the smoke was thick in his area, and enough of it penetrated into the inside of the house to leave a faint but noticeable smoky odor that does not seem to be going away. The insured is requesting smoke remediation to be performed in his house and on some of his contents. Notable Timestamps [ 00:18 ] - The interior and exterior of the insured’s home was left with a smoky odor after a local...
info_outline
Is an Apple Watch a Watch? Is a Drone an Aircraft?
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
The insured, a father of 4, was out buying Christmas gifts for his children. This year he decided to splurge and buy each of them a drone and an Apple Watch. On his way back home, he stopped to get gas, and when he went into the minimart for coffee, a thief stole everything out of the back seat. The insured notified the police and submitted a claim under his ISO 1991-edition HO3. The adjuster considers this to be a covered Theft loss, but she knows there are specific provisions in the policy for watches and aircraft. Notable Timestamps [ 00:17 ] - A theft claim is submitted for four drones and...
info_outline
My Pot Caught Fire (Before I Wanted It To)
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Your friend Joan was growing 3 cannabis plants in her home in Hawaii, intended as medical marijuana. Just as the mature plants were almost ready for harvest, the heat lamp malfunctioned and caused the crop to burn in a small fire. Joan submitted a claim under her HO policy, and wants to know if coverage is available. Notable Timestamps [ 00:16 ] - Joan’s plants were valued at $2,000 each, and she wants to know if there is any coverage under 2011 ISO HO3. [ 01:19 ] - Tim, Mike, and Alissha banter about Superbowl squares, “medical” marijuana, and the Ohio legislature. [ 03:03 ] - The plant...
info_outline
Help! They Stole My Facebook Followers!
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
[Recorded LIVE at the 2024 Claims Conference in Boston, MA!] The two head pastors of a megachurch had a falling out. One pastor left to start his own ministry, but just before he did, he changed the megachurch's Facebook password. He now has exclusive control of the account and sole access to the 100k+ followers, so the church filed a theft claim with its first-party insurer. Is this a direct physical loss to the church's property? Are Facebook followers even "property" with any means of valuation? Notable Timestamps [ 00:23 ] - Two pastors had a falling out, and one left to start his own...
info_outline
Detached Garage Converted to AirBNB
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
An insured’s detached garage burns down in a covered lightning strike, and somehow it’s not covered just because of a little side hustle? The PLRB crew hunt for coverage and find what the insurer can pay out on when an insured rents out their property without updating their insurance company. Notable Timestamps [ 00:17 ] - The insured remodeled their detached garage for use as an AirBNB rental, but never notified their insurer. The garage burned down, and the insured files a claim for the property damage, contents, and nearby oak tree that also burned down. [ 02:40 ] -...
info_outline
I Crashed My Bike Into a Tree
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Is a recycle bin a “vehicle”? Does a car antenna ripping a coat fall under the Vehicles peril? How about a poorly secured wedding dress in the backseat of a convertible? If you occasionally win a biking competition, does the loss of your bike trigger business property coverage? Join Mike, Tim, and Alissha for the lightning round and discuss bikes, eBikes, sleds, boats, and more. Notable Timestamps [ 00:15 ] - The insured is an avid cyclist who occasionally wins money from his hobby. Another cyclist cut him off and he crashed his bike into a tree while at a park, destroying...
info_outlineDuring this hiatus, PLRB on Demand! will re-run a series of its favorite previous episodes.
This episode of PLRB on Demand will feature Timothy Molony, Claims Concierge and Director of Business Development at BSC Forensics. Tim Molony’s reputation in the industry comes from working within a large national and international property insurance network. In addition to his business development role, he facilitates appraisals as both appraiser and umpire, where he is seen as impartial and balanced. He also assists carriers as an operations/regulatory consultant. Today’s podcast will explore Tim’s experience with hurricane claims and managing large teams of adjusters. We will look at how modeling, preparation, and appraisals have changed over the years, and examine how best to prepare for the unknown heading into a hurricane season.
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. Listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate. © PLRB 2022.