![[REPLAY] Join Us at the Claims Conference show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/39830905?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY] Join Us at the Claims Conference
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
For this holiday week, we’d like to prepare you for the upcoming PLRB Claims Conference, so we’re sharing a classic episode featuring some highlights on what to expect. You might notice some details specific to the original date of taping, but we’ve lightly edited it to keep it relevant. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference! A supervisor is leading a small but mighty teams of adjusters, and they're taking their team to Indianapolis this spring for the 2025 PLRB Claims Conference. The only problem? They’ve never been before and have no idea where to...
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Do Jewelry Appraisals Lock In Insurance Payout Amounts?
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
The insured felt like she did everything right. She insured the ring when she bought it, kept it scheduled on her policy, kept up with maintenance, and filed a claim right away when it was stolen. She even submitted the original appraisal for $22,000 so the insurance company would know how much to write on the check. So she was shocked when the insurance payout was only $14,000. Apparently diamonds are cheaper today, but she thinks: "shouldn't the appraisal lock in the cost?" Notable Timestamps [ 00:45 ] - An insured may assume an appraisal amount guarantees payout, but jewelry claims...
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Hogging the Blame for a Fire Loss
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Swine & Dine Farms underwent a devastating loss when a ventilation system shut off, resulting in the deaths of 2,400 hogs. Swine & Dine didn’t own the hogs: they were contract growers raising the hogs for an “integrator,” the contract owner of the animals who is not suing for the value of the lost hogs. What liability coverage is available for these folks? Notable Timestamps [ 00:41 ] - A ventilation failure led to the suffocation of thousands of hogs raised by a Contract Grower. [ 04:47 ] - This scenario centers on farm commercial liability policies, not property...
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[REPLAY] What's Your Elevator Pitch?
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
As you prepare your new year’s resolutions, take a moment to ask, “What’s your elevator pitch?” This holiday week, we’re sharing a classic episode featuring an inspirational and thought-provoking scenario that you can bring into your personal and professional life. A claims adjuster is out at a party when they are asked: “So, what do you do for a living?” Our adjuster responds with just: “I’m in insurance claims.” That’s an “Oh no” moment. Turns out their cousin had a terrible experience on a claim and our adjuster is going to hear all about it, ending in: “You...
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[REPLAY] Is an Apple Watch a Watch?
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
During this time of year as many people are exchanging presents, I’m sure you’re all wondering exactly how those various gadgets would be classified under the HO3 policy. So for this holiday week, we’re sharing a classic episode featuring an excellent coverage scenario. 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...
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Fire on the Farm
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Sod's Country Farms was raising 65,000 chickens when a fire burned down the poultry house. After a detailed investigation, the cause of the fire was undetermined. To further complicate matters, Sod's Country Farms didn't even own the chickens themselves, but raised them for a vendor. They want to know if the property loss of the animals is covered-- and what policy would be most appropriate. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - A poultry house fire destroys 65,000 chickens, but the insured doesn’t own the birds. [ 03:30 ] - Contract Growing is common in agriculture, with farmers...
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Train Your Team at PLRB.org!
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Alex is a team leader working with a mix of experienced adjusters and brand-new claims professionals, some assigned to the field and others working behind a desk. Alex has to make sure his team has the training they need to approach their work with confidence. Luckily PLRB.org’s Education Hub has everything they need to succeed. Notable Timestamps [ 00:10 ] - The PLRB Education Hub supports team leaders like Alex with training for both new and experienced adjusters to build confidence in handling claims. [ 01:25 ] - Update #1: A new critical thinking course will help adjusters analyze...
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PLRB's Large Loss Conference: How Did It Go?
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Jamie has been a property adjuster for some time now and is ready to graduate to larger and more complex losses involving hurricanes, construction defects, historic buildings, massive commercial structures, and more. Chris is a seasoned large loss adjuster looking to hone their practice in the casualty arena and network with others in their area. To address these questions, we’ll take them to the PLRB Large Loss Conference. Notable Timestamps [ 00:15 ] - The conference attracts adjusters ready to move into larger and more complex losses, giving them exposure to hurricanes, defects,...
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[REPLAY] PLRB Building Codes: Don't Fall Down the BC Rabbit Hole
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
This holiday week, we're sharing a classic episode about the PLRB Building Codes department. The adjuster on a hail claim receives a long list of line items that are "required by code." Once the old shingles are torn off, they find rot and gaps in the sheathing, and the contractor says a thicker sheathing is now required by code. Notable Timestamps [ 00:10 ] - Ice barriers, drip edges, a double felt underlayment... Searching the internet only leads the adjuster spiralling down a rabbit hole. [ 01:30 ] - What internet rabbit holes have you gone down? [ 04:28 ] - With PLRB's updated...
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That is an Alarm, But it's Not a Fire Alarm!
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Benny’s Liquor, Fireworks & Gunpowder Emporium went up in flames last night. Motion-detector alarms caught the fire and automatically notified the police, who found the fire and called the local fire chief, but by the time they arrived it was too late. Now his insurer claims he violated his Protective Safeguards Endorsement by installing burglary alarms instead of actual fire alarms. Benny doesn't recall anything about this, but apparently it's some paper he signed when he bought the policy. Key Takeaways [ 00:37 ] - Benny’s shop burned down, and his insurer denied the claim due to a...
info_outlineA 90 year old red maple hangs over the insured’s house. One of the branches looks like it might fall, and if it does, it’s going to cause some major damage to the sun room. The insured knows this and is a diligent homeowner. One day the weather forecaster says major storms are coming through later in the week – wind and flooding are likely – so the insured hires a tree company to remove the limb safely in advance and also pays to get sandbags down on the low side of his property facing the river. The weather forecaster was right, a big storm came through, but the insured’s preventative actions worked – no damage.
Notable Timestamps
[ 00:15 ] - Now the insured wants his insurance company to reimburse him for the tree expenses and the sandbag expenses. He tells the adjuster, “I saved you from having to pay way more on repairs; I had wind coverage and I even had flood coverage. All I’m asking for is reimbursement of my costs.”
[ 01:40 ] - Of the three, only Tim is extra diligent.
[ 03:50 ] - Policies don't cover pre-storm expenses. Insurance policies typically cover fortuitous losses. The lack of coverage for preventative measures came up a lot during coverage.
[ 05:20 ] - Insurers have a duty to mitigate a loss, but there has to be a loss. It's a duty to prevent "further" damage.
[ 07:06 ] - So should insureds just let losses occur? It's a moral hazard...
[ 08:30 ] - Let's say a different tree branch fell on the house the day before & caused a covered loss. The removal of other branches would mitigate the loss, which would be reimburseable.
[ 10:37 ] - Could it be considered faulty maintenance if the insured DIDN'T prevent the foreseen loss?
[ 13:25 ] - Consider the insured asking the insurer if they would pay for a portable generator to prevent a pipe freeze. Insurance companies are allowed to pay for such a thing, if they wanted to.
[ 15:33 ] - Tim provides a recap of the scenario and the points above.
Your PLRB Resources
Pre-Storm Expenses To Protect Property - https://www.plrb.org/documents/pre-storm-expenses-to-protect-property/
Preventative Measures: Sandbagging - https://www.plrb.org/documents/preventative-measures-sandbagging/
PLRB, Duty to Protect Did Not Cover Removal of Fire Damaged Tree Where Dwelling Wasn't Damaged – PCQ.2018.08.01.jak.a – https://www.plrb.org/legacy-documents?DN=67261
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/container.cfm?conlink=sec/cq/default.cfm) at no additional charge to you or your company.
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Send us your Scenario!
Please reach out to us 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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