Libsyn Directory

A Flipped Van, a Plumber on Shrooms, and the BOP Policy

Release Date: 04/29/2025

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...

Pork Shoulder Melts Insured’s Siding

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Sam is a huge Bears fan. He sets up his brand new smoker in the backyard and put a perfectly seasoned pork shoulder on to cook all day -- just in time for the Sunday Night Bears v. Packers game. The smoker was near the side of the house, but not directly next to it. After 8 hours, the shoulder was tender and ready to eat… but the insured’s siding had melted. Sam seeks coverage for the replacement of the melted siding (and for the pork shoulder he dropped when he saw the damage). Notable Timestamps [ 00:23 ] - Sonia sets out a tragic game day scenario. [ 01:16 ] - Fire is often...

Twists & Turns in Supplemental Endorsements

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Curd Appeal sells the best-looking cheeses on the block, but over the long weekend their refrigerator broke down, and now their limburger isn’t the only thing that smells. The owner argues they are covered under the BP 00 03, but the adjuster spots some holes in their argument. The owner hits back with a supplemental endorsement they purchased, hoping to find coverage any way they can. Notable Timestamps [ 03:00 ] - The five-point process for property coverage analysis includes: covered property, direct physical loss, covered cause of loss, conditions, and additional...

Sump Pump Supplemental Endorsement

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

“Simply the Vest” is a dry cleaning service with a basement full of supplies, tools, clothing, and… water. After a heavy rain, the owners discovered that their sump pump had failed, causing water to back up into the basement, resulting in damage to their property. Under their BP 00 03 form, coverage for this cause is firmly excluded. However, they paid for a supplemental endorsement with some interesting technicalities… Notable Timestamps [ 02:43 ] - When assessing coverage, always start with the underlying policy form before reviewing any endorsements, ensuring clarity on the initial...

[CLIPS] "I Didn't Think a Diamond Could Chip!"

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

We are experiencing some technical difficulties with today’s episode, so instead I thought I would share two clips that were previously cut for time. In these clips, Dana Grodin and Alison McLaney, both of Gemcor and Digipraise, answer our burning questions about diamonds, lab-grown and natural. I’ll re-insert their introduction before we hop into the clips, but the rest of the material has never appeared on this feed before. You might have caught it if you subscribe to our YouTube channel, so if you like these quick hits head over there for more. Notable Timestamps [ 00:50 ]...

[REPLAY] Join Us at the 2025 Large Loss Conference

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

This is a holiday week for the podcast, so we're replaying a classic episode. This episode has been lightly edited to remain accurate to the upcoming 2025 Large Loss Conference taking place at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, TX on Wednesday November 12 through Friday November 14. We'll be back next week with our regularly scheduled episode. Today our adjuster is leveling up in their career and handling their first large loss property claim. The adjuster quickly runs into trouble-- where can a claims professional go for help? This November 12 - 14 in...

Wind Blew Dirt On My Koi Fish

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Today's insured looked out the window and saw that a windstorm with strong 50 MPH sustained winds had kicked up soil from their neighbor's farm fields. The soil accumulated in layers over their home, garage, pool, hot tub, and all their beautiful landscaping. The garage door was open, so their home carpentry workshop and storage was covered in dirt. Even their koi pond was buried in the soil. None of the buildings were structurally compromised, but the insured will need a professional cleaning. Notable Timestamps [ 08:03 ] - Direct physical loss can include the cost of exceptional...

Is an eBike a Car? No. But is it a Motor Vehicle?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Beatriz is a city dweller who never learned how to drive a car. However, recently she got tired of the train and decided to get an E-bike. She bought an old E-bike off a friend, purchased a battery from AftermarketBatteries.biz, and soon was zipping through the streets. Her friends even got her a "bumper sticker" that reads "Beatriz's Car" for the side. But one night, it caught fire while charging outside her apartment door. Is it a covered motor vehicle under the standard ISO HO-3 form? Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - E-bikes are becoming increasingly common in cities, raising new...

Don’t Count Your Chicken Coops Before They’re Insured

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A few months ago, today’s insured decided to jump into the latest trend for a lot of suburban dwellers, and he got some chickens! He built a chicken coop and a caged in area for the chickens to be safe from predators. The coop itself looks like a very large shed with a fenced-in area extending from the coop. The insured calls up their agent to ask if there’s coverage for the coop under their HO 00 03 03 22 policy covering their home and an attached garage. Notable Timestamps [00:00] - A homeowner built a large chicken coop and asked their insurer whether it was covered under their...

The CLEAR Approach to Difficult Conversations

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Mia is a mid-level claims specialist with about five years’ experience in the job. One afternoon, she gets a call from a customer named James. He’s frustrated—bordering on furious. He’s been waiting for an update about his property claim, and from his perspective, no one communicated anything. He feels ignored. He’s escalating. Mia can tell this is going to be a difficult conversation. But instead of reacting defensively—or shutting down—she mentally runs through the CLEAR model. Notable Timestamps [ 00:30 ] - The "CLEAR Method" module, developed with Equis Consulting,...

More Episodes

A plumber drove the company truck the wrong way on a busy highway for some time before he realized, panicked, swerved, and flipped the truck. Police believe he was on illegal drugs, although he disputes it. His employer claims equipment damage under their BOP policy.

Notable Timestamps

[ 00:25 ] - The plumber (the business) is now making a claim under their businessowners policy, BP 00 03 07 13, for the $50,000 worth of plumbing equipment and parts damaged in the accident.

[ 01:45 ] - This episode was filmed at the 2025 PLRB Claims Conference in Indianapolis, right in the middle of the Expo hall at the PLRB booth!

[ 04:00 ] - The BOP: The hottest dance craze, or finally a policy too large for a pocket?

[ 04:40 ] - BOP policies are primarily on-premises forms, but a small amount of coverage exists for Off-Premises Coverage for property in the course of transit or at a premises the insured does not own, lease, or operate.

[ 06:24 ] - The highway is probably not a "premises." As for whether a van can be a premises, that might be a topic for a future episode.

[ 07:30 ] - The tools were not intended to be removed and left at the job site, so they would likely not be considered in transit.

[ 09:30 ] - Dishonest or criminal acts are excluded, and arguably it is not necessary to wait for a criminal conviction to qualify as a "criminal act."

[ 12:00 ] - If the driver was under the influence and another car swerved into its lane, one could argue that the accident would have happened anyway. In this case, if the influence of drugs is proven, it likely caused the loss.

[ 13:35 ] - The dishonest or criminal acts exclusion does not apply to "acts of destruction." There is no intent here so it's unlikely, but the case law is limited.

[ 16:00 ] - Tim provides a recap of the scenario and the points above.

Your PLRB Resources

Annotation: BP34 - Personal Property Off Premises - https://www.plrb.org/documents/bp34-personal-property-off-premises/?search=%22In%20Transit%22%20coverage%20in%20the%20BP%2000%2003%2007%2013

Coverage Question: In Transit; Stop For Gas Does Not Mean That Money Was Not In Transit At Time Of Loss - https://www.plrb.org/documents/in-transit-stop-for-gas-does-not-mean-that-money-was-not-in-transit-at-time-of-loss-pcq-2022-08-18-jem-b/?search=%22In%20Transit%22%20coverage%20in%20the%20BP%2000%2003%2007%2013

Recorded Webinar: Product Liability Cases Involving Emerging Risks: Vaping/Marijuana/Toxic Torts - https://www.plrb.org/courses/marijuana-cannabis-hemp-drugs/lessons/product-liability-cases-involving-emerging-risks-vaping-marijuana-toxic-torts/

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.

Subscribe to this Podcast

Your Podcast App - Please subscribe and rate us on your favorite podcast app

YouTube - Please like and subscribe at @plrb

LinkedIN - Please follow at “Property and Liability Resource Bureau”

Send us your Scenario!

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.

Music: “Piece of Future” by Keyframe_Audio. Pixabay. Pixabay License.
Font: Metropolis by Chris Simpson. SIL OFL 1.1.
Icons: FontAwesome (SIL OFL 1.1) and Noun Project (royalty-free licenses purchased via subscription).
Sound Effects: Pixabay (Pixabay License) and Freesound.org (CC0).

TOPICS