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_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline![[CLIPS]](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/38727545?height=50&width=50)
[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 ]...
info_outline![[REPLAY] Join Us at the 2025 Large Loss Conference show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/38574745?height=50&width=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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outlineOur insured, a widow with two adult kids, dies in a house fire. Her son, who planned to move out soon, escapes unharmed. Her daughter, who lives out of state but stores a drum set in the basement, is the executrix and returns home to handle next steps and insurance.
Notable Timestamps
[ 01:00 ] - The son planned to move into his girlfriend’s apartment by the end of the month
[ 02:00 ] - The death clause in the HO3 form is explained as a critical provision ensuring the dwelling remains covered after the named insured's death until the estate can be settled.
[ 03:00 ] - The policy language of the death clause states that the legal representative of the deceased is insured for the premises and property.
[ 04:00 ] - A legal representative is typically the judicially appointed executor or administrator, not just an heir.
[ 05:00 ] - Courts have generally held that the death clause overrides the personal property of others clause, which would likely preclude coverage for the daughter's drum set as she was not a resident insured at the time of the fire.
[ 06:00 ] - The son, who was living in the house at the time of the fire, is covered for his personal property, though he cannot make a claim for the dwelling itself.
[ 08:00 ] - The son's ALE coverage would cease if he moves in with his girlfriend, and the daughter is not entitled to ALE because she was not a member of the household at the time of the named insured's death.
[ 09:00 ] - The difference in ALE coverage for the son and daughter reflects the insurance policy's goal to maintain the pre-loss situation, covering the resident son but not the non-resident daughter.
[ 10:00 ] - Coverage under the death clause is intended as a temporary measure providing peace of mind to the family while they settle affairs, and it ends once the estate is settled.
[ 11:00 ] - If the legal representative deeds the house to themselves after the named insured's death but before a loss, coverage under the original policy terminates because the insurance follows the named insured's personal interest, not just the property.
[ 12:00 ] - Once the property is deeded to new owners (even family members), they must obtain their own insurance for coverage.
[ 13:00 ] - John provides a recap of the scenario and the points above.
Your PLRB Resources
Annotation on the Death Clause - https://www.plrb.org/documents/death-ho120/?search=death
Coverage Question: “Does the Death Clause Prevent the Insurer From Cancelling the Policy?” - https://www.plrb.org/documents/does-the-death-clause-prevent-the-insurer-from-cancelling-the-policy-pcq-2019-11-19-twh-a/?search=death%20clause
Case Law Review: “Insurable Interest Lost When Executor Transferred Property To Self” - https://www.plrb.org/documents/archer-v-cotton-states-mutual-ins-co-2010/
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).