What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Right now we’re gearing up for next week’s PLRB Claims Conference. So this week, we’re sharing a recent episode discussing how to make the most of the PLRB Insurance Services Expo. You'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...
info_outlineWhat's the Scenario? with PLRB
An adjuster starts to close the file on a roofing claim. The adjuster had worked closely with the roofing contractor and saw the claim through to its resolution, with the contractor getting paid in full. Then the adjuster receives an invoice with a supplement, from a company in another state. Upon calling the insured, they had no awareness of this company. Today Steven Badger from Zelle LLP will address these and other topics as we continue our discussion on “hot topics” in hail claims. Notable Timestamps [00:01] - Some in the industry describe the “reclaim game” as when an insured...
info_outlineWhat's the Scenario? with PLRB
Steven Badger from Zelle LLP joins us to talk about all the “hot topics” in the always interesting world of hail and other weather-related claims. Steve will cover all the emerging trends in these claims, including current fraud and other abuse schemes, and provide his recommendations on how to address the common issues. He will also talk about what he is seeing with recent expanded use of the appraisal process. Finally, Steve will talk about how his clients are addressing these issues through underwriting and policy wording changes. Notable Timestamps [ 00:07 ] - The episode...
info_outlineWhat's the Scenario? with PLRB
The insured lives in a single-family home in Austin, Texas. While hanging a shelf on the wall in one of the bathrooms, the owner drilled right through the metal stud, directly into a plumbing pipe, causing water damage to the wall and to the carpeting on the floor. (Yes, you heard that correctly, carpeting…in the bathroom!) Should there have been some type of pipe protection near the stud? And, does code even allow carpeting in a bathroom? Notable Timestamps [ 00:08 ] - The scenario involves a homeowner drilling into a metal stud and puncturing a plumbing pipe, causing water damage to...
info_outlineWhat'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! Let’s say you’re a service provider in the insurance industry. You’ve been attending PLRB Conferences for a few years, and you’re thinking about taking the next step to increase exposure and build relationships with the right...
info_outlineWhat's the Scenario? with PLRB
A supervisor leads a team of very needy CAT adjusters! Over the course of the year, the supervisor fields many questions as it comes up in their claims. Was there hail on X date? Was there lightning in the area? This hurricane is coming soon, where can I get news about it? Winter weather caused a slip and fall!! Where can I find information on wildfire perimeters and California evacuations? For help herding all these cats, we’ll head to PLRB.org. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode introduces a scenario where a supervisor fields constant weather-related questions from cat...
info_outlineWhat's the Scenario? with PLRB
A restaurant experienced a power outage lasting over an hour and a half. Because of the outage, they decided to close for the rest of the evening, claiming lost revenue from missed dinner service. PLRB weather tools will help us explore outage duration, date and time, location, and eventual cause. As we investigate, we’ll encounter an efficient proximate cause issue, the electrical currents exclusion, and a fried squirrel. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode sets up a real-world insurance scenario: a restaurant closes after a 90-minute power outage and claims lost revenue,...
info_outlineWhat's the Scenario? with PLRB
You'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...
info_outlineWhat'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...
info_outlineWhat'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...
info_outlineSod'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 raising animals owned by vendors.
[ 05:20 ] - Under the ISO BOP, animals are generally excluded, but exceptions exist for animals owned by others and “boarded” by the insured.
[ 07:00 ] - Courts may rely on dictionary definitions when policy terms like “boarded” are undefined.
[ 09:00 ] - Adjusters should review the contract for risk transfer provisions, insurance requirements, and other-insurance clauses to understand responsibilities and potential overlap.
[ 11:30 ] - Standard BOP coverage can fall short for farming operations. Specialized farm policies are designed to address poultry risks more directly through scheduling and declaration-based coverage.
[ 13:30 ] - Declarations pages matter in agricultural losses. How buildings, poultry locations, and coverage types are defined can determine whether coverage applies or is excluded.
[ 15:30 ] - Valuing large-scale poultry losses is complex, involving age, weight, market timing, pricing data, and delay to market, often guided by specific policy language on cash market value.
[ 17:15 ] - Brennan summarizes the key points above.
Your PLRB Resources
Annotation: BP191 - Animals - https://members.plrb.org/documents/bp191-animals
Podcast Episode: Don’t Count Your Chicken Coops Before They’re Insured -
https://members.plrb.org/education/courses/dont-count-your-chicken-coops-before-theyre-insured
Listeners can email education@plrb.org for help navigating resources, requesting new content, or getting tailored curriculum support.
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.
Sponsorship
PLRB thanks SERVPRO Restoration for its Diamond Sponsorship of the 2025 Claims Conference. "The #1 Choice in Cleanup and Restoration
We have more than 50 years of experience in the cleanup and restoration industry." Visit servpro.com!
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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