Insurance Coverage 101

The Insurance Coverage 101 CLE is sponsored by the UConn Law School & The Insurance Law Center, CBA Insurance Law Section, CBA Young Lawyers Section on Thursday, January 23, 2013 from 12:30 – 5:00 pm in the William Davis Courtroom in Starr Hall on the Law School Campus.

About the Program:  Learning the nuts and bolts of insurance law is the first step toward successfully litigating claims involving insurance disputes. Panelists will share the ins and outs of insurance policy construction and the specialized law governing coverage disputes.

Who You Will Learn From: The seasoned panel includes law professors, attorneys who represent insurers or policyholders, a former Administrative Manager of the Connecticut Insurance Department and a forensic accountant specializing in insurance recovery.

You Will Learn:

How policies are constructed

How to read an insurance policy to protect your clients’ needs

How to determine whether the claim falls under the policy

When to file insurance coverage lawsuit, particularly declaratory judgment actions

How to protect or defend an insurer in a breach of contract or bad faith action

How to best posture an insurance lawsuit for successful motion practice or a trial on the merits

Agenda

12:00 Registration and Lunch

12:30 Anatomy of an Insurance Policy and More

Topics include: The Concept of Fortuity, Types of Insurance, Anatomy of an Insurance Policy, Rules of Policy Interpretation, and Rescission and Cancellation

Moderator: Gregory D. Podolak, Saxe Doernberger & Vita PC, Hamden

Panelists:

Elizabeth (Festa) Ahlstrand, Seiger Gfeller Laurie LLP, West Hartford

Mark Franklin, Franklin Regulatory Consulting LLC, Southbury

Ryan Suerth, Ryan Suerth LLC, Madison

1:30 First-Party Property Insurance

Topics include: Homeowners, Commercial Property, and Builders Risk, National Flood Insurance and Claim Analysis

Moderator: Regen O’Malley, O’Connell Attmore & Morris LLC, Hartford

Panelists: Wystan M. Ackerman, Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford

Karen Cusato, Cusato Consulting, Westport

William D. Goddard, Bingham McCutchen LLP, Hartford

Steven B. Ryan, Halloran & Sage LLP, Hartford

2:30 Break

2:45 Third-Party Liability Insurance

Topics include: Duty to Defend, Duty to Indemnify, Claims Made vs. Occurrence-based Coverage, Conditions, Commercial General Liability,

Professional Liability, Umbrella/Excess, Contractual Risk Transfer and Claim Analysis

Moderator: Peter Kochenburger, Executive Director, Insurance Law Center, Director of Graduate Programs, Associate Clinical Professor of Law,

University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford

Panelists: Marilyn B. Fagelson, Murtha Cullina LLP, New Haven

Ernest J. Mattei, Day Pitney LLP, Hartford

Stuart D. Rosen, Bingham McCutchen LLP, Hartford

3:45 Insurance Coverage Litigation

Topics include: Breach of Contract, Declaratory Judgment, Extra-Contractual Liability, Implied Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing,

Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices and Unfair Insurance Practices Acts

Moderator: Michael T. McCormack, Hinckley Allen, Hartford

Panelists: John L. Altieri, Jr., Boutin & Altieri PLLC, Fairfield

Thomas O. Farrish, Day Pitney LLP, Hartford

Rachel L. Priester, The Hartford, Hartford

5:00 Networking Reception (Janet B. Blumberg Hall)