Understanding Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Lisa C. Coppolo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:13:28 GMT

UIM Laws Vary

Most states have laws that provide underinsured motorist ("UIM") insurance, which allows the insured to recover damages if he or she is involved in an accident and the driver responsible for those injuries doesn't have sufficient insurance coverage.

Significant

A FEMA Primer

Lisa C. Coppolo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:46:52 GMT

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from, and mitigating against disasters, both natural and man-made. When a disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina, goes beyond state or local capacity to respond, the President often declares an emergency or a disaster. FEMA then responds with disaster support while coordinating the assistance of up to 27 other agencies and volunteer organizations.

Understanding Reinsurance

Lisa C. Coppolo — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:48:33 GMT

Reinsurance is insurance that an insurer purchases to protect itself against exposure to large risks. The reinsurance process helps insurance companies spread and share risk against catastrophic loss. By spreading risk, reinsurance allows the insurance industry to function more efficiently. Reinsurance protects against large losses, thereby allowing insurance companies to write larger amounts of insurance, which helps them to protect their internal business again

Climate Change

Lisa C. Coppolo — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:38:24 GMT

Climate change, also known popularly as “global warming,” is already affecting weather patterns in ways that are either difficult or impossible to predict. A much greater number of catastrophic natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tornados and wildfires are nevertheless anticipated. Hot/dry areas of the world are expected to experience drought. Wet areas are expected to experience heavier rains. And all this adds up

Uniform Task-Based Management System (UTBMS) Litigation Task Codes

Lisa C. Coppolo — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:36:47 GMT

Updated in 2007, UTBMS Litigation Task Codes are an emerging issue in insurance defense practice. The codes are used by insurers and assigned to certain billable tasks. Outside counsel, who are hired by the insurer to defend an insured, are then required to use the codes when submitting bills for their time. Insurers believe that the codes allow them to objectively assess costs and rates of success amongst various counsel and control lit

Litigation Guidelines to Control Litigation Costs

Lisa C. Coppolo — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:28:46 GMT

In insurance defense litigation, in-house counsel will create a set of guidelines for outside counsel to follow as a means of managing the expenditures incurred during litigation. However, given the tripartite relationship unique to insurance litigation, litigation guidelines continue to create much debate amongst insurers and defense law firms.

Insurance Law Basics

Lisa C. Coppolo — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:55:09 GMT

Insurance Law has three areas of focus: insurance coverage, insurance defense litigation, and insurance compliance. Insurance coverage actions generally involve an insurer and the insured. The insured is seeking to recover under a policy of insurance, and the central legal question is whether the insured’s policy covers the loss or liability. Insurance coverage actions can involve complex issues, including disputes between insurers related to matters such a

Typical Tasks Performed by Insurance Attorneys

Lisa C. Coppolo — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:21:55 GMT

Insurance Coverage:

Find missing policies
Evaluate policyholder liability
Assist in pursuit of additional insured rights under other policies
Advocate insurer’s (or corporate policyholder’s) position in settlement negotiations

Types of Legal Content Typically Relied Upon by Insurance Attorneys

Lisa C. Coppolo — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:23:53 GMT

Insurance case law (insurance coverage and insurance defense)
Insurance Codes (insurance coverage, defense, compliance)
Insurance Bulletins (interpret insurance regulations)
Insura

New Appleman Premium Online Checklists

Lisa C. Coppolo — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:34:54 GMT

Launched on Lexis.com in December 2007, New Appleman Premium Online Checklists is a stand-alone online premium checklist product that supplements the master checklists included in the New Appleman Practice Guide that also launched in December 2007.

The online checklists provide step-by-step guidance through significant tasks related to insurance coverage disputes

New Appleman Insurance Law Practice Guide

Lisa C. Coppolo — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:20:08 GMT

The New Appleman Insurance Law Practice Guide packs an unprecedented wealth of procedural guidance, analysis, and strategic insights in three convenient volumes. Focusing on the day-to-day needs of practitioners, this one-of-a-kind resource:

Helps you determine the merits of a case, and then whether to arbitrate, mediate, settle, sue, or defend
Proceeds chronologically through the coverage dispute process, making it easy to track down answers at any

Do it All with the Insurance Practice Center

Lisa C. Coppolo — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:44:25 GMT

It’s constantly growing to meet your expanding workload. But you never have to look beyond the Insurance Practice Center to find the facts you need:

• Case law, statutes, administrative codes and rules

• CFR, insurance bulletins and regulations

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Lexis(R) Hub: Building your skills: