HB Litigation News

Tag: Business Interruption

  • Covid Insurance Coverage Decisions with Guest Marshall Gilinsky. Are Policyholders Catching Up?

    Covid Insurance Coverage Decisions with Guest Marshall Gilinsky. Are Policyholders Catching Up?

    According to the online Covid Coverage Litigation Tracker (CCLT) run by Penn Law there have been more than 2,300 insurance coverage cases filed over denial of claims relating to Covid-19. Restaurants and bars were hardest hit by the pandemic and so led the way in seeking – and being denied – coverage, too. They are also leading the way in suing their insurers. The top five insurers in the defense position are Chubb Limited at #5, then #4 Lloyds of London, #3 Cincinnati Financial, and #2 Zurich.  And in the #1 position facing the most coverage suits is Hartford. 

    The insurance industry started off strong when this litigation began, winning the vast majority of the coverage suits. And they continue to do well, scoring with the argument that many of the claims do not involve actual property damage. Government closures don’t cause property damage, they argue. Courts have largely been siding with the carriers – but not all. Policyholders, a tenacious bunch, appear to be chipping away at the body of law in this suddenly expanding category.

    A recent case involving a New Orleans restaurant against Lloyd’s was penciled into the win column for carriers by a trial court , but an appeals court erased it and wrote the policyholder a narrow 3-2 victory. The appeals court said the language of the policy was ambiguous, and therefore had to be construed in favor of the restaurant.  What’s it  mean? Does this bode well for policyholders? Or can we expect to see, as we did in previous coverage wars, a mixed bag of decisions across the nation?

    For more on that case and today’s Covid coverage landscape, listen to my interview with Marshall Gilinsky, a shareholder in the New York office of Anderson Kill. Marshall has represented policyholders of various policy types for two decades, including those seeking coverage in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and Superstorm Sandy. Thanks to Marshall for sharing his insights.

    This podcast is the audio companion to the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation. The Journal is a collaborative project between HB Litigation Conferences and the Fastcase legal research family, which includes Full Court Press, Law Street Media, and Docket Alarm. The podcast itself is a joint effort between HB and our friends at Law Street Media. If you have comments or wish to participate in one our projects please drop me a note at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.

    P.S. Please excuse my periodic memory lane strolls as I waxed nostalgic while stroking the gray bristles of my chin about the pollution exclusion, the sudden and accidental exception to the exclusion, and, you know, what really does it mean for something to “occur”? I’ve led a heart-stopping existence. And so can you.

    Tom Hagy

    (actual size)

    Tom Hagy
    Host
    Emerging Litigation Podcast

    Marshall Gilinsky

    Marshall GilinskyAnderson Kill

    Marshall Gilinsky is a shareholder in the New York office of Anderson Kill and practices in the firm’s Insurance Recovery and Commercial Litigation Departments. Marshall is co-chair of the firm’s Sexual Harassment and Abuse Insurance Recovery Group, and a member of the firm’s Banking and Lending Group and Hospitality Industry Practice Group.

    During his 20-year career representing policyholders, Marshall has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, successfully litigating disputed claims under a variety of insurance products, including property and business interruption insurance, commercial general liability (CGL) insurance, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, directors’ and officers’ (D&O) insurance and life insurance. Marshall has represented clients on numerous high-stakes, complex insurance claims arising out of prominent losses such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy and the “Big Dig” in Boston. He also focuses extensively on assisting clients that own and manage captive insurance companies, especially with respect to resolving coverage disputes between the captive and its reinsurers.

  • Maximizing Insurance as Climate Change Intensifies

    Maximizing Insurance as Climate Change Intensifies

    HB presents an Anderson Kill webinar on-demand

    MAXIMIZING INSURANCE RECOVERY AS

    CLIMATE CHANGE INTENSIFIES

    As weather-induced disasters continue to intensify, maximizing insurance coverage after major storms, floods, wildfires, and other natural cataclysms is an essential survival skill for any business.

    In this session, attorneys who have successfully litigated property, business interruption and contingent business interruption claims from Hurricanes Katrina through Ida, along with wildfire and other major disaster claims, walk participants through all phases of insurance recovery, from buying the right policies to pursuing claims with persistence and awareness of pitfalls, to litigating successfully when necessary. Specific lessons from Hurricanes Sandy (2012), Harvey (2017) and Maria and Irma (2020) will be addressed.

    Topics:

    • Developing a pre-storm preparedness plan, including mitigation efforts, assembly of a claims team, and insurance coverage review;
    • Moving quickly to protect property from further damage, performing all emergency repairs, and documenting all losses in detail;
    • Preparing and presenting well-supported property damage claims;
    • Recognizing and including business interruption losses and extra expense outlays;
    • Highlighting policy interpretation issues that affect the scope of available coverage;
    • Outlining strategies for pursuing claims and incentivizing the insurance company to resolve them with due speed.

    On-Demand Registration

    Includes

    • 1+ CLE credits (subject to bar rules). CLE codes are embedded in the video. CLE questions?
    • Insights from experienced professionals.
    • The complete PowerPoint presentation.
    • Continued access to the complete recording for later use.
    • Answers to your questions via email to the presenters, or write to HB.

    Meet the Panel

    Finley Harckham
    Anderson Kill

    Finley is a senior litigation shareholder in the New York office of Anderson Kill and serves on
    the firm’s Executive Committee. Finley regularly represents and advises corporate policyholders and
    other entities in insurance coverage matters. He has successfully litigated, arbitrated and settled
    hundreds of complex coverage claims. His areas of particular focus include property loss, environmental,
    business interruption, directors and officers liability, construction, professional liability, aviation liability,
    cyber and general liability claims.

    Finley also has extensive experience in the field of international arbitration. His arbitration clients
    include government contractors, consumer products companies and manufacturers which Anderson Kill
    has represented in a wide range of disputes involving, among other things, service contracts, the
    purchase and sale of components, raw materials and products, and licensing agreements. He has
    successfully prosecuted and defended arbitrations in European countries and the United States under
    the London Arbitration Act, and the AAA, ICC and UNCITRAL arbitration rules.

    More about Finley

    Rhonda D. Orin
    Anderson Kill

    Rhonda is the managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. She is also co-chair of the COVID Task Group. Rhonda represents policyholders in coverage cases nationwide, including cyber liability, third-party tort and environmental liability claims, first-party property damage and business interruption claims, directors & officers liability, errors & omissions liability, fidelity bonds and alternative risk transfer arrangements, including for employee benefit plans.

    She has served as lead counsel in multiple jury and bench trials, argued before the highest courts of several states, and appeared in two cases before U.S. Supreme Court. Through jury verdicts, summary judgment decisions and confidential settlements before and during litigation, she has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for policyholders, including nine-figure recoveries.

    More about Rhonda

    Dennis J. Artese
    Anderson Kill

    Dennis is a shareholder in the New York office of Anderson Kill. He is also co-chair of the firm’s Construction Industry practice group and a member of the COVID Task group. Dennis’ national practice concentrates on all types of insurance recovery litigation, with an emphasis on securing insurance coverage for construction-related first-party property losses and third-party liability claims as well as for property and business interruption losses stemming from natural disasters and other perils.

    Dennis has substantial experience in all phases of litigation, arbitration and property insurance appraisals, and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars of insurance proceeds on behalf of policyholders in connection with a variety of property, builder’s risk, commercial general liability, umbrella and excess liability, D&O, E&O, crime, and political risk insurance claims. Dennis also has extensive experience in litigating insurance broker malpractice cases and other general commercial litigation disputes, including construction-related disputes. Dennis has been recognized by Super Lawyers for Insurance Coverage since 2012. He also has been recognized by Legal 500 for Insurance Advice to Policyholders and singled out as being a “superb lawyer and subject-matter expert.”

    More about Dennis

    Ronald Papa
    National Fire Adjustment Co.

    Ronald has been instrumental in NFA’s growth for more than 30 years. He has successfully adjusted more than 2,000 insurance losses working for a wide range of clients. Ron earned the prestigious designation of Senior Professional Public Adjuster and is accredited by the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), of which he is past president.

    He was named Person of the Year by NAPIA for “outstanding leadership” and recently addressed the National Symposium of Insurance Commissioners at their conference in Florida. Ron is approved as an instructor by numerous State Insurance Departments, the New York State Bar Association, and the Society of CPAs. He graduated from Niagara University.

    More about Ronald

    On Demand Registration

  • Vince Vitkowsky on Insurance Coverage for Civil Unrest

    Vince Vitkowsky on Insurance Coverage for Civil Unrest

    Civil unrest. Peaceful protests. Massive marches. Riots. Looting.  Which of these things are not like the other? Recent social outrage over police shootings of Black people — these events in particular — have sent people to the streets by hundreds of thousands. In some cases these constitutionally protected activities are followed by property damage, injury and death. Observers continue to debate who is responsible for the violence.  Whatever the answer, as a very practical matter, someone has to pay for the property damage.

    Join me for my conversation with Vince Vitkowsky of Gfeller Laurie LLP.  Vince  possesses deep knowledge of insurance coverage matters, representing carriers in a variety of areas, e.g. cyber risk, data privacy, general liability, directors and officers liability, health, and more. He combines his experience as a veteran insurance and reinsurance lawyer with a strong background in terrorism and national security law.

    This podcast is the audio companion to the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation, a collaborative project between HB Litigation Conferences and the Fastcase legal research family, which includes Full Court Press, Law Street Media, Docket Alarm and, most recently, Judicata. If you have comments or wish to participate in one our projects, or want to tell me how insightful and informative Vince is , please drop me a note at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.

    I hope you enjoy the interview, and how deftly we obscured the fact that Vince lives in New York City.

    Safeguarding Against Financial Exploitation

    An on-demand CLE-eligible webinar Safeguarding Against Financial Exploitation   America’s senior population is growing. Nearly one in five U.S. residents will be 65 or older in 2030. Which means the average age of U.S. investors is climbing too. With that comes the risk that they will be exploited by people with access – or gain access through nefarious methods – to their investment portfolio. Seniors and vulnerable persons lose billions of dollars each year. Remarkably, 90% of the people to take advantage of senior investors are members of their own family. Attorneys who represent senior clients need to know the signs of vulnerability, red flags that their clients are being exploited, what laws apply, and rules lawyers must follow in these matters.   Questions our speakers answer: What is senior / vulnerable investor exploitation?   Who is protected by state and federal laws?   How prevalent is senior financial exploitation? What do the numbers tell us?  What is the pace of financial abuse SAR filings by securities firms?  What are the most popular scams?   What is diminished capacity?  What are the red flags indicating possible exploitation?  What are the laws, rules, and regulations governing law firms?  What are some best practices for law firms?  How can firms best protect their senior clients?   On Demand CLE Webinar What You Get PowerPoint and supplemental materials. Complete recording for later review. Answers to your questions via email. Invitation to contact speakers. 1.5 CLE credits (for licensed attorneys). CLE assistance.* *Subject to state bar rules. For licensed attorneys.  Register Meet the Speakers Joseph Calabrese Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. A 1991 Graduate of St. John’s University Law School, Mr. Calabrese brings 30 years of practice and 18 years of Securities Litigation/Regulatory experience to his role as principal in the New York office of  Bressler, Amery & Ross’s Financial Institutions Group. He began his career as a Wall Street litigator as an associate general counsel for Citigroup’s Smith Barney and […]

    Lien Resolution: Government & Private Plans Get Aggressive (Against Attorneys)

    Includes Nearly 75 minutes of insights from experienced professionals. CLE credit: 1+ (subject to bar rules). For CLE questions: CLE@LitigationConference.com The complete Power Point presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions via email to the presenters or write to HB and we will be sure to contact the speakers. What can you do to settle personal injury suits cleanly and avoid costly litigation and penalties? What recent cases can inform you about protecting your settlements and, as attorneys, yourselves, from post-settlement federal lawsuits? How can your firm set itself up to meet government expectations? What role might experts play in navigating these pitfalls? Medicare Advantage (42 USC § 1395w-22) Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (FMCRA) (42 USC § 2651) Armed Forces Act (10 USC §1095) Veterans’ Benefits (38 USC §1729) Third-Party Collection Rules (32 CFR 537.24; 38 CFR 17.101, etc.) Set-Asides under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act (42 USC § 1395y(b)(2)] On Demand Registration Lien Resolution Government & Private Plans Get Aggressive (Against Attorneys!) On Demand | Recorded September 2020 It is increasingly common these days. Personal injury attorneys settle a case, only to find themselves sued by a U.S. Attorney for failing to reimburse Medicare for conditional payments as required by the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. In some cases the attorney may be required to pay fines in addition to the reimbursements and interest, a costly proposition. Are you up to speed on issues surrounding Medicare Advantage, TRICARE, veterans’ claims, and Medicare set-asides? Join nationally recognized healthcare lien and resolution expert Franklin P. Solomon and go-to lien resolution provider Brett Newman as they offer a practical, in-depth CLE presentation. Franklin P. Solomon, Esq. Attorney & Founder, Solomon Law Firm  A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law at Camden, Franklin Solomon is based in Cherry Hill, NJ, with a practice focused on evaluation, litigation and resolution of healthcare “liens” and reimbursement claims. Mr. Solomon represents personal injury victims and their attorneys […]

    Telepsychiatry: Mitigating the Risks

    REGISTER Registration Includes Nearly 90 minutes of insights from experienced professionals. CLE credit: 1+ (subject to bar rules). For CLE questions: CLE@LitigationConference.com The complete Power Point presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions via email to the presenters or write to HB and we will be sure to contact the speakers. Understand the risks associated with telepsychiatry and how to manage them.  Telemedicine has emerged as an important solution for healthcare in general and psychiatric medicine specifically during the current global pandemic. Remote access for sub-practices including addiction counseling have been commonly used. Our panel of psychiatric professionals who have served as expert witnesses and attorneys who counsel and represent physicians have prepared a 90-minute session to share insights with attorneys, physicians, healthcare providers, risk professionals, and more. Agenda Examining procedures and best practices that exist for ensuring confidentiality in a telemedicine practice How do you draft a telepsychiatric consent form? What is the emerging standard of care for telemedicine? Will the standard of care for telemedicine become a national standard? (Should it?) Review the case law addressing telemedicine or telepsychiatry How do the HIPAA regulations and HITECH privacy laws impact telemedicine? How have the HIPAA regulations and HITECH privacy laws been relaxed during the pandemic? Will the relaxed HIPAA and HITECH regulations impacting telemedicine continue past the pandemic? Which technical platforms are preferred? Which ones to avoid? Panelists Mark Levy, M.D., Medical Director at fpamed David Kan, M.D., UCSF Psychiatry Department and the California Society for Substance Abuse Medicine Ayesha Ashai, M.D., associated with fpamed Stephen M. Fatum, J.D., Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP Angela W. Russell, J.D., Partner, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP Meet our physician and attorney panelists. Mark Levy MD Medical Director fpamed Dr. Levy is a graduate of Columbia College (A.B. 1967) and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (M.D. 1971) in New York. He is a Physician […]

    The Commercial Drone Industry: Privacy, Security, Threats, and Mitigation of Risk

    HB presents a CLE-eligible webinar Now on-demand at the West LegalEdcenter THE COMMERCIAL DRONE INDUSTRY Privacy, Security, Threats, and Mitigation of Risk Drones have become an increasingly valuable tool for businesses of all types and sizes. Drones are already being used in many applications, but more will certainly arise as the technology advances. This means that certain risks, like cyber threats, will also continue to present themselves. Protecting the transmission and storage of data collected through drones is critical. Unfortunately, security usually comes as an afterthought. The drone industry is part of the aviation industry, which, based on its knowledge, keeps safety as a number one concern. Part of that safety is having proper protection for your systems, including security as a fundamental design principle. Take this webinar to gain insights on the topics listed below, and shared by an attorney who practices on the cutting-edge of this evolving technology. Topics: Defining drones. Current and future applications. FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. FAA Part 107 Regulations and waivers. Resources, e.g. the FAA Drone Zone and LAANC Portal. Penalties for violations. Privacy implications. Drones as weapons. Vulnerability to cyber attacks. Take it now! What you get: 1+ CLE credits (subject to bar rules). Insights from an experienced professional who specializes in this area of the law. The complete PowerPoint presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions. Fee: No additional charge to subscribers to the West LegalEdcenter. Non-subscribers may take the course for $170. Meet the Speaker Kathryn Rattigan Robinson & Cole LLP Kathryn Rattigan is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Group and Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team. She advises clients on data privacy and security, cybersecurity, and compliance with related state and federal laws. She assists clients in assessing risks related to technology and software contracts, as well as with compliance-related issues with outsourcing and […]

    The Intersection of Privacy and Antitrust Webinar Now Available On-Demand on the West LegalEdcenter

    Available as part of your subscription to The Thomson Reuters West LegalEdcenter®. Don’t subscribe to the West LegalEdcenter? This webinar is still available directly from HB. Take it now! Questions for speakers Questions@LitigationConferences.com CLE questions CLE@LitigationConferences.com Check out the MoginRubin blog for more insights on antitrust and privacy law. What attorneys and companies need to know about the increasing interplay between these critical areas of the law.  Highly publicized cases and investigations in the U.S. and Europe of big technology, e-commerce, and social media companies demonstrate how anti-competition laws are being used to scrutinize and challenge not only how these corporations conduct themselves in the marketplace, but the very core of their colossal success: the mass collection and utilization of user data. Are the privacy and antitrust worlds beginning to cross over? Or do they simply run parallel while addressing entirely different types of conduct? Whatever the answer, data is the raw material that drives the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon, so how it is handled is a critical question when counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions. Moderator Daniel J.  Mogin | Managing Partner, MoginRubin LLP Speakers Jennifer M. Oliver, CIPP/US | Partner, MoginRubin LLP Thomas N. Dahdouh | Director, Western Region, Federal Trade Commission Franklin M. Rubinstein | Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Randi W. Singer, CIPP/US, CIPT | Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges Contributor Dina Srinivasan | Independent Researcher & Author of The Antitrust Case Against Facebook Dina was unable to present but we thank her for her content contributions.  Agenda Who should regulate privacy violations in the U.S.? Which antitrust issues implicate privacy concerns? What role does machine learning play on the competitive landscape? What is big data really? How is it different from “data”? What are the elements of effective merger reviews? What are the appropriate remedies? What are “notice-and-choice” versus “harms-based” approaches? Plus answers to your questions. Send them to Questions@LitigationConferences.com.

  • Melicent Thompson on Coverage for Covid-19 Business Income Losses

    Melicent Thompson on Coverage for Covid-19 Business Income Losses

    Melicent B. Thompson on COVID-19 Coverage

    Melicent Thompson

    Abstract
    COVID-19 indisputably has taken an enormous economic toll. Governmental shutdown orders early in the pandemic and ongoing restrictions on business’ operations have resulted in a flood of claims for insurance coverage for business income losses attributable to those orders and restrictions. This article reviews the litigation and legislative developments directed at attempting to find insurance coverage for such losses and the reasons why those efforts have been unsuccessful for the most part.

    Author
    Melicent B. Thompson (mthompson@gllawgroup.com) is a Partner with the law firm Gfeller Laurie, LLP, in West Hartford, Connecticut. She thanks her fellow Gfeller Laurie, LLP attorneys who contributed to this article. Melicent has close to 25 years of experience in litigation and corporate counseling. She actively practices in Connecticut and Georgia courts in insurance coverage, business disputes, professional liability claims, defense of educational and financial institutions and general liability. Her insurance coverage practice encompasses all areas of first and third party claims and related litigation services, including declaratory judgment actions, defense of bad faith claims and reinsurance matters. Melicent has substantial appellate court experience, having briefed and argued appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts. Her pro bono work includes serving as General Counsel to the Board of Directors of Gifts of Love, a charity providing basic needs to the working poor, based in Avon, Connecticut. She also serves as a member of the Advisory Council of Bay Path University (Longmeadow, Massachusetts).

    About
    The Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation is a co-production of HB, Fastcase, and Law Street Media. You can also hear the complementary (and complimentary) Emerging Litigation Podcast wherever podcasts appear. For questions, contact Tom Hagy, Editor in Chief, at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.

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    Safeguarding Against Financial Exploitation

    An on-demand CLE-eligible webinar Safeguarding Against Financial Exploitation   America’s senior population is growing. Nearly one in five U.S. residents will be 65 or older in 2030. Which means the average age of U.S. investors is climbing too. With that comes the risk that they will be exploited by people with access – or gain access through nefarious methods – to their investment portfolio. Seniors and vulnerable persons lose billions of dollars each year. Remarkably, 90% of the people to take advantage of senior investors are members of their own family. Attorneys who represent senior clients need to know the signs of vulnerability, red flags that their clients are being exploited, what laws apply, and rules lawyers must follow in these matters.   Questions our speakers answer: What is senior / vulnerable investor exploitation?   Who is protected by state and federal laws?   How prevalent is senior financial exploitation? What do the numbers tell us?  What is the pace of financial abuse SAR filings by securities firms?  What are the most popular scams?   What is diminished capacity?  What are the red flags indicating possible exploitation?  What are the laws, rules, and regulations governing law firms?  What are some best practices for law firms?  How can firms best protect their senior clients?   On Demand CLE Webinar What You Get PowerPoint and supplemental materials. Complete recording for later review. Answers to your questions via email. Invitation to contact speakers. 1.5 CLE credits (for licensed attorneys). CLE assistance.* *Subject to state bar rules. For licensed attorneys.  Register Meet the Speakers Joseph Calabrese Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. A 1991 Graduate of St. John’s University Law School, Mr. Calabrese brings 30 years of practice and 18 years of Securities Litigation/Regulatory experience to his role as principal in the New York office of  Bressler, Amery & Ross’s Financial Institutions Group. He began his career as a Wall Street litigator as an associate general counsel for Citigroup’s Smith Barney and […]

    Lien Resolution: Government & Private Plans Get Aggressive (Against Attorneys)

    Includes Nearly 75 minutes of insights from experienced professionals. CLE credit: 1+ (subject to bar rules). For CLE questions: CLE@LitigationConference.com The complete Power Point presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions via email to the presenters or write to HB and we will be sure to contact the speakers. What can you do to settle personal injury suits cleanly and avoid costly litigation and penalties? What recent cases can inform you about protecting your settlements and, as attorneys, yourselves, from post-settlement federal lawsuits? How can your firm set itself up to meet government expectations? What role might experts play in navigating these pitfalls? Medicare Advantage (42 USC § 1395w-22) Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (FMCRA) (42 USC § 2651) Armed Forces Act (10 USC §1095) Veterans’ Benefits (38 USC §1729) Third-Party Collection Rules (32 CFR 537.24; 38 CFR 17.101, etc.) Set-Asides under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act (42 USC § 1395y(b)(2)] On Demand Registration Lien Resolution Government & Private Plans Get Aggressive (Against Attorneys!) On Demand | Recorded September 2020 It is increasingly common these days. Personal injury attorneys settle a case, only to find themselves sued by a U.S. Attorney for failing to reimburse Medicare for conditional payments as required by the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. In some cases the attorney may be required to pay fines in addition to the reimbursements and interest, a costly proposition. Are you up to speed on issues surrounding Medicare Advantage, TRICARE, veterans’ claims, and Medicare set-asides? Join nationally recognized healthcare lien and resolution expert Franklin P. Solomon and go-to lien resolution provider Brett Newman as they offer a practical, in-depth CLE presentation. Franklin P. Solomon, Esq. Attorney & Founder, Solomon Law Firm  A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law at Camden, Franklin Solomon is based in Cherry Hill, NJ, with a practice focused on evaluation, litigation and resolution of healthcare “liens” and reimbursement claims. Mr. Solomon represents personal injury victims and their attorneys […]

    Telepsychiatry: Mitigating the Risks

    REGISTER Registration Includes Nearly 90 minutes of insights from experienced professionals. CLE credit: 1+ (subject to bar rules). For CLE questions: CLE@LitigationConference.com The complete Power Point presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions via email to the presenters or write to HB and we will be sure to contact the speakers. Understand the risks associated with telepsychiatry and how to manage them.  Telemedicine has emerged as an important solution for healthcare in general and psychiatric medicine specifically during the current global pandemic. Remote access for sub-practices including addiction counseling have been commonly used. Our panel of psychiatric professionals who have served as expert witnesses and attorneys who counsel and represent physicians have prepared a 90-minute session to share insights with attorneys, physicians, healthcare providers, risk professionals, and more. Agenda Examining procedures and best practices that exist for ensuring confidentiality in a telemedicine practice How do you draft a telepsychiatric consent form? What is the emerging standard of care for telemedicine? Will the standard of care for telemedicine become a national standard? (Should it?) Review the case law addressing telemedicine or telepsychiatry How do the HIPAA regulations and HITECH privacy laws impact telemedicine? How have the HIPAA regulations and HITECH privacy laws been relaxed during the pandemic? Will the relaxed HIPAA and HITECH regulations impacting telemedicine continue past the pandemic? Which technical platforms are preferred? Which ones to avoid? Panelists Mark Levy, M.D., Medical Director at fpamed David Kan, M.D., UCSF Psychiatry Department and the California Society for Substance Abuse Medicine Ayesha Ashai, M.D., associated with fpamed Stephen M. Fatum, J.D., Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP Angela W. Russell, J.D., Partner, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP Meet our physician and attorney panelists. Mark Levy MD Medical Director fpamed Dr. Levy is a graduate of Columbia College (A.B. 1967) and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (M.D. 1971) in New York. He is a Physician […]

    The Commercial Drone Industry: Privacy, Security, Threats, and Mitigation of Risk

    HB presents a CLE-eligible webinar Now on-demand at the West LegalEdcenter THE COMMERCIAL DRONE INDUSTRY Privacy, Security, Threats, and Mitigation of Risk Drones have become an increasingly valuable tool for businesses of all types and sizes. Drones are already being used in many applications, but more will certainly arise as the technology advances. This means that certain risks, like cyber threats, will also continue to present themselves. Protecting the transmission and storage of data collected through drones is critical. Unfortunately, security usually comes as an afterthought. The drone industry is part of the aviation industry, which, based on its knowledge, keeps safety as a number one concern. Part of that safety is having proper protection for your systems, including security as a fundamental design principle. Take this webinar to gain insights on the topics listed below, and shared by an attorney who practices on the cutting-edge of this evolving technology. Topics: Defining drones. Current and future applications. FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. FAA Part 107 Regulations and waivers. Resources, e.g. the FAA Drone Zone and LAANC Portal. Penalties for violations. Privacy implications. Drones as weapons. Vulnerability to cyber attacks. Take it now! What you get: 1+ CLE credits (subject to bar rules). Insights from an experienced professional who specializes in this area of the law. The complete PowerPoint presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions. Fee: No additional charge to subscribers to the West LegalEdcenter. Non-subscribers may take the course for $170. Meet the Speaker Kathryn Rattigan Robinson & Cole LLP Kathryn Rattigan is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Group and Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team. She advises clients on data privacy and security, cybersecurity, and compliance with related state and federal laws. She assists clients in assessing risks related to technology and software contracts, as well as with compliance-related issues with outsourcing and […]

    The Intersection of Privacy and Antitrust Webinar Now Available On-Demand on the West LegalEdcenter

    Available as part of your subscription to The Thomson Reuters West LegalEdcenter®. Don’t subscribe to the West LegalEdcenter? This webinar is still available directly from HB. Take it now! Questions for speakers Questions@LitigationConferences.com CLE questions CLE@LitigationConferences.com Check out the MoginRubin blog for more insights on antitrust and privacy law. What attorneys and companies need to know about the increasing interplay between these critical areas of the law.  Highly publicized cases and investigations in the U.S. and Europe of big technology, e-commerce, and social media companies demonstrate how anti-competition laws are being used to scrutinize and challenge not only how these corporations conduct themselves in the marketplace, but the very core of their colossal success: the mass collection and utilization of user data. Are the privacy and antitrust worlds beginning to cross over? Or do they simply run parallel while addressing entirely different types of conduct? Whatever the answer, data is the raw material that drives the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon, so how it is handled is a critical question when counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions. Moderator Daniel J.  Mogin | Managing Partner, MoginRubin LLP Speakers Jennifer M. Oliver, CIPP/US | Partner, MoginRubin LLP Thomas N. Dahdouh | Director, Western Region, Federal Trade Commission Franklin M. Rubinstein | Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Randi W. Singer, CIPP/US, CIPT | Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges Contributor Dina Srinivasan | Independent Researcher & Author of The Antitrust Case Against Facebook Dina was unable to present but we thank her for her content contributions.  Agenda Who should regulate privacy violations in the U.S.? Which antitrust issues implicate privacy concerns? What role does machine learning play on the competitive landscape? What is big data really? How is it different from “data”? What are the elements of effective merger reviews? What are the appropriate remedies? What are “notice-and-choice” versus “harms-based” approaches? Plus answers to your questions. Send them to Questions@LitigationConferences.com.

  • Chubb’s COVID-19 Claim Denials Draw Litigation from Hollywood

    Chubb’s COVID-19 Claim Denials Draw Litigation from Hollywood

    By Tom Hagy

    Editor and Managing Director
    HB Litigation Conferences
    Editor@LitigationConferences.com

    Chubb’s COVID-19 Claim Denials Draw Litigation from Hollywood

    Well-known policyholder and insurance recovery attorney Kirk Pasich and his firm have sued Chubb insurance companies on behalf of policyholders in the entertainment industry to recover millions in losses they suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Entertainment Business Interruption

    On Nov. 11, 2020, the firm filed suit on behalf of United Talent Agency LLC in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Vigilant Insurance Co. and Federal Insurance Co. UTA seeks coverage for the millions it lost when concerts and television and movie projections had to be cancelled. The complaint says both carriers are part of the Chubb group, “which has adopted a universal practice of denying coverage for all business interruption claims associated with SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19, and subsequent events” (UTA v. Vigilant, No. 20STCV43745, Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles). Acts affected include Post Malone, Guns N’ Roses, and Toby Keith.

    The case hinges in part on the carriers’ assertion that there was no “physical loss or damage.” UTA finds Vigilant based its finding on little information, and knowing for decades that “many courts have held that the presence of a hazardous substance on a property, including the airspace inside buildings, constitutes property damage and that there may be ‘direct physical loss’ to property even if the property is not structurally damaged.”

    Pasich and his partner Michael S. Gehrt represent UTA.

    Film Coverage “Fraudulently Reformed”

    On Sept. 9, 2020, motion picture production company Hoosegow (Hypnotic) Productions Inc. sued Chubb National Insurance Company in federal court in California, arguing that the carrier breached its agreement to extend coverage for the film, titled Hypnotic starring actors including Ben Afleck, should production be delayed.

    When Covid-19 hit and stopped production, Chubb, instead of extending the policy, cancelled it and offered to renew it with a Covid-19 exclusion. This is a “material reduction in the scope of the insurance,” the complaint states (Hoosegow v. Chubb National, No. 2:20-cv-08253, C.D. Calif.).

    “Chubb National’s conduct is despicable,” the complaint continues, “and has been done with a conscious disregard of Hoosegow’s rights, constituting oppression, fraud, and/or malice.” The production company claims substantial financial losses due to the carrier’s “intent to injure,” justifying an award of punitive damages. Breach of contract, bad faith, fraudulent promise without intent to perform, fraud in the inducement, negligent misrepresentation, and fraudulent reformation of the contract are among the claims brought against the carrier.

    Pasich and his colleague Jacquelyn M. Mohr represent Hoosegow.

    Chubb CEO Evan Greenberg reportedly said on an earnings call this summer that plaintiff attorneys are “attempting to torture or reverse engineer insurance contract language to conjure up business interruption coverage that for the most part simply doesn’t exist.”

    Responses, news and articles are welcome. Write to Editor@LitigationConferences.com. 

    Safeguarding Against Financial Exploitation

    An on-demand CLE-eligible webinar Safeguarding Against Financial Exploitation   America’s senior population is growing. Nearly one in five U.S. residents will be 65 or older in 2030. Which means the average age of U.S. investors is climbing too. With that comes the risk that they will be exploited by people with access – or gain access through nefarious methods – to their investment portfolio. Seniors and vulnerable persons lose billions of dollars each year. Remarkably, 90% of the people to take advantage of senior investors are members of their own family. Attorneys who represent senior clients need to know the signs of vulnerability, red flags that their clients are being exploited, what laws apply, and rules lawyers must follow in these matters.   Questions our speakers answer: What is senior / vulnerable investor exploitation?   Who is protected by state and federal laws?   How prevalent is senior financial exploitation? What do the numbers tell us?  What is the pace of financial abuse SAR filings by securities firms?  What are the most popular scams?   What is diminished capacity?  What are the red flags indicating possible exploitation?  What are the laws, rules, and regulations governing law firms?  What are some best practices for law firms?  How can firms best protect their senior clients?   On Demand CLE Webinar What You Get PowerPoint and supplemental materials. Complete recording for later review. Answers to your questions via email. Invitation to contact speakers. 1.5 CLE credits (for licensed attorneys). CLE assistance.* *Subject to state bar rules. For licensed attorneys.  Register Meet the Speakers Joseph Calabrese Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. A 1991 Graduate of St. John’s University Law School, Mr. Calabrese brings 30 years of practice and 18 years of Securities Litigation/Regulatory experience to his role as principal in the New York office of  Bressler, Amery & Ross’s Financial Institutions Group. He began his career as a Wall Street litigator as an associate general counsel for Citigroup’s Smith Barney and […]

    Lien Resolution: Government & Private Plans Get Aggressive (Against Attorneys)

    Includes Nearly 75 minutes of insights from experienced professionals. CLE credit: 1+ (subject to bar rules). For CLE questions: CLE@LitigationConference.com The complete Power Point presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions via email to the presenters or write to HB and we will be sure to contact the speakers. What can you do to settle personal injury suits cleanly and avoid costly litigation and penalties? What recent cases can inform you about protecting your settlements and, as attorneys, yourselves, from post-settlement federal lawsuits? How can your firm set itself up to meet government expectations? What role might experts play in navigating these pitfalls? Medicare Advantage (42 USC § 1395w-22) Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (FMCRA) (42 USC § 2651) Armed Forces Act (10 USC §1095) Veterans’ Benefits (38 USC §1729) Third-Party Collection Rules (32 CFR 537.24; 38 CFR 17.101, etc.) Set-Asides under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act (42 USC § 1395y(b)(2)] On Demand Registration Lien Resolution Government & Private Plans Get Aggressive (Against Attorneys!) On Demand | Recorded September 2020 It is increasingly common these days. Personal injury attorneys settle a case, only to find themselves sued by a U.S. Attorney for failing to reimburse Medicare for conditional payments as required by the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. In some cases the attorney may be required to pay fines in addition to the reimbursements and interest, a costly proposition. Are you up to speed on issues surrounding Medicare Advantage, TRICARE, veterans’ claims, and Medicare set-asides? Join nationally recognized healthcare lien and resolution expert Franklin P. Solomon and go-to lien resolution provider Brett Newman as they offer a practical, in-depth CLE presentation. Franklin P. Solomon, Esq. Attorney & Founder, Solomon Law Firm  A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law at Camden, Franklin Solomon is based in Cherry Hill, NJ, with a practice focused on evaluation, litigation and resolution of healthcare “liens” and reimbursement claims. Mr. Solomon represents personal injury victims and their attorneys […]

    Telepsychiatry: Mitigating the Risks

    REGISTER Registration Includes Nearly 90 minutes of insights from experienced professionals. CLE credit: 1+ (subject to bar rules). For CLE questions: CLE@LitigationConference.com The complete Power Point presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions via email to the presenters or write to HB and we will be sure to contact the speakers. Understand the risks associated with telepsychiatry and how to manage them.  Telemedicine has emerged as an important solution for healthcare in general and psychiatric medicine specifically during the current global pandemic. Remote access for sub-practices including addiction counseling have been commonly used. Our panel of psychiatric professionals who have served as expert witnesses and attorneys who counsel and represent physicians have prepared a 90-minute session to share insights with attorneys, physicians, healthcare providers, risk professionals, and more. Agenda Examining procedures and best practices that exist for ensuring confidentiality in a telemedicine practice How do you draft a telepsychiatric consent form? What is the emerging standard of care for telemedicine? Will the standard of care for telemedicine become a national standard? (Should it?) Review the case law addressing telemedicine or telepsychiatry How do the HIPAA regulations and HITECH privacy laws impact telemedicine? How have the HIPAA regulations and HITECH privacy laws been relaxed during the pandemic? Will the relaxed HIPAA and HITECH regulations impacting telemedicine continue past the pandemic? Which technical platforms are preferred? Which ones to avoid? Panelists Mark Levy, M.D., Medical Director at fpamed David Kan, M.D., UCSF Psychiatry Department and the California Society for Substance Abuse Medicine Ayesha Ashai, M.D., associated with fpamed Stephen M. Fatum, J.D., Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP Angela W. Russell, J.D., Partner, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP Meet our physician and attorney panelists. Mark Levy MD Medical Director fpamed Dr. Levy is a graduate of Columbia College (A.B. 1967) and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (M.D. 1971) in New York. He is a Physician […]

    The Commercial Drone Industry: Privacy, Security, Threats, and Mitigation of Risk

    HB presents a CLE-eligible webinar Now on-demand at the West LegalEdcenter THE COMMERCIAL DRONE INDUSTRY Privacy, Security, Threats, and Mitigation of Risk Drones have become an increasingly valuable tool for businesses of all types and sizes. Drones are already being used in many applications, but more will certainly arise as the technology advances. This means that certain risks, like cyber threats, will also continue to present themselves. Protecting the transmission and storage of data collected through drones is critical. Unfortunately, security usually comes as an afterthought. The drone industry is part of the aviation industry, which, based on its knowledge, keeps safety as a number one concern. Part of that safety is having proper protection for your systems, including security as a fundamental design principle. Take this webinar to gain insights on the topics listed below, and shared by an attorney who practices on the cutting-edge of this evolving technology. Topics: Defining drones. Current and future applications. FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. FAA Part 107 Regulations and waivers. Resources, e.g. the FAA Drone Zone and LAANC Portal. Penalties for violations. Privacy implications. Drones as weapons. Vulnerability to cyber attacks. Take it now! What you get: 1+ CLE credits (subject to bar rules). Insights from an experienced professional who specializes in this area of the law. The complete PowerPoint presentation. Continued access to the complete recording for later use. Answers to your questions. Fee: No additional charge to subscribers to the West LegalEdcenter. Non-subscribers may take the course for $170. Meet the Speaker Kathryn Rattigan Robinson & Cole LLP Kathryn Rattigan is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Group and Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team. She advises clients on data privacy and security, cybersecurity, and compliance with related state and federal laws. She assists clients in assessing risks related to technology and software contracts, as well as with compliance-related issues with outsourcing and […]

    The Intersection of Privacy and Antitrust Webinar Now Available On-Demand on the West LegalEdcenter

    Available as part of your subscription to The Thomson Reuters West LegalEdcenter®. Don’t subscribe to the West LegalEdcenter? This webinar is still available directly from HB. Take it now! Questions for speakers Questions@LitigationConferences.com CLE questions CLE@LitigationConferences.com Check out the MoginRubin blog for more insights on antitrust and privacy law. What attorneys and companies need to know about the increasing interplay between these critical areas of the law.  Highly publicized cases and investigations in the U.S. and Europe of big technology, e-commerce, and social media companies demonstrate how anti-competition laws are being used to scrutinize and challenge not only how these corporations conduct themselves in the marketplace, but the very core of their colossal success: the mass collection and utilization of user data. Are the privacy and antitrust worlds beginning to cross over? Or do they simply run parallel while addressing entirely different types of conduct? Whatever the answer, data is the raw material that drives the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon, so how it is handled is a critical question when counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions. Moderator Daniel J.  Mogin | Managing Partner, MoginRubin LLP Speakers Jennifer M. Oliver, CIPP/US | Partner, MoginRubin LLP Thomas N. Dahdouh | Director, Western Region, Federal Trade Commission Franklin M. Rubinstein | Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Randi W. Singer, CIPP/US, CIPT | Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges Contributor Dina Srinivasan | Independent Researcher & Author of The Antitrust Case Against Facebook Dina was unable to present but we thank her for her content contributions.  Agenda Who should regulate privacy violations in the U.S.? Which antitrust issues implicate privacy concerns? What role does machine learning play on the competitive landscape? What is big data really? How is it different from “data”? What are the elements of effective merger reviews? What are the appropriate remedies? What are “notice-and-choice” versus “harms-based” approaches? Plus answers to your questions. Send them to Questions@LitigationConferences.com.

  • Aon SVP Belfiore on Corporate Cyber Risk

    Cyber Risk of Paramount Concern to Corporate Boards

    Lack of History Remains a Challenge

    “Cyber security is the most polarizing issue on the corporate board agenda these days,” says Anthony Belfiore, SVP and Chief Information Security Officer at Aon. “It has the most potential impact and the most regulatory pressure among all risks companies face. Nothing is more top of mind right now.”

    “You just have to look at the amount of media coverage and the actual realized impacts companies are experiencing. Hundreds of thousands of businesses from big to small are being affected. The entire healthcare system in the UK went down. The impact is tangible. It’s affecting day-to-day operations,” he says. “And no one is immune. Board members come from a diverse set of industries, and all are impacted.”

    Why is cyber risk such a hot button for companies versus other types of risks?

    “The risk has become more urgent as it has shifted to actual business interruption,” Belfiore says. “Historically companies were concerned with data leakage and loss, or regulatory fines, but now the actual operation itself can come to a halt. When a company goes down for three days that hits the media. Analysts notice. You can trace a specific event to a drop in stock values.”

    Aren’t fines still a concern?  

    “Yes. We are operating in a regulatory environment which can have a significant downside,” Belfiore says. “This is especially true if you are a multi-national firm with considerable operating and capital expenses. You can sustain significant and unforeseen punitive fines which can be imposed anywhere around the globe, for example, if you’re found non-compliant with GDPR.”

    What about directors themselves?  

    “Potential for board liability for failing to protect shareholders is a hot-button issue right now.  D&O liability and coverage is evolving,” says Belfiore.  “There is uncertainty as to who is protected.”

    The digitization of so many aspects of conducting business has been around for a while now. So why does cyber risk continue to present challenges for the insurance industry?

    “Historical data is a challenge for insurers because there is very little relative to other risks like those posed by fire or storms for which we have decades of statistics. This makes it difficult to qualify and quantify the risk. Models are used to gauge the potential for losses but, still,” he says, “there isn’t a lot of history to go on.”

    Aren’t companies and boards okay as long as they have insurance?  

    “Organizations who think they are covered may come to a different conclusion when they read the fine print. That’s why it’s imperative to work with an experienced broker to navigate the various coverages and nuances in policy language,” Belfiore says.

    At a high-level, what should security leaders at companies do to reduce risk and anxiety around potential cyber losses? 

    Belfiore urges companies to “set up effective governance and establish an effective governance committee. Examine how you run your operation day-to-day, consider how to best manage the expectations of the C-suite and the board. Get the most out of governance committee discussions, ensure you have alignment up and down the stack, and make sure you have installed effective risk management and risk protocols.”

    Belfiore is on “The CISO Perspective” panel at the International Cyber Risk Management Conference (ICRMC) on Dec. 6-7, 2018 in Bermuda, along with Tim Dawson, Cybersecurity Chief Technology Officer at HSBC; Tom Pageler, Chief Security Officer at BitGo, Inc.; and Derek Vadala, Chief Information Security Officer at Moody’s Corporation.  

    You will be able to hear insights like these, and updates on anything that occurs between now and December in Bermuda.

    This posted was edited by HB Founder & Managing Director Tom Hagy. In the 1990s Tom launched one of the first nationwide legal reports in this area — Mealey’s Litigation Report: Cyber Tech & E-Commerce — when he was publisher at Mealey’s, now part of LexisNexis. If you are interested in posting on this site or discussing speaking opportunities, please contact us at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.

  • Cyber Risks Enter a New and Increasingly Vicious Phase

    For anyone plotting the evolution of cyber risks, the last phase of cyber-attacks was dominated by breaches that resulted in lost or stolen personal or financial data that could then be monetized.

    The current phase is different.

    “We have observed a significant increase in the number of disruptive breaches that our clients are dealing with,” says Charles Carmakal, Vice President at Mandiant/FireEye. “These involve destruction, extortion, or public shaming.”

    How are organizations dealing with this shift?

    “It’s catching many organizations off guard. Most don’t have a playbook for dealing with extortion,” Carmakal says. “While they may have thought about a ransomware situation, that’s different from the more common type of extortion we are seeing these days, where a threat actor threatens C-level executives or corporate board members with the release of sensitive information.”

    “Many organizations assume the default is they wouldn’t give into the demands, but when in the middle of a crisis too often the decision is made to pay the threat actors,” he says.

    “So it’s important to consider what your organization will do in this situation. For example, who will be involved in the decision-making process? Organizations should play out an extortion scenario so they have a plan when faced with real demands.”

    How can organizations better test the efficacy of their security capabilities?

    Many organizations conduct penetration testing or red-teaming exercises, but they often undermine their own efforts.

    “A problem arises when an organization contracts a third-party to test their capabilities, but puts a lot of restrictions on those who are doing the testing,” Carmakal says. “For example, they will tell the testing team or red team to identify vulnerabilities, but not to exploit them, or they can exploit a vulnerability but stop there and not dig any further.  The penetration testers might be allowed to test only during a certain day of the week or certain time of day. Or they might be allowed to sample only a fraction of the organization’s IP addresses and ignore everything else.”

    “What happens is the penetration testers are not permitted access to the crown jewels,” Carmakal warns. “They can’t demonstrate business impact to the organization. This creates a false sense of security because the organization can say they had a team of qualified people try and fail to break into the network, but in reality they were unable to break through because of all the unrealistic restrictions imposed on that team.”

    This false sense of security travels to the top. “Testing results are shared with the board and the board believes that because a really good third-party was not able to get to the crown jewels that they have a much safer environment than they really do. That’s a very common theme we see across the industry,” Carmakal says.

    How do penetration testers deal with unrealistic testing parameters?

    “It’s part of the education process,” he says. “When a company wants us to do a very limited test, and we believe our reports will be shared with the leadership team or the board, then we just won’t take the engagement. We try to make it clear that this is not an exercise to make anyone look bad, but a way to leverage the lessons from all the bad guys who are breaking into organizations so you can strengthen your security.”

    In the end, he says, “It’s better we identify the vulnerabilities than have the bad guys do it.”

    What the geopolitical trends you are seeing?

    Iran – “They used to be unorganized. They even clumsily posted social media profiles of themselves,” Carmakal says. “But they have become much more organized, more structured, more technologically adept, and have affiliated with government entities.”

    “In 2017 we saw more intrusions from Iran than we had ever seen before. There was a noticeable spike in offensive intrusions coming from them. For some reason, in 2018 we really haven’t seen Iran targeting organizations in the United States. They’ve scaled back significantly in the US, but are still active in other parts of the world.”

    “What makes security professionals nervous about Iran,” Carmakal says, “is that they are a wildcard. You don’t know what they are going to do. You don’t understand the rationale behind their activity. But what we do see is a capability and a willingness to be incredibly destructive – taking down businesses and publicly shaming organizations. The fact that they’ve slowed down their attacks on U.S. organizations is interesting, but we expect that to change.”

    Russia – “Russia is not hacking the U.S. midterm elections like they were with the presidential election in 2016, but they are conducting some significant offensive operations around the world. They are very capable. They are also very good at disinformation and throwing false flags, so when you investigate them it’s difficult to tell who they really are. Russia is one of the few countries that demonstrates the willingness and capabilities to cause kinetic consequences through cyber-attacks, such as when they turned off the lights in Ukraine.”

    In March 2018 The New York Times wrote, “The Trump administration accused Russia … of engineering a series of cyber-attacks that targeted American and European nuclear power plants and water and electric systems, and could have sabotaged or shut power plants off at will.”

    When asked about this and the reporting that surrounded it, Carmakal said the story was a bit “sensationalized” and not 100% accurate. “While the intrusion was serious, we didn’t see the Russian actors getting anywhere near being able to shut off the lights,” he said, adding that they “certainly have the capability” in other parts of the world.

    China – There has been a “notable decrease” in cyber intrusions from China since the 2015 bi-lateral cyber agreement was reached between President Obama and China’s President Xi, Carmakal says. While narrow in scope, addressing economic espionage — China’s state-sponsored theft of private U.S. intellectual property and then turning it over to state-owned and private companies in China — the agreement does appear have helped, reports suggest. “They are still hacking organizations and are following a defined playbook. We’re keeping a close eye on them to see how their offensive operations evolve,” Carmakal says.

    North Korea – Except for the highly publicized attack against a major U.S.-based entertainment company, “North Korea rarely goes after Western organizations.” Given the country’s need for cash, “their focus has been more on robbing digital currency exchanges and stealing from banks digitally,” Carmakal says, adding that they, like Iran, are a bit of a “wild card.” North Korea actors have stolen more than $100 million from victims, Carmakal says.

    You will be able to hear insights like these, and updates on anything that occurs between now and December in Bermuda when Carmakal and his fellow panelists discuss important trends in global cyber risks.

    This posted was edited by HB Founder & Managing Director Tom Hagy. In the 1990s Tom launched one of the first nationwide legal reports in this area — Mealey’s Litigation Report: Cyber Tech & E-Commerce — when he was publisher at Mealey’s, now part of LexisNexis. If you are interested in posting on this site or discussing speaking opportunities, please contact us at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.

  • Cyber Insurance Policy Language Review: A Deep Dive Into Key Policy Provisions and Important Differences Among Cyber Policies | Oct. 25, 2018 | Now On-Demand!

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    Now Available On Demand

    PLACE: Your computer or mobile device

    PRICE:  $197

    CLE: 1 credit
    Please send CLE questions to
    CLE@LitigationConferences.com

    SPEAKERS:

    Judy Selby
    Principal
    Judy Selby Consulting LLC 

    Scott Godes
    Partner
    Barnes & Thornburg

    Please contact us with any registration questions:

    Brownie.Bokelman@LitigationConferences.com

    Kathleen.McFadden@LitigationConferences.com

    Your registration includes:

    •  A site license to attend this webinar (invite as many people in one location as you can fit around your computer at no extra charge).

    • Downloadable PowerPoint presentations from our speakers.

    •  The opportunity to connect directly with speakers via email to
           HBWebinars@LitigationConferences.com

    •  At least one-hour of CLE credit.

    Produced in collaboration with

    Judy Selby Consulting LLC

    Also available as part of your subscription at
    the Thomson Reuters West LegalEdcenter.

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    What’s in your cyber policy?

    Cyber insurance can provide a lifeline to companies dealing with today’s high stakes and constantly evolving cyber risk and regulatory compliance landscape. But not all cyber policies are created equal, and a single policy word can mean the difference between a covered and an uncovered claim.  

    In this session, we analyze various cyber insurance coverage terms, conditions, and exclusions and describe how the words can impact coverage for real-life claims.

    What you will learn:

    • Important differences among generally available insurance coverages for cyber and privacy risks 

    • Understanding basic cyber insurance policy conditions and how they can affect coverage  

    • The importance of common insurance policy provisions concerning “other insurance” and “choice of law” in the cyber insurance context 

    • How certain cyber insurance policy exclusions can affect coverage for common cyber and privacy liabilities 

    • How to reconcile coverage under cyber insurance policies with other “traditional” insurance policies 

    Speakers

    Judy Selby | Principal | Judy Selby Consulting LLC 

    Judy brings 25 years of insurance coverage litigation experience on behalf of insurers and policyholders to her insurance consulting work and this webinar. She has a particular expertise in cyber insurance and coverage under various policy forms for today’s emerging risks. Judy provides coverage evaluation, policy negotiation, and gap analysis services to companies across multiple industries, helping them to make the most of their insurance premium dollars. She also provides insurance due diligence, expert witness and litigation consulting services to both policyholders and insurance companies in coverage disputes.

    In the course of her career, she has evaluated coverage under a wide variety of policy forms, including: CGL; D&O; / E&O; Employment Practices; Homeowners / Fine Arts & Collections / Auto; Tech E&O; Commercial Property; Manufacturers Output (MOP) / Commercial Output (COP); Bermuda Form; Crime; and Fidelity.

    She is a prolific author and sought-after speaker on insurance, cyber, technology, and compliance issues. She has been quoted in leading publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, Reuters, Directors & Boards, InformationWeek, Business Insurance, Law360, Bloomberg BNA, CIO, CSO, Insurance Business America, National Law Journal, Dark Reading, Corporate Executive Board, and LegalTech News. Judy has authored the eBooks “Demystifying Cyber Insurance: 5 Steps to the Right Coverage” and “Big Data for Business Leaders.”

    In addition to her law degree, she have completed courses in Finance with Harvard Business School HBX, Big Data, Crisis Management/Business Continuity, Cyber Security and the Internet of Things (IoT) with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professional Education, and Cloud Computing with IEEE.

    Judy is a former co-chair of the CLM Cyber Committee and member of the Law360 Insurance Editorial Board and a 2015 finalist for the CLM Outside Professional of the Year award.

    Scott Godes | Partner | Barnes & Thornburg

    Scott N. Godes (pronounced GOD-ess) is a veteran trial lawyer with experience litigating – in and out of trial – matters involving insurance coverage, technology and Section 337 of the Tariff Act before the International Trade Commission (ITC). He is a partner in Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Washington, D.C., office and is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department, co-chair of the Data Security and Privacy Practice Group, and a member of the Insurance Recovery and Counseling Group, the Internet & Technology Law Group and the Federal Procurement Practice Group.

    Scott has assisted a variety of clients over the years to obtain more than $1 billion in insurance coverage. In one of his most significant matters, he was co-lead counsel in a landmark class action trial. It was the first case of its kind to determine that insurance coverage was available, without aggregate limits, for thousands of asbestos claims. In addition, he represents clients facing cybersecurity, data breach, cyberattack, privacy and other technology-related claims.

    Scott has litigated one of the few court cases regarding the scope of coverage available under a cyberinsurance policy, resulting in favorable settlements for his client.

    Scott serves as co-chair of the Cyber Risk & Data Privacy Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee. He has also been a co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Computer Technology Subcommittee of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee. He edits the BT Policyholder Protection blog. Since 2017, Scott has been named on The Best Lawyers in America list for his work in insurance law.

    He has represented policyholders in declaratory judgment, breach of contract, and bad faith insurance coverage actions, insurance-related bankruptcies and adversary actions, federal court receiverships, insurer rehabilitation actions, and commercial arbitrations. He has litigated and advised clients regarding insurance coverage for cyberattacks, data breaches, and cyber security issues; business email compromises and CEO fraud; advertising injury claims; personal injury and libel claims; ransomware claims; Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) claims; directors and officers and securities claims; errors and omissions claims; crime and fidelity claims; general liability claims; consumer class action claims; business interruption, extra expense, and contingent business interruption claims; first-party property claims; computer data, hardware, and software claims; mass tort liabilities; product liability claims; class actions; asbestos claims; environmental property damage involving PCBs and underground storage tanks (UST); flood claims; and class actions.

    Scott received a J.D., with honors, in 1998 from The George Washington University Law School, where he was managing editor for the Public Contract Law Journal and was a member of the Moot Court Board. He received his B.A., cum laude, from Middlebury College in 1994.

    REGISTER NOW

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