Rough Notes
More reasons why the coverage you expect might not be there In this dispute, the insurer won but the insured did not lose. That sorry fate fell to the claimant, who unwittingly surrendered its right to compensation by excusing the defendant from sh...
Posted: Nov 19, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Please, you pay first In a tragic accident, Michael Swanson struck and killed a motorcyclist. Swanson was sued for causing a wrongful death. He was insured under...
Posted: Nov 03, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Attorney fees were subject to offset Two Maryland police officers were injured in the line of duty and were compensated under two different sources, a Workers Com...
Posted: Nov 03, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Sorry, you have no class! Lynn Freeman was involved in an automobile collision. She was insured under a policy issued by Progressive Direct Insurance Company (Pro...
Posted: Nov 03, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Executive’s arson moots innocent co-insured argument The Press Bar and Parlor was owned by Horseshoe Club, LLC, and operated by Timeless Bar, Inc., (Timeless) whe...
Posted: Nov 03, 2025
Is AI a blessing or burden? [T]he most ardent, relationship-driven agencies are recognizing the need to embrace new tools that will improve efficiency, productivity and profitability and ensure that they stay relevant. By Cheryl Koch, CPCU, ARM, AA...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Considerations when planning your next business meeting While video remains a relevant and useful tool still today, it’s worth thinking about the necessity of it before you schedule your next meeting this way. By Meg McKeen, CIC The reasons we ga...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Showing gratitude for artificial intelligence Just as Rosey handled the Jetsons’ chores … , AI can support us and our agencies by freeing us from drudgery so we can focus on impact. By Carolyn Smith, APR, CRA, TRA Back in 1962, families gathered ar...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
“Crash for cash” schemes increase in frequency Practitioners of the business of insurance revile few people with more vigor than the fraudsters who stage automobile collisions in pursuit of ill-gained profit. By Kevin P. Hennosy On a regular basis, t...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
A benefit with intriguing potential “The employees we worry about most are the ‘ sandwich’ caregivers—taking care of both kids at home and their parents. They are burning the candle at both ends.” —Lindsay Jurist-Rosner CEO Wellthy By Thomas A. McCoy...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Potentially avoiding messy claims situations when policies overlap [W]hen … coverage is already provided via another policy, issues can most certainly arise. By Marc McNulty, CIC, CRM Young producers often get excited when they close a deal and put m...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Thoughts on trust, mutual respect, support in hard times, and emotional connections As both a force and an emotion, loyalty can be a powerful influence in bringing people together or deeply dividing them. By Dr. William T. Hold, CIC, CPCU, CLU Loyalt...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Networks help lay foundation for new and growing insurance agencies By Mike Strakhov Photos provided by The Insurance Network Alliance In the evolving landscape of insurance distribution, agency networks have emerged as powerful incubators for aspiri...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Straying can result in an agency’s loss of efficiency, profitability, and client satisfaction To have a successful high-performance agency, your producers and salespeople must first have clarity about what their job entails and how they will be held...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
How prepared are your clients and community? Helping clients learn more about flood risks and their management, including the value of flood insurance to help them recover financially from a flood loss, helps make their future more secure. By Lisa A....
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Legal, operational and cultural implications of implementing cell phone policies By Sharon Orr As the holidays approach, mission-based organizations such as parochial schools and nonprofits are preparing to offer camps and other activities for youth...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Considerations for planning and common mistakes to avoid By Carey Wallace Independent insurance agencies face unique challenges in today’s competitive marketplace. From managing client relationships, employee needs, and carrier relationships to the n...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Founded in 1925, the Merrill Insurance team acknowledges its “century of service” outside its office in Eustis, Florida. Florida agency celebrates a century in business thanks to hard work and faith in God By Dennis H. PillsburyPhotography by Arturo...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
A look inside one insurance advisory firm’s strategic shift to a flexible marketing model By Lanie Raphael Insurance advisory firms are continually challenged with how to set themselves apart within the industry while staying client-focused, producin...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Applications being accepted for independent agents, brokers, and their firms By Robert N. Kretzmer, CIC More than two dozen years ago, I sat down with Walt Gdowski, owner of The Rough Notes Company, at the firm’s headquarters to discuss what I perce...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Risk management and insurance under renewed scrutiny of operations By Joseph S. Harrington, CPCU Americans seem to love our nation’s nonprofit organizations. According to Independent Sector, an organization devoted to promoting the interests and best...
Posted: Oct 31, 2025
Understanding how litigation trends filter directly into liability underwriting decisions To stay not just competitive but indeed relevant, producers need to understand that liability coverage requires legal literacy. By Michael Wayne For commercial...
Posted: Oct 23, 2025
Water damage provisions confound an insured’s search for recovery [T]he appeals court noted that “ambiguity does not exist merely because the parties disagree on the interpretation of the language” or based on “the insured’s uninformed expectations...
Posted: Oct 16, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Occupancy requirement doesn’t thwart public policy Jason Rahimzadeh was on his bicycle when he was struck by a vehicle, suffering serious injuries. The owner of t...
Posted: Oct 02, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Non-owned truck used for business On April 26, 2018, Martin Montano Jr., an employee of Casas Custom Floor Care, LLC, was running late to an assignment due to fee...
Posted: Oct 02, 2025