Share
Insurance Covered
A look at US insurance trends (With Scott Seaman)
Season 1, Ep. 8
•
Welcome to Insurance Covered! The podcast that looks at the inner workings of the insurance industry with the help of expert guests. This episode we are joined by Scott Seaman, co-chair of the insurance practice group at our US alliance firm Hinshaw & Culbertson. For this episode we will be looking at; social inflation, bad faith and punitive damages in the context of the US insurance market.
Scott starts off by explaining what social inflation is and why it has become an increasing issue facing insurers in the US. Scott broadly defines it as 'rising costs to insurers as a result of things like increasing litigation, broader areas of liability and larger compensatory jury awards in favour of the plaintiffs'.
We then look at what bad faith is and what is meant when someone is said to have acted in bad faith. Scott explains that bad faith is where a breach of duties takes place in the face of good faith and fair dealings, an implicit part of many states laws when it comes to contractual relationships. Scott then gives a recent example of where bad faith has come into play.
Our final topic is punitive damages, Scott gives an overview of what is meant by this, simply put, the additional compensation due as a result of misconduct and wrong doing. Scott explains the different reasons for a punitive damages award and the trend in the US of these kind of compensation claims rising.
We finish of by discussing what issues are likely to come to the forefront of US insurance in the future.
We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you did, subscribe to be notified of future episodes.
More episodes
View all episodes
10. Star Wars special: The insurance of the Death Star (With Bruce Carman, Paul Miller, Calum Lamont KC & Neil Fleming)
44:10Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode we are doing something a little different, Peter is joined by an ensemble cast of experts to answer the question, in the Star Wars universe, could the Death Star be insured, and if so, what policies would cover it.Peter is joined by:Bruce Carman, CUO at Hive Underwriters Calum Lamont KC, Barrister at Keating ChambersNeil Fleming, Space Risk Analyst at Ascot GroupPaul Miller, Compliance Recruiter at HFG In this episode we cover:What exactly is a Death StarIf an aviation war insurer would consider insuring the Death Star and what the concerns of underwriting the Death Star would be Whether there would be a claim resulting from the inherent design flaws that resulted in it's destructionIf any kind of space insurance would cover the Death Star in a similar way in which it would insure satellitesThe answer to the question: Is the Death Star insurable.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.9. Insurance as a force for good (With Rowan Douglas)
29:23Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Rowan Douglas, CEO of Climate Risk and Resilience at Howden. In this episode they discuss the role insurance has to play in building resilience in the face of climate change. In this episode we cover:Insurance as a force for goodRowan's talk at COP28How insurance can help in humanity's goal to transition to net zeroHow in the short term insurance can help us bounce back from the impact of the climate crisisWe hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
8. Insurance as the great enabler (Dr. Franziska Arnold Dwyer)
28:59Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Dr. Franziska Arnold Dwyer. In this episode they discuss her new book, Insurance, Climate Change and the Law, which among other things looks at insurance as the great enabler for change.In this episode we cover:Why Franziska made the leap from private practice to academia Why she decided to focus on insurance and climate change in her bookWhy Franziska believes insurers should actively adopt a role that forces positive changeThree concepts 'insuring green', 'not insuring brown' and 'greening insurance' . The challenges insurers will likely face as they become the enablers. We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
7. Insurance for politicians (With Avril le Pitre)
15:37Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Avril le Pitre, Founder and CEO of Adverse Selection, a brand new MGA that offers protection for politicians.In this episode we cover:How Avril identified this need for politicians insuranceWhat the policies cover and how many politicians are purchasing this insuranceJurisdictions that they currently cover and possible expansionsNew products Avril is looking to launch in the futureWe hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.6. The 5 secrets to handling large claims (With Sarah Howell)
32:33Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Sarah Howell, Claims Manager at Liberty Specialty Markets, and the topic for discussion is the 5 secrets to handling large claims.In this episode we cover:Sarah's career in insuranceWhat makes a 'large claim'Sarah's 5 secrets on how to effectively manage large claimsWhich of the 5 secrets is the most importantWe hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
5. The birth of an MGA (With James Sterling & Charles Boorman)
31:13Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by two guests, Charles Boorman, CEO and James Sterling, Head of Claims, at Kayzen Specialty a new MGA, and in this episode we discuss the story of how Kayzen was formed.In this episode we discuss:A recap on what an MGA actually is and what role they play.How MGA's differ from insurers.Who Kayzen are and what lines of business they write.Why Charles decided to start an MGA.Why Kayzen decided to both underwrite and manage the claims.The plans for Kayzen's future.4. On being the Director General of the ABI (With Hannah Gurga)
30:10Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Hannah Gurga, Director General of the ABI, and they will be discussing Hannah's role at the ABI. In this episode we cover:An overview of the ABIWhat the role of Director General entails and if it differs to that of a CEOHow the governance of the ABI is organisedThe ABI's current 3 year strategy, the aims of it and what progress has been madeThe issues Hannah has on her radar for the insurance industryWe hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.3. A look at kidnap and ransom insurance (with Charlie Hanbury)
32:42Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Charlie Hanbury, CEO of Samphire MGA, and in this episode they will be discussing all things K&R, that's kidnap and ransom insurance. In this episode we cover:What kidnap and ransom insurance coversHow common kidnap is around the worldWho buys this kind of cover and why?How kidnap and ransom insurance has developed in the last century and how it may develop in the futureWe hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.2. Moral hazard: the dark heart of insurance (With Robert Hartwig)
36:36Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Robert Hartwig, Associate Professor of Finance at the University of South Carolina. I this episode they discuss the concept of moral hazard in insurance. In this episode we cover:What is meant by the term moral hazard.The two forms of moral hazard.How insurers protect themselves against moral hazard.The other side of moral hazard, can it actually be a good thing as well?Insurance as an enabler, providing a financial safety net for when risk goes wrong. Links between moral hazard and the climate crisis.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.