Conference Agenda
Day 1, Tuesday, November 14, 2017
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast and Registration
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome by Co-Chairs
Scott Love, Clark, Love & Hutson, Houston
William F. “Chip” Merlin Jr., Merlin Law Group, P.A., Tampa, FL
Stephen E. Goldman, Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford, CT
8:45 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
Business Interruption, Contingent Business Interruption and Dependent Property Coverage
• Basics of Business Interruption Coverages Impacted in a Catastrophe
Gregory P. Varga, Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford, CT
9:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Flood, Wind, and Concurrent Causation
• National Flood Insurance — Will The 2017 Flood Claims Be Like Hurricane Katrina or Superstorm Sandy?
• The New Concurrent Causation Case Law in a Post-Hurricane Environment
• Insurance Clauses Limiting Recovery of Wind and Wind Driven Rain
Samuel W. Bearman, Law Office of Samuel W. Bearman, L.C., Pensacola, FL
J. Pablo Caceres, Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP, Tampa, FL
Robert C. Groelle, Groelle and Salmon P.A., West Palm Beach, FL
Mark A. Boyle, Boyle & Leonard, P.A., Fort Myers, FL
Jonathan E. Small, Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford, CT
Dennis Abbott, Disaster Consulting Services, LLC, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Hurricane Forensics - Irma and Maria – Science and Common Damage Issues
• The Meteorology of Each Storm
• Wind vs. Water Damage Analysis and the New Standards for Analysis
• Roof Damage and Valuation Issues
Rocco Calaci, Chief Meteorologist, National Storm Center; Owner, LRC Services, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Neil B. Hall, Ph.D., P.E., A.I.A., CFM, Neil B. Hall & Associates, Slidell, LA
Robert L. Wright, Principal, Robert L. Wright & Associates, Inc., Houston
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Code Issues
• Law and Ordinance Coverages Explained
• Applying Building Codes with Emphasis on Roof, Window Claims and Elevation
Laura Farach, Robinson & Cole LLP, Miami
William C. Bracken, PE, SI, F.ASCE, F.NAFE, CFM StS2, Bracken Engineering, Tampa, FL
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Statutes, Regulations and Bulletins Impacting Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Understanding How the Florida-Valued Policy Law Operates in a Post-Hurricane Scenario
• Florida’s Evolving Notice Requirements, Prejudice Rules and Hurricane Loss Statute of Limitations
• An Analysis of Statues Regulations and Bulletins
Kesha A. Hodge, Merlin Law Group, P.A., Phoenix
Corey Harris, Merlin Law Group, P.A., Tampa, FL
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Unique Insurance and Class Action Litigation Following Irma and Maria
• What is The Prospect of Class Action and Multi-District Litigation?
• What To Expect with Insurance Litigation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands?
• Anticipated Florida Insurance Appellate Issues To Be Raised From Irma
Scott Love, Clark, Love & Hutson, Houston
Jonathan E. Small, Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford, CT
Adam M. Moskowitz, Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton, LLP, Miami
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch
2:00 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.
Highly Contested Issues - Assignment of Benefits and Option to Repair Following a Catastrophe
• AOB Arguments and The Law From the Contractors View
• Insurers Demand Change and Fight AOB
• AOB Proposed Laws
• Managed Repair - Can Insurers Really Repair and Consequences of Doing So
Melissa M. Sims, Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC, Miami
Evan R. Wolfe, Wolfe Law Group, Plantation, FL
Adrian Neiman Arkin, Mintz, Truppman, P.A., Miami
2:40 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Appraisal and Mediation
• The Law of Appraisal in Florida, Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands
• Process of Appraisal
• Does Department of Insurance Mediation Work as An Alternative
Curtis Hutchens, CH Mediation, Green Cove Springs, FL
Robert J. Norton, CPCU, AIC, ARe, General Adjusting Services®, Inc., Plant City, FL
Ashley N. Harris, Merlin Law Group, P.A., Tampa, FL
3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Unfair Claims Practice and Bad Faith
• Common-Law, First-Party Bad Faith in Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
• Statutory Claims Practices Regulations Penalties and Requirements in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• The Ins and Outs Every Insurer Needs to Be Aware of Regarding Florida Civil Remedy Notices
William F. “Chip” Merlin Jr., Merlin Law Group, P.A., Tampa, FL
Melissa M. Sims, Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC, Miami
Laura Farach, Robinson & Cole LLP, Miami, FL
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Specialty Losses
• Dealing with Bankrupt Policyholders and Trustees
• Condominium Losses — The Law on How A Condominium Is Supposed to Make a Claim and Repair Its Damage
• FEMA Governmental Claims and the Interplay with Insurance
Stephen A. Marino Jr., Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin, P.A., Miami
Javier Delgado, Merlin Law Group, P.A., Tampa, FL
C. Todd Thomas, Executive Director of Consulting Services, Tidal Basin, Metairie, LA