Insights

Adapting to Serve Our Clients

March 16, 2020, was a rather surreal day for most people, but for me it also marked an important milestone that would not work out quite the way I expected. That Monday, Chicago was on the brink of a shelter-in-place order. It was also my first day back to the office following maternity leave. Like all parents returning to work, I had mixed feelings of trepidation and excitement. Add to that the question of what life would look like during the coming months of the pandemic, and you

Kalli Nies December 20, 2020

Honesty Is the Best Policy: A Misstatement in Your Application May Void Your Coverage

“It is inherent in human nature to question whether we will be accepted for who we are. Sometimes, this may tempt us to “hedge” a bit in how we present ourselves. But a recent Illinois appellate court decision[1] adds new meaning to the adage “honesty is the best policy.” In that case, misstatements in the business insurance policyholder’s application voided coverage for the very risk that prompted the company to purchase the policy in the first place…”

David Goodman December 1, 2020

How Do You Measure a “Win”?

Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Arthur Ashe, enjoyed outstanding success as a tennis player. During his career, he won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, the Australian Open and, at one point, was ranked number two in the world in men’s tennis. His wins could be quantified by titles, trophies, and earnings. Ashe famously observed that “[s]uccess is a journey and not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” Ashe’s insight is great advice for living a meaningful life. However, this

David Goodman August 21, 2020

Don’t Take No for an Answer

How dental practices can file successful COVID-related insurance claims. In my work representing owners of medical and dental practices who have suffered losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, my clients come to me with the same story: the insurance carriers say that they are “sorry,” but there just is no insurance coverage for the claims that have closed or restricted their businesses. “No, viruses are excluded from your coverage.” “No, an executive order from the governor ordering your practice to close does not fall under the civil authority

David Goodman July 14, 2020

COVID-19 and Business Insurance Claims: 3 Important Questions for Restaurants

Among the most tangible disruptions to regular life caused by the coronavirus pandemic is the current prohibition on dining in restaurants. Restaurants play a central role in our communities and are where we celebrate, commiserate, commune and network. For restaurant owners, the closures have set off a devastating chain of events, from layoffs to unpaid bills to, in some cases, permanent closures. The disruption to the restaurant industry will continue for the foreseeable future, even after restaurants reopen because their operations will be subject to significant restrictions. Restaurant

David Goodman May 21, 2020

Question for Manufacturing Companies about Covid

Business Insurance and COVID-19 Three Questions Manufacturers Need to Answer

As the COVID-19 fallout continues to unfold in the coming weeks and months, business owners will be turning to their contracts and insurance policies to determine their options for risk-mitigation, recovery, and to defend themselves against contract claims. The devil is in the details, and the details will necessarily vary by document and situation, but here are three questions that should guide manufacturers as they gather information and devise strategies for moving forward in continually evolving circumstances. How do your contracts with customers and suppliers address force majeure?

David Goodman April 23, 2020

Business Insurance Claims and COVID-19

Business insurance may cover losses companies experience due to the virus, but only if owners are smart about how they file claims. As business owners react day to day to the complex and unprecedented impact of COVID- 19 on the marketplace, supply chain and labor force — an impact that is very much still unfolding — they are juggling concern for their employees and customers in the short term with longer term worries about what all this is going to mean for the future of their business. Even

David Goodman March 23, 2020

Why I Became A Lawyer: Following A Serendipitous Path

Reflecting from the vantage point of 30 years as a lawyer, I find myself in a career that I love because I followed my passion but also allowed for serendipity. I was not a kid who ever said that I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up — but, looking back, I can see a clear path that began with being part of a family with a deep interest in politics and justice. This, in its time, led me to get involved in political campaign work,

David Goodman February 4, 2020

Intentional Acts

In my experience, insurance isn’t the first thing most people think about when they wake up in the morning. Whether something will be covered isn’t even a thought until a person has a claim against them or they experience a loss and are seeking reimbursement for damages. The “general liability insurance policies” through which most businesses protect themselves will include an exclusion from coverage for “intentional acts.” After all, insurance companies cannot be expected to insure a business for the intentional consequences of that business’ conduct. An intentional

David Goodman January 27, 2020