A Video Explaining What to Do When a Claim Includes Multiple Occurrences

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CGL policies are written with endorsements that make the number of occurrences highly important, especially in continuing loss cases. deductibles or self-insured retentions are charged based on the number of occurrences or the number of claims. policy limits can apply individually per occurrence, individually per loss, individually per claim, or in the aggregate over a one year period. The test applied is usually objective. [Uniroyal, Inc. v. Home Insurance Company, 707 F. Supp. 1368 (1988); Champion International Corporation v. Continental Casualty Company, 546 F. 2d 502 (1976), Cargill, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, 488 F. Supp. 49 (1979) Affirmed 621 F. 2d 275 (1980); Mason v. Home Insurance Company, 177 Ill. App. 3d 454, 532 N.E. 2d 526 (1988); 64 A.L.R. 4th 688.]

A triggering injury in fact for an underlying claim may be found as early as the time of first exposure to asbestos or silica, and may continue progressively through the claimant's death or the date of filing the claim, whichever occurs earlier. [Danaher Corp. v. Travelers Indem. Co., 414 F.Supp.3d 436 (S.D. N.Y. 2019)]

In Lombard v. Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, 284 So.2d 905 (La.1973) and its progeny, the courts in exposure cases have applied the “effect” test as opposed to the “cause” test in determining the number of [Thebault V. American Home, 2015-0800 (La. App. 4Cir. 4/20/16), 195 So. 3d 113.]

A common method of allocation is referred to as the "time on the risk" method, whereby each insurer is responsible for the pro rata percentage of time the insurer's policy was in effect over the course of the full time period over which loss was sustained by the insured. For example, Edison Co. Of New York, Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 774 N.E.2d 687, 695 (N.Y. 2002)] affirmed the trial court allocation of loss through "time-on-the-risk" method, while "not foreclos[ing] pro rata allocation among insurers by other methods."

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Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, now limits his practice to service as an insurance consultant specializing in insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud almost equally for insurers and policyholders.

He also serves as an arbitrator or mediator for insurance related disputes. He practiced law in California for more than 44 years as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer and more than 54 years in the insurance business.

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He is available at http://www.zalma.com and zalma@zalma.com. Mr. Zalma is the first recipient of the first annual Claims Magazine/ACE Legend Award. Over the last 53 years Barry Zalma has dedicated his life to insurance, insurance claims and the need to defeat insurance fraud. He has created the following library of books and other materials to make it possible for insurers and their claims staff to become insurance claims professionals.

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