For Lawyers Who Are Not Insurance Lawyers: How To Read Any Insurance Policy In 5 Steps

ROADS TO Resolution ~ Closure ~ Certainty

Insurance can be an unknown and maybe even somewhat intimidating aspect of mediation if you’re not an insurance lawyer and if you don't know insurance. Yes, it takes years to understand all insurance, but you can learn to read any insurance policy in five steps, because there are at least five basic things that every insurance policy includes. In this episode, Jean Lawler–commercial + insurance mediator and arbitrator–draws from her deep knowledge of the insurance industry, insurance policies and the various risks they insure against to discuss how to read an insurance policy in five steps. Questions answered include:

• What do you find out when you look at the declarations page (“dec page”)?
• What is the insuring agreement?
• What are exclusions?
• What are conditions?
• What are endorsements?

To read the full episode transcript please see the Podcast Website.
About the Host:

Based in Los Angeles, CA, Jean Lawler is an attorney and mediator, focusing on commercial, insurance and civil litigation matters pending at the trial and appellate levels - wherever filed. She regularly mediates a wide variety of insurance, business, and tort matters, as well as federal ADA accessibility lawsuits re architectural barriers and websites. CIPP/US (Certified Information Privacy Professional) certified, Jean also mediates matters involving data breaches, ransomware, and cyber losses. She has mediated hundreds upon hundreds - thousands - of cases over the years with a myriad of issues. For a more detailed sampling of the types of mediations that she has conducted and participated in, both when in practice and as a full-time mediator, please refer to her web page detailing Representative Matters.
Prior to becoming a full-time mediator in 2017, Jean was a Senior Partner in a Los Angeles based litigation firm, representing corporations, professionals, non-profits, individuals, and insurers in a broad range of matters, at trial and on appeal - mediating hundreds upon hundreds of cases over the years. Her legal experience has been diverse and international, and she has a deep knowledge of the insurance industry, insurance policies and the various risks they insure against (primary, excess, reinsurance, program, surplus lines, London Market, and international insurers). She also served as a Managing Partner of her former law firm, at times chairing the firm’s Insurance Law, Cyber & Privacy Law, International Law, and Business & Real Estate Transactions practice groups and, ultimately, served her many clients as counselor and trusted advisor.
As she would tell you if asked: “I absolutely love what I do! I would be honored to serve as your Mediator or Arbitrator.”
To connect with Jean Lawler, follow her on LinkedIn or find her at LawlerADR.com.