From the Front Lines: General Liability

How did you get started at your agency?

Pure luck! I was introduced to the then-owner through a mutual friend. I worked part-time for six months before joining the firm full-time in September 2006. I became a partner in 2010 and purchased the agency from my two partners in 2016.

Why general liability?

In today’s litigious environment, GL is more important than ever. Whether it’s responding to a slip-and-fall allegation or a claim from a faulty product, a GL liability policy is there to respond to claims of negligence resulting in bodily injury and/or property damage.

Biggest GL challenges?

Understanding our clients’ true exposures and navigating through the many complex exclusions contained within a GL policy. A GL policy isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on if a likely exposure is excluded.

What do you say to a first-time GL client?

“Tell me about your business.” I need to understand every aspect of their business to truly evaluate and manage the placement of their GL insurance.

GL advice for a fellow agent?

Never stop learning. GL is an ever-evolving line of insurance, and what is covered today may be excluded next year.

Favorite GL success story?

Our firm had a client that was named in a class action lawsuit for a product they had previously imported from China. Thanks to their GL policy—and their commercial umbrella—the nearly $8 million claim, which occurred over multiple years, was defended and paid for by their insurance carrier.