PRODUCT: GroundCover® program for landscapers

COMPANY: Brownyard Group

BEST RATING: A+ (Superior). Policy issuing company: Arch Insurance Company.

AVAILABILITY: Coverage is available through independent agents and brokers to qualifying insureds.

FOCUS: Brownyard Group helps keep gardeners in the green with GroundCover, a new insurance program for landscape and lawn care professionals.

Brownyard previously offered landscapers coverage as an incidental exposure as part of its pest control product. “We have been writing pest control firms for over 20 years. Many pest control firms have a landscaping aspect to them, so this has given us a strong insight into the industry,” says John Culotta, program manager. “We feel we can bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and insight into this class of business, and we look forward to sharing this experience with our brokers to assist them in becoming knowledgeable in the industry.”

UNDERWRITING: The program provides commercial general liability coverage designed to meet the unique needs of the landscaping industry. It includes building and business personal property coverage; business income and extra expense coverage; coverage for property in their care, custody or control; pollution liability; and auto transit pollution liability. The inland marine product offers mobile property and electronic data processing coverage.

Other program highlights include professional liability coverage; pesticide or herbicide applicator coverage; incidental exposure coverage for pest control, carpentry, fence contractors, masonry, tree pruning, and more; blanket additional coverage; and lost key coverage.

Brownyard can tailor excess and commercial umbrella liability coverage to meet a policyholder's specific needs and exposures. In general, these products are licensed and admitted in most states and available with limits up to $5 million to protect against a once-in-a-lifetime judgment.

The program also includes Brownyard's business auto product, designed especially for the pest control industry. It is available with liability limits as low as state minimums and as high as $1 million combined single limit. With no minimum premium, this product is available on an admitted basis and in all U.S. states and territories except Louisiana and Puerto Rico.

This description does not include all coverages available in the policy, and the policy contains reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. According to Brownyard, “Full details of the coverage are contained in the policy. If there are any conflicts between this document and the policy, the policy shall govern. Not all coverages are available in all jurisdictions.”

MINIMUM PREMIUM: $660 for limits of $300,000

TARGET: Culotta says Brownyard’s preferred customers are landscaping firms that have been in business for at least three years and have demonstrated favorable loss experience.

COVERAGE TERRITORY: All 50 U.S. states except Louisiana.

CONTACT: John Culotta, program manager; Brownyard Group, 21 Maple Ave., P.O. Box 9175, Bay Shore, NY 11706-9175; 800-645-5820, ext.122.

Ronimarie Acord is an IA contributor.