The Underwriter's Insider May 2017 by The Underwriter's Insider

IN THIS ISSUE May 2017 Vol 13 Issue 5

HOW TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING AMAZON ECHO HAS EVER HEARD

Former insurance agents were arrested on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, identity theft, money laundering, grand theft, and forgery after allegedly falsifying life insurance applications.

If you own an Amazon Echo, you probably know its strange secret. The device records a lot of what you say.

UTAH ELIMINATES TORT DEFENSE BY STATUTE Tort liability is usually subject to the three elements of negligence: duty, breach, damage. Since, in this accident, the driver did not breach a duty and had no liability to the injured parties.

ACADIA INSURANCE EXPANDS BREWERY COVERAGE WITH NEW FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONTAMINATION ENDORSEMENT This option extends coverage for loss of, food or beverage products on premises due to accidental contamination during the fermentation, aging, bottling, processing or manufacturing process.

GEORGIA INSURANCE AGENT BUSTED ON FOUR COUNTS OF INSURANCE FRAUD An investigation conducted by the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation’s Enforcement Division has led to the arrest of former City of Metter insurance agent Thelga Mahalia Nelson.

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CALIFORNIA COUPLE ARRESTED FOR DRIVER SWITCH INSURANCE FRAUD SCHEME Orange County, CA couple arrested for driver switch fraud scheme filed false insurance claim and false police report.

UNBELIEVABLE VINTAGE ADS Who knew curing a drunk was this easy! Just dope ‘em up with “copious amounts” of Tawny Cocaine Port & they lose their “want of alcohol” completely! It was probably true. Pump them full of “cocaine syrup” and they may never go back to plain old booze!

TEXAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER DAVID MATTTAX PASSES Austin, TX - The Texas Department of Insurance announced that Commissioner David Mattax died after a long battle with cancer Thursday, April 20th, 2017.

WHY FEW CONSULTANTS DELIVER THAT EVERY CLIENT WANTS The promise of independent consulting is fast cars, big checks, and total flexibility to pick and choose clients, and it’s a promise hundreds of thousands of “ex” workers chase every year.

CALIFORNIA AGENTS ARRESTED FOR $300,000 LIFE INSURANCE SCHEME

OBAMA PUMPS WALLSTREET FOR $400k TO GIVE 1 HOUR SPEECH Outraged? No. Surprised? No. When a liberal politician postures himself as a populist or “one of the people” I hardly get excited to learn they are just as much a profiteer as your local car dealer.

iPHONE VS APOLLO 11 GUIDANCE COMPUTER WHICH WAS FASTER? According to an article on zmescience.com, “your smartphone is millions of times more powerful than ALL of NASA’s COMBINED computing in 1969.”

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FEATURES 34

Notre Dame Buttercups Terrorized By VicePresident Pence 72 Years ago, our college age youth were storming the beaches at Normandy, charging into Nazi machine gun fire and mortar rounds.

LIBERAL LUNACY ON CAMPUS SHUTTING DOWN FREE SPEECH Ironically, legions of fascist students, blocking other students from attending the lecture - claimed they were protesting fascism!

NEW SURVEY REVEALS MILLENNIAL LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH INSURANCE, VALUING COVERAGE BUT PRIORITIZING NETFLIX Findings Uncover that Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Would Put Generation at Serious Risk of Losing Access to Healthcare Insurance, with More than Half of Young Millennials Currently Covered Under Parent’s Plan.“

2017 NETVU CONFERENCE SETS RECORDS The ever-expanding usergroup NetVU reported a record 2500 attendees to this year’s event. We have the best user group in the industry, comprised of a community that is eager to stay ahead of the curve.

Kim Komando Barry Zalma

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May 2017

TECHNOLOGY

HOW TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING AMAZON ECHO HAS EVER HEARD

Really Cool Info - by Kim Komando

f you own an Amazon Echo, you probably know its strange secret. The device records a lot of what you say. Deep inside that dark tower, Echo keeps a vast trove of recordings. Your voice is preserved. Your friends’ voices are preserved. Anyone who has ever been to your house and said, “Alexa!” has contributed to its great library of human sound.

break into Alexa and hack my voice? Can law enforcement access my recordings? Is Amazon going to use these sound files for some dastardly plan?

Tip within a Tip: Click here for ways to control your home with Amazon Alexa and your voice. For the software to learn, it must adapt to your style. Alexa is designed to figure out your particular style of speaking. Some people mumble, and others have thick accents. Gradually, Echo’s technology takes this into account and gets better at understanding you.

On the upside, this amazing technology puts instant information a voice command away. Most people have no idea that you can do much more than get the latest weather or listen to your favorite tunes. Click here for a list of Alexa commands that you’re probably not using but should.

Is Amazon Echo Always Listening?

The downside is that Amazon stores an audio recording of every voice command you’ve issued to Why Amazon Stores Your Voice Alexa, not just in the device itself, First, let’s address why the device but on Amazon’s servers. stores your voice in the first place. In brief, Alexa wants to Most owners feel a little weird obey your every command. But about these voice recordings. no matter how lifelike Alexa may What does Amazon plan to do be, you are still a human being with what I say? Will someone www.underwritersinsider.com

talking to a machine, which has no intuition.

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The short answer is yes. Alexa is activated when it detects one of its wake words, which are “Alexa,” “Amazon,” “Computer,” or “Echo.” You’ll know that the device is ready for a command when the outer ring at the top glows blue. According to Amazon, a fraction of a second of audio before the wake word is stored along with each recording. So if you’re See Kim Komando Pg 44 May 2017

INSURANCE & THE LAW

UTAH ELIMINATES TORT DEFENSE BY STATUTE Expert Analysis & Commentary by Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE Statute Requires Insurer to Pay for Injuries Incurred Without Fault of Driver

sorry for injured people who have no defendant who they can sue successfully, enacted a statute that requires an insurer, up to the limits of the policy, to pay the injured persons even though the insured did not breach a duty and or a person to be was not legally liable to the third responsible for injuries person. resulting from the operation of an automobile the In Lancer Insurance Company v. persons injured must prove that the driver had a duty to operate Join Barry Zalma’s new Blog: the vehicle safely, breached http://www.zalma.com/blog that duty and caused damages. Under the common law a person who, without warning, becomes incapacitated by a stroke, heart Lake Shore Motor Coach Lines, attack or other illness without Inc., Supreme Court of Utah — the warning and injures someone Utah Supreme Court answered when the incapacitated person a question posed by the United injures someone because he or States District Court for the she is unable to operate a vehicle District of Utah seeking the proper safely, is not liable for the injuries. interpretation of Utah Code The Utah Legislature, feeling section 31A–22–303(l), which

requires motor vehicle liability insurance policies to “cover damages or injury resulting from a covered driver of a motor vehicle” who suddenly and unforeseeably becomes incapacitated. FACTS The personal injury claims at issue in the underlying federal case arise out of a bus accident that happened on October 10, 2009. The bus was driven by Debra Jarvis. Jarvis experienced a sudden and unforeseeable loss of consciousness while driving back to Utah from a high school band competition in Idaho. Her loss of consciousness caused the bus to leave the roadway, hit a ravine, and roll over. Several passengers were injured in the crash. Each of four individually injured in the roll over filed separate lawsuits in the Fourth Judicial District

Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, practiced law in California for more than 43 years as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer. He now limits his practice to service as an insurance consultant and expert witness 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 founded Zalma Insurance Consultants in 2001 and serves as its only consultant. 6

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May 2017

Court in Utah seeking damages court (and subject to appeal). damages or injury resulting for their injuries. The insureds That posture presents a risk that from a covered driver of a motor filed motions for partial summary a declaratory judgment in federal vehicle who is stricken by an judgment, asserting that Lancer court could be undermined by unforeseeable paralysis, seizure, Insurance Co. (Lake Shore’s an eventual—and conclusive— or other unconscious condition insurer) was strictly liable for the interpretation of state law by and who is not reasonably aware passengers’ injuries that paralysis, seizure, under the statute. or other unconscious Tort liability is usually subject Those motions were condition is about to denied. In denying occur to the extent that to the three elements of the motions, the state a person of ordinary negligence: duty, breach, damage. district court rejected prudence would not Since, in this accident, the driver did the strict liability attempt to continue premise attributed not breach a duty and had no liability driving.” It further by the passengers to provides that “[t]he to the injured parties. By statute, the the statute. Instead, driver’s liability under the court held that Legislature, imposed on an insurer the Subsection (1)(a)(v) is the statute preserved to the insurance obligation to indemnify anyone injured limited the common-law coverage.” “sudden incapacity” by an incapacitated person creating by defense, under which statute strict liability by the insurer.” ANALYSIS Jarvis would not be The parties offer liable for her sudden competing views of loss of consciousness and the this court. Perhaps with that in these provisions. The injured injured parties could recover only mind, the federal district court parties interpret the statute to upon a showing of fault. appropriately certified the call for liability of an incapacitated following two questions to us: driver without proof of Lancer Insurance filed a separate negligence. They view the federal case after it succeeded in 1. whether Utah Code section requirement of coverage and the defending against the motions 31A–22–303(1) imposes strict reference to the “driver’s liability” for summary judgment in state liability on an insured driver for as a repudiation of the “sudden court. In the federal case, Lancer damages to third parties resulting incapacity” defense recognized in sought a declaratory judgment from the driver’s unforeseeable Utah precedent. confirming the conclusion that loss of consciousness while this provision preserves the driving; and The insurance company, on the common-law “sudden incapacity” 2. if so, whether the other hand, views the statute defense and thus requires proof of driver’s liability is limited by the much more narrowly. It contends fault to sustain liability in this case. applicable insurance policy or by that the statute doesn’t impose the applicable minimum statutory liability at all, but simply directs The federal district court may limit. insurance companies to provide have recognized the unusual a certain kind of coverage. procedural posture of this case—a THE STATUTE federal declaratory judgment The statute requires that “a The Supreme Court embraced the suit under review while parallel policy of motor vehicle liability cases involving claims for money coverage … shall … cover See ZALMA Pg 43 damages are still pending in state www.underwritersinsider.com

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May 2017

ANALYSIS

WHY FEW CONSULTANTS DELIVER THAT EVERY CLIENT WANTS By Merilee Kern, MBA

accountants. Hundreds of thousands of consultants are he promise of employed in firms ranging from independent consulting “single-shingle” shops to global, is fast cars, big checks, mega-consultancies. and total flexibility to pick and choose clients, and it’s a But, even in a trade that’s promise hundreds of thousands rife with profit potential, of “ex” workers chase every year. actually earning that pot of Ex-executives, ex-employees, gold can be extraordinarily and ex-big-name-consultants difficult given there are twoare flooding the ranks of plus million consultants, independent consultants thanks coaches, trainers, and similar to the recession and “jobless professionals all fighting to recovery.” find clients, win projects and make a living. Roughly half This gold rush mentality is of these consultants are solo understandable given that U.S. practitioners or in boutique businesses spend an astounding firms—and the sad reality is $120+ billion on management most boutique consulting firms consultants each year—and are perpetually six months away six times that amount on other from bankruptcy. advisors such as IT specialists, R&D companies, lawyers, and Their “new business

procurement” engine sputters along unreliably, resulting in a persistent struggle to grow larger, while solo consultants capture average annual revenue under $70,000 (compared to $250,000 per consultant across the entire industry). To explore this disconnect, I connected with David A. Fields, author of “The Executive’s Guide to Consultants,” and the soonto-be-released follow-up title, “The Irresistible Consultant’s Guide to Winning Clients.” Himself a multi-milliondollar earning independent consultant, this “expert’s expert” has some sage advice on how people can realize success in the consulting trade—a profession, he concedes, that can be “as problematic as it is profitable.”

bout the author: Branding, business and entrepreneurship success pundit, Merilee Kern, MBA, is an influential media voice and lauded communications strategist. As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List International News Syndicate,” she’s a revered brand and consumer product trends voice of authority who spotlights noteworthy marketplace change makers, movers and shakers. Merilee may be reached online at www.TheLuxeList.com. Follow her on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/LuxeListEditor and Facebook here: www.Facebook.com/TheLuxeList

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May 2017

ANALYSIS

Since Fields has coached hundreds of successful consultants and other independent practitioners around the world on how to “make it rain,” I asked him the obvious question: “Why do so many struggle in this field?” Quite unequivocally, he asserted that too many consultants—the majority, in fact—are completely missing the mark with respect to their baseline approach and overarching mindset. To help give independent consultants a clearer path to that coveted yet elusive goal of www.underwritersinsider.com

financial freedom through what projects. “could” be a lifestyle-friendly career, here are six of Fields’ Consultants who are thinking pragmatic, eye-opening tips: Right-Side Up use their client’s preferred communication method (phone? email? text?) Tip 1: Think Right-Side Up. and style, not their own. Their Fields urges what he calls “Rightproposals focus on the client’s Side Up” thinking that boils down problem and outcome, not the to a simple idea: Consulting isn’t consultant’s methodology. Their about you, it’s about them— marketing materials speak about the clients. Like many “obvious” their clients’ issues, situations, philosophies, Right-Side Up and aspirations, not what makes thinking is far easier to say than the consultant great. They even to put into practice. Consultants turn down projects if that would tend to make consulting about be in the best interest of the themselves—it’s evident in client. their marketing materials, their pitches, even their approach to See What Clients Want Pg 14 Table of Contents

May 2017

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NEWS

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May 2017

NEWS

ACADIA INSURANCE EXPANDS BREWERY COVERAGE WITH NEW FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONTAMINATION ENDORSEMENT Program offers most comprehensive coverage for breweries located throughout the Northeast

•

Privacy Breach & Cyber Liability

“The addition of the Food and Contamination endorsement solidifies our Brewery Program as one of the most comprehensive offerings on the market,” ESTBROOK, Maine (Apr. 6, 2017) – Acadia said David LeBlanc, chief underwriting officer, Acadia Insurance, a W. R. Berkley Company®, is Insurance. “Our targeted specialty options ensure expanding its innovative Brewery Insurance brewery owners have access to the expertise and Program with the introduction of a food and beverage coverage they require to manage their business.” contamination endorsement. This option extends coverage for loss of, or damage to, food or beverage The Brewery Program was developed in response to the products on premises due to accidental contamination burgeoning growth of the brewing market segment in during the fermentation, aging, bottling, processing or the Northeast and offers all necessary lines of coverage, manufacturing process. including property & equipment, general liability,

Losing a batch of beer or facing a large scale product recall due to product contamination can be a costly proposition, particularly for smaller breweries. When accidental contamination is discovered, the coverage compensates the brewery for the product lost. The valuation of the loss is also dependent on where the product was in the manufacturing process at the time of contamination.

worker’s compensation, commercial auto and umbrella liability.

In addition to coverage capability, Acadia Insurance’s local approach to the business means local, experienced claims professionals provide prompt assistance to customers who have experienced a loss. As an added benefit, Acadia Insurance policyholders have the ability to manage their account online through MyAcadia. This secure customer portal is designed to This endorsement expands an already thorough list provide customers with easy, secure access to account of specialty coverages designed to assist small and information at any time for their convenience. mid-size brewery operations in managing the unique exposures of their businesses including: About Acadia Insurance • • • • • • •

Tank Collapse coverage Tank Leakage coverage Processing Water Loss Extra Expense Key Employee Replacement Expense Product Recall Expense coverage Equipment Breakdown coverage Employment Practices Liability www.underwritersinsider.com

Acadia Insurance is a regional company offering commercial and specialty property casualty insurance coverages through independent insurance agents with local offices in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Acadia Insurance is a member company of W.R. Berkley Corporation, an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States. Table of Contents

May 2017

NEWS

CALIFORNIA AGENTS ARRESTED FOR $300,000 LIFE INSURANCE SCHEME Over 200 applications submitted with stolen or purchased personal information

OS ANGELES, Calif. — Former insurance agents Ali Kakande, 37, and Sulaiman Lutale, 35, were arrested on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, identity theft, money laundering, grand theft, and forgery after allegedly falsifying life insurance applications to collect over $300,000 in unearned commissions.

In 2012, they both became licensed agents and continued their scheme submitting an additional 89 life insurance policy applications from 2012 to 2014 and collecting more than $138,000 in unearned commissions. After they were no longer able to successfully submit new business under their own licenses, they continued their scheme by using licenses from at least three other licensees An investigation by the California to submit over 70 additional Department of Insurance and fraudulent applications and U.S. Immigration and Customs collect more than $90,000 E n f o r c e m e n t ’s in unearned (ICE) Homeland commissions. S e c u r i t y Investigations To obtain personal (HSI) alleged that information for prior to either the fraudulent Kakande or applications, Lutale becoming investigators allege l i c e n s e d Kakande and Lutale agents, the recruited applicants duo submitted by paying them approximately $50 to $200 and Former insurance agents 70 fraudulent life promising that they Ali Kakande, 37 insurance policy would receive free life applications to insurance policies. various life insurance carriers Other applicants were victims of under another licensee’s agent identity theft and unaware that appointments. For these life insurance policies had been fraudulent applications Lutale issued in their names. collected over $81,000 in unearned commissions. Life insurance policy applications

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were also submitted with Kakande and Lutale as the purported policyholders. The applications submitted to the insurance carriers contained misrepresentations and fabricated information, including false occupations, income, net worth or beneficiary information. Some of the applications also contained forged signatures of the alleged applicants. The investigation also showed that premium payments were generally not paid by the applicants, but instead paid from accounts owned by Kakande or Lutale, or from accounts opened by other individuals who assisted them in carrying out the advance commission scheme. Kakande was booked into Orange County Central Jail by CDI Fraud Detectives and bail was set at $470,000. Lutale was booked into Los Angeles County Jail by CDI Fraud Detectives and Homeland Security Agents and bail was set at $370,000. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case under the California Department of Insurance’s Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Program. May 2017

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May 2017

ANALYSIS Continued From Page 9

WHAT CLIENTS WANT Tip 2: Maximize Impact.

Once you have impact, Fields says visibility is critical. More awareness leads to more prospects, more clients, and more revenue. It’s as easy and linear as that. To achieve this, there are five specific “Marketing Musts” a consultant should employ, which have proven most effective for winning clients.

Tip 4: Connect, Connect.

Since relationships are the engine that powers consulting firms, Fields exhorts consultants to drop the sales orientation and focus on creating, nurturing and leveraging relationships. In fact, Fields promotes an unusual definition of wealth—that wealth = relationship strength.

Fields contends that most consultants—particularly They are: Writing, Speaking, boutique firms—who don’t have Trade Associations, Digital enough clients believe they Presence and Networking. He have a visibility problem; i.e., not enough prospects know The “trick to becoming about them. In fact, most of those consultants have an the consultant that impact problem. They’re in clients value above all others” front of enough prospects, but those prospects don’t care can be summarized in a single about what the consultant word: discovery. Through is offering. In contrast, the process of discovery, successful consultants know how to “fish where the fish the would-be irresistible are,” which means they focus consultant learns the client’s their firms on issues clients are aware of and urgently desires, hopes, requirements, want to solve. Amazingly, many consultants offer solutions the consultants think are important, without ever checking the market need. For instance, a consulting company might be trained in category management, however, it may fare better by shifting the firm’s focus to market expansion if that’s the primary issue their clients want to address. Tip 3: Build Visibility. 14

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and fears better than any competitor—perhaps better than the client himself.“ Surprisingly, Fields suggests the quest to differentiate, which is a mainstay of marketing, is a misguided effort for consulting firms. According to Fields, “Clients aren’t looking for different. They’re looking for reliable, credible solutions to their problems.” Table of Contents

Connect,

counters the common requests consultants use to try to garner introductions, “Who do you know who could use my services?” (a gambit that rarely works well), with a more effective alternative: “Who’s the most interesting person you’ve talked to in the past couple of months?”

This removes the awkwardness factor associated with asking for contacts while also taking the pressure off the person receiving the request. Other effective strategies Fields suggests to create new relationships include “walking the halls,” which is literally introducing yourself to nearby decision makers; setting up internal meetings at the client’s location; and setting up interviews as research for a thought leadership piece. Additionally, he reminds May 2017

ANALYSIS consultants to make their Do you have any worries about visibility-building efforts that?” interactive. Tip 6: Propose, Negotiate & Close. For instance, when giving While winning clients is a speech, Fields suggests the result of hard work and asking listeners to write down diligence, even consultants who their response to a question, follow the first five tips often fail then asking members of the to “seal the deal.” To spur greater audience to stand up when you success closing deals, Fields describe the response matching suggests building a “story” what they wrote. Of course, that compels clients to sign on rather than dashing off after the the dotted line, and proffering speech, the consultant should combinations of approaches, stick around and talk with those terms and fees that are highly who want to learn more. tailored to resonate with each particular prospect. Tip 5: Become the Obvious Choice. Fees are frequently a point Fields believes the “trick to of contention and, when becoming the consultant that objections to fees arise, Fields clients value above all others” recommends a tactic he calls can be summarized in a single the “strategic delay.” Rather than word: discovery. Through offering one of the common the process of discovery, the responses to fee objections would-be irresistible consultant (defensively justifying the fee learns the client’s desires, or weakly reducing scope), a hopes, requirements, and fears consultant using the strategic better than any competitor— delay acknowledges the fee perhaps better than the client objection then asks, “what himself. He suggests using a else?” to surface other concerns carefully constructed “Context and trepidations. By soliciting Discussion” with power all opposition points before questions that build trust and addressing any, the consultant uncover crucial information. For avoids becoming defensive and instance, Fields even encourages can tackle the objections from consultants to ask questions easiest-to-hardest. This builds that might scare lesser-caliber the time, trust and momentum professionals, such as, “What needed to effectively combat concerns do you have about fee objections. bringing in an outsider like us? Clearly in a profession with www.underwritersinsider.com

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so much upside, many seek to garner success working as a consultant or other type of independent practitioner. Perhaps best exemplifying the lack of business development prowess in this profession was the last thought Fields conveyed in our exchange—that a great number of consultants fail at the most fundamental, yet missioncritical, final step in the sales process: actually asking for the business. Here professionals need to foil that fear of rejection and go for it. If you don’t ask you don’t get, it’s just that simple. Sources: https://www.census.gov/data/ tables/2014/econ/susb/2014susb-annual.html http://amcf.org/index. php?option=com_content&vie w=article&id=37&Itemid=102

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TEXAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER DAVID MATTTAX PASSES

ustin, TX - The Texas Department of Insurance announced that Commissioner David Mattax died after a long battle with cancer Thursday, April 20th, 2017.

David was a doting son and brother who took g r e a t pride in mentoring y o u n g Texas Gov. Greg Abbot was lawyers who would become the quoted as saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Commissioner leaders of tomorrow.â&#x20AC;? David Mattax truly dedicated his life and career to the State of Mattax had served with the DOI Texas. A brilliant lawyer whose since 2015 and another 23 years loyalty to Texas never wavered, with the Texas Attorney General. Table of Contents

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NEWS

NEXAR LAUNCHES MACHINE-VISION BASED INSURANCE TELEMATICS Next-generation video telematics score provides previously unavailable information and data for every driving event and introduces new UBI variables

ew York, NY, April 24, 2017 – Today Nexar, the provider of the world’s first vehicle-to-vehicle network for preventing road collisions and enabling autonomous mobility, announced its visionbased Telematics solution which will leverage smartphone and cameras in automobiles to decrease accidents, better price auto insurance risk, and deter fraud. Insurance companies today are searching for an affordable and connected telematics solution one that goes beyond the more traditional telematics approach to complete their digital insurance strategy for both personal and commercial lines. Using smartphone technology, the Nexar application produces car maneuver information and uses computer-vision algorithms and deep learning to complement each event with context of the driving scene. “When it concerns auto insurance pricing and underwriting, On-board Diagnostics (OBD) telematics, 18

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provides a very narrow perspective of driving. We believe that vision-based scores provide the next level of depth to telematics,” said Eran Shir, Nexar’s Founder and CEO. “Our initial work with insurers points to a dramatic improvement in loss cost modeling as well as in prevention of fraud and streamlining of the claims

process.” Vision-based telematics provides the necessary data to unlock additional driver behaviour insights. One example is tracking a driver’s ‘headway distance keeping’,

See Telematics Page 23

May 2017

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May 2017

THE INSIDE TRACK - BREAKING NEWS Stephens Insurance Opens In Birmingham

Image Credit: Creative Commons

tephens Insurance, LLC, an affiliate of Stephens Inc., an independent, full service investment banking firm, announced the opening of its Property & Casualty brokerage office in Birmingham, Alabama. The new team—made up of Tice Young, Donna Sanford, James Kennedy and Marty Hall—brings nearly 60 years of combined experience in the energy, infrastructure, private equity, and chemical verticals to the insurance practice. “Stephens Insurance is excited to expand our Southeast footprint into the Birmingham area. Our move into the market is part of the overall expansion of Stephens Insurance, following our increased presence in Houston earlier this year,” stated Martin M. Rhodes, President and Chief Executive of Stephens Insurance. “We are thrilled to build 20

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our local offering around such an accomplished and knowledgeable team,” he continued.

Chip This...

justified.” The plaintiffs claim Wise deceived them into overpaying because the Ruffles bags actually were smaller but contained more chips. Serious stuff, folks.

opey lawsuit of the month award goes to a couple of plaintiffs that filed in Manhattan Federal Court a class-action suit against the Berwick, PA based Wise Foods claiming their potato chip bags were “58(%) to 75(%) empty, well above the 30 percent that might be

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FLORIDA COMP COSTS SPIKE

usiness Insurance reported in April that, “Workers comp cost increases stemming from the Westphal and Castellanos rulings prompted the National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. to file for a 19.6% workers comp rate hike in Florida. NCCI said in November that

May 2017

THE INSIDE TRACK - BREAKING NEWS the Castellanos decision has caused workers comp attorney fees to increase 22% in the state, while an earlier NCCI estimate said that both court rulings could cause overall comp costs to increase as much as 38%.” Westphal vs City of St. Petersburg where the Florida Supreme Court ruled that a Florida statute limiting temporary disability benefits to two years is unconstitutional.

BREXIT CONSEQUENCES?

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ccording to one City of London official, BREXIT, (Britain leaving the EU) may cost 10% of London’s financial jobs. As of 2015, 164,000 people were employed in the financial services sector in the city.

Britain is now engaged in formal “divorce” talks with Brussells and several www.underwritersinsider.com

European cities are hoping to attract financial firms from London. It’s worth noting that Globalists, upset over BREXIT to begin with are predicting far more dire consequences that Britain’s m o r e conser vative politicians who view Great Britain’s exit from the EU consortium as a positive step for the country.

coming in direct contact as in the mouth, esophagus and colon. Up to an 80 percent inhibition rate was shown in some human cancer studies. According to Newsmax, “Oral cancers are the sixth most common cancers in the world. It is estimated that approximately 91,200 Americans are living with oral cancer, and current estimates suggest that A BERRY GOOD approximately 37,000 new CANCER TREATMENT cases are diagnosed every year, the federal health ecent research points to agency adds.” berries, including straw berries and black raspberries, RUN FORREST RUN! as a weapon against cancer - especially oral cancer. ne new study shows no Berries are loaded with other exercise increases cancer-fighting compounds including potassium, fiber, life expectancy more than many B vitamins, vitamin running - with each hour C, vitamin K, manganese, on the hoof adding 7 hours iodine, folate, omega-3 to your lifespan. Research fatty acids, magnesium and showed a typical runner copper. While many of these would spend about 6 substances are inefficiently months running over 40 yrs absorbed in our bodies when but add 3.2 years to life span. eaten, researchers studied the effects of the berries

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May 2017

NEWS

GEORGIA INSURANCE AGENT BUSTED ON FOUR COUNTS OF ALLEGED INSURANCE FRAUD

n investigation conducted by the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation’s Enforcement Division has led to the arrest of former City of Metter insurance agent Thelga Mahalia Nelson.

Nelson has fraudulently obtained thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation premiums from the victims. Based on evidence obtained during the investigation it was determined that one certificate created by Nelson has cost a general contractor over $34,000.00 in additional premiums.

According to Enforcement Division Director Stan Bexley, The case is Nelson, age 52 still being and the former investigated by owner of Quality the Enforcement I n s u r a n c e Division and Agency, was additional arrested Tuesday charges are afternoon, April 4, anticipated in 2017, and booked Thelga Mahalia Nelson the near future. into the Candler County Jail on 4 counts of felony insurance fraud. If any business owner in The Enforcement Division’s the Metter, Statesboro, and investigation alleges that Nelson, Swainsboro area, particularly a former Georgia licensed logging truck operations, has insurance agent, sold customers received a certificate of workers’ fake workers’ compensation compensation insurance from insurance coverage and pocketed Quality Insurance Agency, you the premium. Nelson then issued are asked to contact the State the unsuspecting clients bogus Board of Workers’ Compensation’s certificates of insurance as proof Enforcement Division at (404) they had workers’ compensation 657-7285 or (800) 533-0682. The insurance coverage. It is suspected Enforcement Division encourages 22

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anyone who receives a certificate of workers’ compensation insurance coverage to verify the certificate either by using the State Board’s website or by contacting the insurance company directly. All other lines of insurance coverage such as auto, home or general liability should be verified directly with the insurance carrier.

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NEWS

Continued From Page 18

MACHINEVISION INSURANCE TELEMATICS which is a clear indicator of collision probability. Some drivers frequently tailgate other automobiles, which ultimately reduces reaction time should the car in front of them maneuver abruptly. The vision telematics solution scores ‘headway distance keeping’ in different driving scenarios. Another example is tracking the relative velocity of the user’s www.underwritersinsider.com

vehicle compared to the velocity of the vehicles near him, also known as the “Swarm Velocity”, where research have shown that a large difference could impact risk of collision.

application also provides Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) alerts to the driver to avoid collisions through machine-vision as well as vehicleto-vehicle communication.

Finally, an important benefit of this new, vision-based Telematics solution is that it does not solely rely on harsh events, but rather takes into account every second of driving, providing statistically significant results after a shorter tracking period and miles driven. As a result, the driving score can also adapt better to the effects of coaching.

“Our greatest concern is driver safety and that’s why our telematics mobile application is, first and foremost, an ADAS application,” added Shir. “However, as a result of our vision connected-driving application, we are able to provide our insurance partners with an array of services, including driver scoring and coaching, collision prevention, and automatic claim Beyond telematics, the Nexar reporting and reconstruction.” Table of Contents

May 2017

NEWS

7 YEAR INVESTIGATION YIELDS ARREST OF 2 RETIRED NORTH CAROLINA INSURANCE AGENTS

ALEIGH -Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the conviction of two retired insurance agents, Milton Hooks, 72, of Rocky Mount and James Mangum, 69, of Tarboro on six counts each of obtaining property by false pretense.

wrong,” said Causey. “I am pleased NCDOI criminal investigators were able to recover nearly $11 million in this important case that hopefully will help deter white collar crime like this in North Carolina.”

Department of Insurance criminal investigators brought the case against Hooks and Mangum for The case was the result of an influencing 77 victims across North extensive seven-year investigation Carolina to remove money from in fourteen counties conducted by their 401-K and other life insurance the NC Department of Insurance’s policies and put it into an annuity Criminal Investigation Division. product known as a “Fixed Indexed Hooks and Mangum targeted Annuity” from 2004 to 2011. senior citizens in a regional scam that involved the reallocation of Hooks and Mangum used their money people had in savings and credibility as fiduciaries to move insurance policies. approximately $11 million into various annuity accounts with “Preying on our senior citizens is three companies that sold these

products and garnered over $620,000 in commission payment for the sale of these products under false pretense. As part of a plea agreement with the court, these victims were refunded their initial investment plus interest by the companies to the victims. It was discovered during the investigation that Hooks and Mangum also influenced four victims into making individual $316,000 investments which they directly diverted into their bank accounts and laundered the money for their own personal use. These four victims were repaid the money directly from Hooks and Mangum as an additional part of their plea agreement. Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Lock dismissed 100 counts of obtaining property by false pretense across Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Chowan, Cumberland, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Hoke, Martin, Mecklenburg, Robeson, Wake and Washington counties and suspended Hooks and Mangum’s sentence because all the victims would be repaid the money that was defrauded from them.

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May 2017

NEWS

CALIFORNIA COUPLE ARRESTED FOR DRIVER SWITCH INSURANCE FRAUD SCHEME Police Department accusing the responding officers of racism In May 2016, Goodwin was and lying on the police report. driving and involved in an auto An internal affairs investigation was initiated by Tustin Police accident, according to Department. a report taken by the responding officers Suspecting fraud, the from the Tustin insurance company Police Department. Following the and the Tustin accident, Goodwin Police Department and his domestic reached out to CDI, RANGE, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lamont partner, Camarillo, which launched a Goodwin, 33, and Sylvia allegedly lied to their fraud investigation Camarillo, 31, were that determined arrested yesterday by California insurer reporting that Lamont Goodwin, 33 Camarillo Goodwin was, in fact, Department of w a s the driver and Camarillo was not in Insurance (CDI) the person driving the car at all or at the scene. Both detectives on multiple the vehicle and Goodwin and Camarillo allegedly felony charges of Goodwin was a conspired to file a fraudulent insurance fraud after passenger. claim so the insurance company allegedly submitting a would pay for damages that were fraudulent claim and Based on the police not covered under the conditions filing a false police report, the insurer of the policy. The investigation report in an attempt to denied the claim also uncovered that the pair filed bilk their insurer out of because Goodwin a false police report accusing the $18,000 for damages was an excluded Sylvia Camarillo, 31 Tustin police officers of lying on not covered by their driver on the policy, the original traffic report. insurer. so the accident was not covered. "Trying to cover your tracks and Before receiving the police report, Goodwin and Camarillo were recover uninsured losses by filing the carrier paid $18,000 to the booked into the Orange County a fraudulent claim is a life-altering credit union that held a lien on the Jail. Bail was set at $30,000 mistake," said Commissioner Dave totaled vehicle. for Goodwin and $30,000 for Jones. "Let this be an example that Camarillo. The Orange County insurance fraud is a serious crime After the claim was denied, District Attorney's Office is that will likely lead to your arrest Camarillo and Goodwin filed prosecuting the case. a complaint with the Tustin

Orange County, CA couple arrested for driver switch fraud scheme filed false insurance claim and false police report accusing officers of racism

and possible time in jail."

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NOW: CREDIT SIZE CARD COMPUTER FOR $54! Little Hobby Board Thousands of Times More Powerful Than Computer Powering Apollo 11

SIMPSONS SPOOF COLLEGE BUTTERCUPS

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ho knew curing a drunk was this easy! Just dope ‘em up with “copious amounts” of Tawny Cocaine Port & they lose their “want of alcohol” completely! It was probably true. Pump them full of “cocaine syrup” and they may never go back to plain old booze!

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“The Final Authority on Everything!” WARNING!

The Advisor has been known to be politically incorrect and may send certain Millennials scurrying to their safe space. Also not recommended for Progressives who are easily offended. Please read at your own risk.

Obama As Profiteer

re you outraged by Obama taking $400,000 from Wall Street to give a 1-hour speech? A.J. Manhattan, NY

ADVISOR

a half a million dollars to Wall Street? Obama’s never held a real job. He’s never run a business. He’s never made a payroll. The past 8 years prove he knows little about how to accelerate the economy or put more Americans to work. Do they believe this quasisocialist can teach them something about growing the stock-values of their favorite equities or managing the portfolios of their biggest clients? Unless Wall Street feels they are buying influence, and Obama has little in the current administration, it’s difficult

to understand. Perhaps it’s just a bunch of Manhattan liberals desirous of one more opportunity to fawn over their departing hero. Yet the $400K is no big deal. Like the Clintons, in short order, he and Michelle will be worth 100’s of $ millions in paid speeches and book deals.

Faster, Faster

n your March 2017 issue, you had a story about the first commercial computer, the Univac. The article said

Outraged? No. Surprised? No. When a liberal politician postures himself as a populist or “one of the people” I hardly get excited to learn they are just as much a profiteer as your local car dealer. I never really expect them to hold any actual core values or demonstrate any actual integrity. I’m much more surprised by Wall Street. What could this man say in an hour that could possibly be worth almost 28

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May 2017

it was thousands of times (Apollo Guidance Computer) slower than an iPhone 5. “wasn’t particularly powerful I’ve often heard a smart having 64Kbyte of memory and operating at 0.043MHz. phone was faster than the computer that was onboard Apollo 11. Can that be true? B.H., Dallas, Tx

simply, the iPhone 6’s clock is 32,600 times faster than the best Apollo era computers and could perform instructions 120,000,000 times faster. You wouldn’t be wrong in saying an iPhone could be used to guide 120,000,000 Apollo era spacecraft to the According to moon, all at the same an article on time.” As difficult to zmescience.com, understand for the “your smartphone tech lay person how is millions of times far we’ve come in 50 more powerful years of computing, than ALL of Apollo Guidance Computer - Credit NASA it is even more difficult NASA’s COMBINED to imagine what your computing in 1969” - the year Neil Armstrong first stepped In fact, it was less equipped iPhone 25 might be capable on the moon. The AGC than a modern toaster! Put of in 20 years. www.underwritersinsider.com

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May 2017

220/440 Lic. Ins Agent Needed - Boca

FREE CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www.underwritersinsider. com/classifieds. Ads must be less than 501 characters plus a title line. Eligible free classifieds include help wanted, position wanted, personal ads, agency for sale/purchase, or the one-time sale of an item or items. Place Ad HERE! REGULAR CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www.underwritersinsider. com/classifieds. Only $1.00 per word, including title line and response info. Payment must be received prior to print date. Ads run 3 mo.

Experienced Administrative/Accounts Executive Norcross based fast-growing Insurance Agency needs Experienced Administrative/ Accounts Executive with 2 years experience in Insurance Field. Proficiency in computers required. Please e-mail resume to girish_talati@hotmail.com 16-7

Help us expand our Agency (From Home)!! We are seeking an energetic professional to work parttime in a virtual capacity assisting us with recruiting and supporting professional sales agents across the United States and Canada.For detailed information on our company and this non-sales virtual opportunity please contact us today with the following link http://apply. harvardbenefits.com/269541 16-10

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440 or 220 in Boca Raton, Part Time or Full Time Experienced or Trainee; Agent and Customer Service Rep in family owned agency in Boca Raton. Full or Part time. (Flexible Hours) Personal Lines CSR; salary plus bonus. Commercial Agent; 50% commissions and residual. Most important Florida markets and several national markets available. We can compete with the “Big Boys” with our national affiliations. Email your resume to agencyops@gmail.com. or FAX to: 561-416-7221. EOE 17-2

Tampa Area Commercial Producer Agency Established 2006 seeks Outside Commercial Producer. Cutting Edge tech! Generous Comp and Possible Equity Buy In. Experience and FL 220 a must! Resume’ to info@nusurance.com 16-10

Experienced CSR Wanted - Broward Co.

Join our team... A & H Insurance is looking to hire a motivated team member to quote, write & service new & existing customers. Must have active 440 License (we will pay the pre-licensing course for the right candidate) Bilingual a must! Fax resume to:954-251-1423 or email: darlene@autohomeins. net 16-7

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Looking for inside / outside lic. experienced sales rep. Must know QQ/QF, Semcat and other software packages. Efax resume to 954-908-7001. Great office. 16-11

Regional Outreach Coordinator wanted

Looking for professionals who would like to help individuals save on their monthly prescription cost on average 15% for brand name and 55% on generic, while earning a residual income. loucei@msn.com 16-7

2-20/4-40 COMMERCIAL LINES MIAMI DOWNTOWN LOOKING FOR A 2-2O OR 4-40 TO HANDLE COMMERCIAL LINES WITH 1 YEAR EXPERIENCE, PERSONAL LINE KNOLEDGE APPRECIATE , NEED TO SPEAK AFLUENTLY ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WITHOUT PROBLEM TO WORK IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI SEND RESUME DOLORES@JONRAYINSURANCE.NET PH: 305-883-4604 16-9

Field Underwriter As a field underwriter, your job is to meet prospects who have responded to a direct mail campaign asking for more information on our products. When you meet with them you will be determining their eligibility for our products and helping them decide what is best for them. There is no cold-calling required as you are Reply with resume to for immediate consideration with same day response. fieldunderwritersfl@gmail. com 16-10

May 2017

Outside Ins Sales Rep - Must be licensed South Palm Beach Co. Need home based / office outside insurance sales rep. Must have experience cold calling, networking grps and referrals a must. Most know how to type up and prepare a propert commercial risk including acords, loss runs, etc. Pls email resume to: jonathandrausch@hotmail.com 16-11

Medicare Supplement Agents Wanted. Tampa and Tri-County Area No sales experience required, will train upon appointment. Need Health and Life License.Great Commissions with 'A'rated Company. Many other insurance products to offer with this great company. Commissions are paid for life and transferable to beneficiaries. Please contact: Charlotte T. Kocian - GA email: agent.char@yahoo.com

BROWARD COUNTY ENTRY LEVEL ACCOUNT MANAGER Growing MGA is looking for a highly motivated & responsible individual. Duties include managing accounts from our distribution channel --- quoting, binding and servicing multiple lines of business. Incredible opportunity for someone looking to learn and grow in a company. Send resumes to info@ everiskpro.com

16-9

Licensed Sales Producers - Norcross Norcross based fast-growing Insurance Agency needs Licensed Sales Producers in GA, FL TN SC NC TX IL and OH states for marketing 401k plans, Life Insurance products as well as Health Insurance plans. Proficiency in computers required. Please e-mail resume to girish_talati@hotmail.com 16-7

Looking to buy a P&C agency in PB county. Please call 561-584-0732

Efax: (561) 829-2055

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Help us to expand our Agency (From Home)!! We are seeking a super energetic and motivated professional to work in a virtual capacity assisting us with recruiting and supporting professional sales agents across the United States and Canada. For detailed information on our company and this non-sales virtual opportunity please contact me at: Nicole.lang@harvardbenefits.com Nicole.lang@harvardbenefits. com

Now Hiring All Positions Independent Agency Hollywood, FL Independent agency in Hollywood, FL. We are hiring for all positions, commercial & personal lines agent/account manager/processors/receptionist/bookkeeper. 220/440 experience preferred but not required. cpenate@newmanins.com

2-20/4-40 COMMERCIAL LINES MIAMI DOWNTOWN LOOKING FOR A 2-2O OR 4-40 TO HANDLE COMMERCIAL LINES WITH 1 YEAR EXPERIENCE, PERSONAL LINES KNOWLEDGE AND NEED TO SPEAK FLUENT ENGLISH & SPANISH WITHOUT PROBLEM - DOWNTOWN MIAMI SEND RESUME: DOLORES@JONRAYINSURANCE.NET 305-883-4604

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Urgent!

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16-7 May 2017

LifeNet4Families | Cooperative Feeding Program feeds hungry bodies, minds and souls – apart from hot meals, the children, women and men receive classes in life skills, they have access to job training, health clinics, haircuts, etc. Everyone is welcomed here with the respect to which all people are entitled. Many of our clients have mental health issues or they are “working poor” – i.e., they have minimum wage employment but even then cannot make ends meet; or they are families affected by unemployment or corporate layoffs. We are able to assist many through our diverse services and case management. • • • • • • • •

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LifeNet4Families strives to be a seamless system of care for those in need in Broward County, to reduce the pain and suffering of individuals and families in poverty by providing necessary food, ancillary services and referrals.

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100% of the money raised goes to LifeNet4Families Every $1.00 raised equals one meal One in seven kids go hungry in Broward County

For more information or to help, contact us at:

LifeNet4Families, (954) 792-2328, www.lifenet4families.org With the kind support of:

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May 2017

Notable Quotes In The News

SAY WHAT?

Notre Dame Buttercups Terrorized By Vice-President Pence

Image Credit: Creative Commons

or me personally, [VicePresident Pence] represents the larger Trump administration. His administration represents something, and for many people on our campus, it makes them feel unsafe to have someone who “direct quotes from Pence that are racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, offensive, or ostracizing to members of our community.” 72 Years ago, our college age youth were storming the beaches at Normandy, charging into Nazi machine gun fire and mortar rounds. Today, students from “The Fighting Irish” Notre Dame class of 2017 are made to feel “unsafe” by their own vice-president giving the graduation commencement speech on May 21st. Seniors Immane Mondane (quoted above) and Jourdyhn Williams have created a white-board protest encouraging other students to fill the boards with “direct quotes from Pence that are racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, offensive, or ostracizing to members of our community.” How the consistently polite and low-key vice-president can be considered “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, offensive, or ostracizing to members of our community,” is not mentioned. 34

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Liberal Lunacy = Campus Madness

he Rose Institute for State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna had invited me to meet with students and to give a talk about my book, The War on Cops, on April 6. Several calls went out on Facebook to “shut down” this “notorious white supremacist fascist Heather Mac Donald.” A Facebook post from “we, students of color at the Claremont Colleges” announced grandiosely that “as a community, we CANNOT and WILL NOT allow fascism to have a platform. We stand against all forms of oppression and we refuse to have Mac Donald speak.” Author and lecturer Heather Mac Donald who had recently authored the best-selling The War On Cops was scheduled to speak on the subject at California’s Claremont College. (Tuition: $50,945 annually) Ironically, legions of fascist students, blocking other students from attending the lecture - claimed they were protesting fascism! Contemporary campus belligerents, trapped in their own brainless echo-chamber of political correctness, trigger warnings and micro-aggressions, are the closest thing to true Watch The Vid fascists since the Nazis. As their screaming protests ranged from “F**k The Police” to “F**k White Supremacy,” to “Black Lives They Matter Here.”

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May 2017

Unhinged Feminist Wants All Men Dead

seat. Rowe believed United apologizing for enforcing the rules was a mistake although he vehemently disagreed with their methods.

’m sick of being a baby factory Not Her Fault? that produces more men, that in the future will subjugate me. So verywhere you see not an the only answer to that is to kill male babies excoriation of one of the worst and just kill any man you see in the street. We want the species to go on but only with campaigns in recent history, leading to the women in it. So that’s what we have to do.” Trump nightmare, [Editor’s note: from a Democrat’s perspective] but an attempt to Jenny McDermott, undoubtably an ardent blame anyone or anything but Clinton herself Hillary supporter, energized by the liberal myth for the epic fail. It wasn’t Clinton’s fault, we’re that women are subjugated and oppressed told. It never is. It was the voters’ — those in Western civilization - apparently ignorant ungrateful, deplorable know-nothings! Their or ambivalent of the real subjugation and sexism defeated her (despite a majority of oppression against women as a daily fact of white women voting for Trump). A wave of life in the Islamic world. Watch her disgusting misogyny defeated her (ditto). James Comey is to blame. Bernie Sanders’s campaign — video rant here. because it highlighted her enmeshment with Wall Street, her brain-dead interventionism United Airlines and her rapacious money-grubbing since she left the State Department — was the Fiasco Meet Mike Rowe problem. Millennial feminists were guilty oes that mean he deserved a as well, for not seeing what an amazing beating? Of course not. But crusader for their cause this candidate was. it doesn’t mean he’s innocent. And this, of course, is how Clinton sees it as well: She wasn’t responsible for her own Like the airline, Dr. Dao had campaign — her staffers were.” options. He had recourse. He could have deplaned Andrew Sullivan in a column for New York and pled his case to the magazine blaming Clinton for her own gate agent. But he didn’t. loss and asking, “Why do Democrats feel He chose resistance. That sorry for Hillary Clinton?” Yet, for all of his was dumb. United chose bullet points, he left off the Russians, who confrontation. That was the Dems love to blame for their loss. If they dumber. Now, here we are. are correct, it’s only because the RussianDumb and Dumber.” enabled Wikileaks was able to tell the The ever logical Mike Rowe weighing in on truth about Hillary, the DNC and the Clinton United Airlines beating the bejesus out of a Foundation. The accuracy of the releases was paying customer while forcibly deplaning never questioned. him so a United employee could have his

Image Credit: Creative Commons

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NEWS

2017 NETVU CONFERENCE SETS RECORDS

that is eager to stay ahead of the curve,” said Bruce Winterburn, VP of Industry Relations at Vertafore. “NetVU’s annual conference is an opportunity for members to get a first look at Vertafore’s newest solutions that will help drive results, increase operating efficiency, and maintain independence in this rapidly changing industry. Technology is the hottest topic in insurance today, and we can’t The ever-expanding user-group wait to engage with the industry’s NetVU reported a record 2500 most forward-looking group of attendees to this year’s event. It professionals.” broke down the demographics of attendees as: ashville, TN - Bothell, WA based mega-insurtech Vertafore’s user group, NetVU recently hosted their 2017 annual conference at the giant Music City Center in downtown Nashville with many attendees staying at the luxurious Omni Hotel just next store.

• • • •

32% Agency Principals 46% CSRs 19% IT Personnel 25% First time attendees

Agency of the Year: Stephens Insurance Founded in 1987, Stephens Insurance is a reliable and longestablished figure in the industry. The agency has consistently pursued an independent course, with the understanding that serving customers best means adopting technology that helps them evolve with the industry. As trusted design partners of the Vertafore Agency Platform, Stephens Insurance has further motivated Vertafore to develop innovative and cutting-edge technology. All Vertafore stakeholders have benefited from Stephens’ persistent eagerness to advance the industry at large. Carrier of the Year: The Hanover Insurance Group

The Hanover Insurance Group is one of the largest property and Bruce Winterburn, VP of Industry Relations at Vertafore. casualty insurance companies in the U.S. The Hanover understands the intrinsic value technology AWARDS The bustling conference trade offers its independent agents fair was well attended by both exhibitors and NetVU members Vertafore used the opportunity and its customers, and partners of the conference to announce with Vertafore to deliver the best resources for small and mid-sized “We have the best user group in the several user award winners: businesses, as well as personal industry, comprised of a community 38

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May 2017

NEWS property and casualty offerings. A long-time Vertafore partner, The Hanover is an industry leader when it comes to analyzing books of business and working closely with its partner agents to help them better serve their customers and improve their economics. Together with Vertafore, The Hanover offers its agents and customers a superior customer experience.

loyal and long-term Vertafore customer, PointeNorth has leveraged AMS360 since 2006, and was one of the first agencies to adopt WorkSmart in 2013. The agency is a leader in both employee and customer satisfaction, most notably demonstrated through the development of a video training library for higher levels of output and job satisfaction. Joseph M. Rackley Memorial: Mike Foy of Foy Insurance

While Foy Insurance may be a traditional small town agency in many ways, it is arguably one of the most aggressive when it comes to the adoption of emerging technologies. Led by industry trailblazer Mike Foy, the agency was an early adopter of CRQ and is credited with singleAmy Zupon, handedly saving real-time Vertafore’s New CEO addressed the General Assembly. comparative quoting with PL Rating. With more than 100 years Vertafore Vanguard Award of service, offices in three states, for Innovation: PointeNorth and over $70 million in written Insurance Group premium, Mike Foy and Foy PointeNorth consistently Insurance is truly the posterchild showcases the values of the of digital strategy success. Vertafore Vanguard Award for Innovation, which recognizes The 2017 program boasted agencies whose contributions nearly 200 educational sessions are expanding and growing the with content for everyone, industry. Formed in 2010 when whichever role they play in the TRC Insurance Services and insurance value channel. Once Merritt & McKenzie merged, and again, independent agents who with multiple mergers since, rely on agency management PointeNorth now serves 45,000 systems such as the Vertafore businesses and households. A www.underwritersinsider.com

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Hosting the NetVU Conference at the Music City Center just blocks away from Nashville’s historic Lower Broadway, a/k/a, Honky Tonk Highway, gave attendees a lot of opportunity for after-hours entertainment.

Agency Platform™ had access to the newest updates and trends to keep their agency modern and profitable. Producers discussed how to supercharge selling with Vertafore SalesTrack™, while MGAs and underwriters learned how Vertafore’s new ePayPolicy and DocuSign integrations can improve workflow. For carriers, the Vertafore Connectivity Forum was a series of presentations discussing how insurers can establish and maintain compliant selling and servicing relationships with agency partners. NetVU announced next year’s conference will be held in Atlanta in May. May 2017

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OCEAN WORLDS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM See What NASA Has recently learned about these watery moons - containing more water than Earth!

HERE INSANE DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKING This Vid Is of Dan Atherton, a World-Class Downhill Cyclist and Will Scare The Bejesus Out of You!

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NEWS

NEW SURVEY REVEALS MILLENNIAL LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH INSURANCE, VALUING COVERAGE BUT PRIORITIZING NETFLIX plan and at risk of losing coverage if the ACA is repealed, this could mean giving up favored millennial luxuries such as Netflix, cell phones, or dining out.

Additional key findings include:

• Young millennials (18-25) are most vulnerable to losing access OTHELL, Wash. – February to health insurance if the ACA 8, 2017 – Vertafore, the were to be repealed, with more leader in modern insurance Key findings of Vertafore’s 2017 than half (52%) currently covered technology, today released the millennial personal finance and under their parent’s plan. results of a new study evaluating insurance survey include: • Following the recent presidential insurance sentiment election, one-fifth and coverage rates of (20%) of millennials Findings Uncover that Repeal of the U.S. millennials as it cited feeling more Affordable Care Act (ACA) Would Put Generation at risk of losing their relates to their personal finance habits. The at Serious Risk of Losing Access to Healthcare health insurance. survey of nearly 450 Insurance, with More than Half of Young Millennials consumers ages 18 Insurance Gap is Currently Covered Under Parent’s Plan.“ to 35 revealed that Putting Millennials more than threeat Financial Risk quarters (77%) of respondents Healthcare is Top Insurance understand not having insurance Priority but ACA Repeal Could Although a majority of millennials believe insurance is complicated is risky, yet they remain the Impact Coverage Rates and expensive, more than threemost underinsured generation – Covered at a rate of 80 percent, quarters (77%) do understand covered on average 14 percent less than older age groups across millennial respondents prioritize that not having insurance is health, renters, home, life, and healthcare over all other forms risky. When evaluating rates of disability insurance. Ironically, of insurance. However, that rate insurance coverage, however, a while a vast majority of millennials of coverage could significantly gap emerges between millennial (80%) have health insurance, change given that more than one- personal finance habits and the prioritizing healthcare over all third (35%) of all millennials aged insurance they purchase, such as: other forms of insurance, 88 18-35 are either covered under • The most significant disconnect percent admit they would rather their parents’ plan or purchase in insurance coverage falls to go without health insurance for a insurance through an exchange, millennial renters, with more than year than give up their cell phone. both key mandates of the ACA. If half (58%) failing to purchase With more than half (52%) of the ACA were to be repealed, this renters insurance. According younger millennials (18-25) now group would be at risk of losing under their parent’s healthcare health insurance altogether. See Milllennial Survey Page 46

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www.zalma.com • web log, “Zalma on Insurance” • videoblog, “Zalma’s Insurance 101”

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INSURANCE & THE LAW Continued From Page 7

ZALMA

(confining the “driver’s liability” requirement that all motor vehicle to the “insurance coverage,” id. § liability insurance policies cover 31A–22–303(1)(b)). damages or injury resulting from a covered driver of a motor The Supreme Court viewed these vehicle who is stricken by an provisions as overriding the unforeseeable paralysis, seizure, or common-law “sudden incapacity” other unconscious condition.

injured parties’ view. It interpreted section 303(1) to override the common-law “sudden The Supreme Court The required insurance incapacity” defense and to found that the coverage overlaps precisely impose strict liability (at least in circumstances in which the statute overrules the with the common-law sudden incapacity defense. So unless driver has a liability policy with common-law doctrine of sudden the required coverage also the coverage mandated by the statute) and concluded that the incapacity in a manner imposing implies an imposition of liability, driver’s liability is capped by the strict liability on a driver (and by the legislature would have to be understood to have issued a limits set forth in the applicable extension, the driver’s insurer) mandate that has no operative insurance policy. The express requirement when the coverage is present effect. of insurance coverage is best Years ago the Supreme Court and an injured party has a claim understood as an implicit embraced the so-called “sudden incapacity” defense. That for strict liability under the repudiation of the common-law doctrine of sudden incapacity defense precludes liability for “a terms of the statute.” (and an imposition of strict person driving an automobile” liability). who is suddenly stricken by an illness that makes it impossible for defense—at least in a case in the driver to control the car and which the coverage provided by There would be no point in that the driver has no reason to statute is in place — and thus as a limitation of liability to the anticipate. A conclusion that there subjecting a covered driver (and available “insurance coverage” is no breach of the duty of care by extension the insurer) to strict if such liability is foreclosed as when a sudden illness removes, liability. Lancer Insurance notes, a matter of law by the sudden without warning, the ability to the statute nowhere refers to a incapacity defense. Therefore, the principle of “strict liability.” The Supreme Court found that the safely operate an automobile. principal mandate of the statute statute overrules the common-law The statute announces two is a requirement of insurance doctrine of sudden incapacity in not an express a manner imposing strict liability key premises: a requirement coverage, of insurance coverage (for articulation of a duty or standard on a driver (and by extension, the driver’s insurer) when the coverage “damages or injury resulting of liability in tort. is present and an injured party has from a covered driver of a motor The Supreme Court found that a claim for strict liability under the vehicle who is stricken by an the text calls for strict liability terms of the statute. unforeseeable paralysis, seizure, or other unconscious condition,” and to override the common-law By statute the driver’s liability UTAH CODE § 31A–22–303(1)(a) principle of sudden incapacity. (v)), and a limitation of liability The legislature enacted a See ZALMA Pg 45 www.underwritersinsider.com

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TECHNOLOGY If you’d like to review your old recordings, pull up the Alexa app and visit the History section of the Settings menu. Tap on the entry you’d like to review in greater detail and tap the Play having a conversation and say icon to listen to the recording. something like, “I love that song! Given the hundreds or thousands Let’s listen to it. Alexa, play the of commands most Echo users Coldplay song, ‘Viva La Vida,’” accumulate, you have a chronicle then Alexa may keep the words of requests spoken in your actual “listen to it.” voice. Continued From Page 5

KIM KOMANDO

How to Listen Recordings

These

Surprise! You can access all those recordings and listen to every command you’ve ever given since first installing the Echo in your house. Crazy, right? I’m guessing that most people don’t realize they have this ability. But indeed, you can review your voice log with the Alexa app on iOS and Android and the app also allows you to scroll through your activity and listen to each recording. I was surprised that some of my recordings had nothing to do with giving Alexa commands. There was me talking on my phone about my old studios that I was selling. Alexa also recorded portions of a presidential television debate. I am not sure why my real estate phone call was recorded. But one of the candidates almost said the word “Alexa.”

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Keep in mind that Amazon warns, “deleting voice recordings may degrade your Alexa experience.” How to Keep Your Echo From Listening

The gravity of this listening reality was brought to light in the murder trial of a man named James Bates. In February 2016, Bates was officially charged with the murder of Victor Collins. Amazon was served a warrant How to Delete Recordings requesting the audio files from If the thought of your recorded Bates’ Amazon Echo. But Amazon requests and other things you fought back. might have said stored in a database creeps you out, you Amazon believed complying can delete them. You need to with such a warrant could violate remove the associated entry consumers’ rights to privacy. Why of each recording on the Alexa then, did Amazon ultimately app. Here are the steps to delete hand over the audio files? In an recordings: unexpected twist, Bates provided consent for the police to review 1. Open the Alexa app and go the Echo’s data. Because of into the Settings section. this abrupt change, we’ll never 2. Select History and you’ll see a know how Amazon would list of all the entries. have defended themselves 3. Select an entry and tap the in their fight to protect their Delete button. customers’ private data. Click here for additional details about But what happens if you want to the murder case and Amazon’s delete all those recordings? Do actions. you have to find each one and manually remove it? That could If you want to prevent Echo from take days! listening to you, switch off Echo’s microphone. There is an on/off Amazon allows you to remove button on the top of the device, everything with one click. Just and whenever the button is red, visit the “Manage Your Content the mic is off. To reactivate it, just and Devices” at www.amazon. press the button again. com/mycd. Muting the mic will stop Echo from Table of Contents

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TECHNOLOGY listening. However, disabling the mic will also defeat the purpose of these virtual assistants. Yes, Echo provides some pretty great sound quality, especially for a Bluetooth speaker, but you won’t be able to deliver commands. So even if you love your Echo, allow yourself a bit of privacy. Alexa is great to have around, but sometimes, three’s a crowd. Just for laughs, click here to see how one man turned Alexa into a talking skull. What other secrets are your devices harboring? Be sure to listen or download my national radio show’s podcasts, or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts.

Copyright 2017, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com www.underwritersinsider.com

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ZALMA under Subsection (1)(a)(v) is limited to the insurance coverage. The incapacitated driver will owe nothing. If the incapacitated driver was uninsured the defense would apply. The Supreme Court concluded, therefore, that the statute means what it says: A driver (and by extension her insurer) is subject to liability only up to the amount of the insurance coverage available under an applicable policy and that the statute overrules the common-law doctrine of sudden incapacity to only a limited extent—to the extent of available insurance coverage. ZALMA OPINION Tort liability is usually subject to the three elements of negligence: duty, breach, damage. Since, in this accident, the driver did not breach a duty and had no liability to the injured parties. By statute, the Legislature, imposed on an insurer the obligation to indemnify anyone injured by an incapacitated person creating by statute strict liability by the insurer.

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NEWS Continued From Page 41

MILLENNIAL SURVEY to Allstate, the average renter in a two-bedroom apartment has $30,000 worth of personal belongings – property that would not be replaced in the event of a fire, flood, or break in. • When it comes to auto, 17 percent of millennial drivers were uninsured – 5 percent higher than the national average of 12 percent (according to the Insurance Research Council). This puts millennials at greater risk, liable for thousands of dollars if held responsible for an accident, which at last count averaged anywhere from $9,300 per incident for property damage to $80,700 for a disabling injury (National Safety Council). • As it relates to disability insurance, older millennials (2635) were nearly two and a half times more likely to purchase coverage than their younger (1825) counterparts. When Push Comes to Shove, Millennials Choose Luxuries over Insurance Despite the common assumption that millennials are irresponsible with their money, when comparing insurance purchases and personal finance habits, the survey reveals 46

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they buck the misconception and incorporate insurance into their budgets as financially able. That is, unless that means giving up television streaming services such as Netflix, cell phones, or dining out. Additional personal finance insights include: • Although renters insurance costs an average of just $144 annually, only 40 percent have purchased this type of insurance – indicating a stronger preference to spend $100 a year on television streaming services like Netflix as well as craft beer and spirits over coverage. • Millennials are not all irresponsible – nearly 60 percent reported being unwilling to skip, delay, or temporarily stop paying for healthcare insurance if given the choice to save money. • A majority (63%) of millennials spend less than $300 a month on all forms of insurance, and more than half indicated they would invest in more insurance if they could afford it. Ironically, over 60 percent admit to spending more than $75 a month on eating out.

what they know to be true with the actions they take on insurance coverage. Their future finances depend on it.” Vertafore’s study polled 1,294 U.S. residents, including 444 millennials ages 18 to 35. Approximately 48 percent were males and 52 percent were females. SurveyMonkey conducted the survey in November 2016 and the full survey results are available upon request. About Vertafore

Vertafore offers the broadest and most adaptable technology solutions to better prepare the insurance industry for digital disruption. The Vertafore product line is built on a platform, empowering customers and other solution providers to adapt and thrive as the market changes. Vertafore’s platform features fast innovation, partnerships with the best technology companies, and customizable solutions to help companies remain independent during a time of industry disruption. As the leader in modern insurance technology with the largest “Despite common misconceptions customer base in the industry, that millennials are unaware and Vertafore connects every point uneducated about insurance, our of the distribution channel, from research clearly shows they value agencies and carriers to MGAs, insurance but financial barriers MGUs, and state governments. For and personal spending habits more information about Vertafore, inhibit securing proper coverage,” visit www.vertafore.com, read the said Bruce Winterburn, VP of company’s blog, and follow the Industry Relations at Vertafore. “As company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and we begin the new year, now is a Facebook. great time for millennials to align Table of Contents

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