The Department of Commerce reached out to MIIAB to get a feel for what agents are experiencing as they assist their clients impacted by recent events in Minneapolis and St. Paul. As a result, we scheduled a call with MIIAB Board Members and Commissioner Steve Kelley and Assistant Commissioner Peter Brickwedde. The conversation lasted for over an hour. We shared our impression that claims for property damage seem to be going well and we all agreed that what we have seen so far is probably just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the number of claims being filed, especially as trial lawyers and public adjusters get involved.
We also discussed possible coverage issues concerning loss of income and civil authority. The Commissioner offered to assist if any intractable issues arise. The Commissioner also shared concerns about businesses that don't have insurance or are underinsured. He also raised concerns about businesses that may not be able to afford their deductible and that the Legislature may need to provide financial relief to protect impacted neighborhoods.
The Commissioner revealed plans for the DOC to set up a presence in impacted communities to assist with claims issues. We suggested that it might be helpful to have agents present to help and that we would be happy to recruit volunteers. The offer for volunteers was enthusiastically received, so stay tuned for opportunities to help.
We’ve included a few resources for you and your customers to use:
- Bernie Neff’s Review of the Coverages for Riot & Civil Commotion
- Bullet points for use with your customers compliments of John Buckley, General Counsel at Western National
- Tips for Businesses involved in unrest areas from the MN DOC
