BarbriSFCourseDetails

Course Details

This CLE webinar will discuss whether an insurance company that covered only a part of its insured's losses is entitled to any reimbursement from the insured if the insured later recovers additional funds from a third party for uncovered losses.

Faculty

Description

An insured is entitled to be made whole, which means, generally, being paid all legally recognized and recoverable damages for the injury or loss sustained, a somewhat illusive standard. After paying a claim, the insurer will often seek to recover from a responsible third party through subrogation. In a common scenario, the "made whole" number is less than the amount the policyholder is paid by its insurer, and then the insured and insurer litigate their rights and priorities in the funds recovered by the insurer.

Sometimes, however, the insured, not the insurer, is able to recover from a third party. The question arises of whether the insurer, having partially paid only for covered losses, can share in the policyholder's recovery. The issue is increasing in frequency as insurers search for ways to recoup claim losses. Resolving this issue requires careful attention to the recovery allocation provisions of the relevant policies, as well as the many different types of releases, waivers, and other devices.

Listen as our authoritative panel of attorneys guides counsel through the issues related to the insured's recovery of third-party funds.

Outline

  1. Overview of made whole doctrine
    • Meaning of made whole
    • Timing
  2. Factors considered
    • Policy provisions
    • Provisions in releases or settlements
    • Recovery sharing agreements
    • Reservation of rights
    • Unresolved coverage issues and prior positions of the parties
  3. Policyholder and insurer best practices

Benefits

The panel will review these and other issues:

  • What does it mean for an insured to be "made whole"?
  • What is the significance of a reservation of rights?
  • What are the key documents and provisions in those documents that dictate the result?
  • What is a recovery sharing agreement?
  • Do the same rules apply to any "insured" or just policyholders?