Blank Rome partners Rikke Dierssen-Morice, James R. Murray, Seth D. Lamden, and Lisa M. Campisi will serve as speakers at the American College of Coverage Counsel’s (“ACCC”) 2025 Annual Meeting, being held May 7 through 9, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.
ABOUT THE ACCC
The American College of Coverage Counsel, established in 2012, is an association of U.S., Canadian, and Bermudan lawyers who represent the interests of insurers and policyholders. The ACCC’s mission is to advance the creative, ethical, and efficient adjudication of insurance coverage and extracontractual disputes; to enhance the civility and quality of the practice of insurance law; to provide peer-reviewed scholarship; and to improve of the relationship between and among the members of the profession. The Annual Meeting is open to American College of Coverage Counsel Fellows only.
SESSION INFORMATION
Rikke Dierssen-Morice: “Welcome Remarks”
Thursday, May 8
Rikke, who is an Annual Meeting co-chair, will join fellow meeting co-chair Mike Kiernan (Traub Liberman) and ACCC President Angela Elbert (Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP) to open the program with Welcome Remarks.
Jim Murray: “Hammer Letters, Demands Within Limits, Confessed Judgments, and Other Pressure Points”
Thursday, May 8
The panel will examine the perspective on real (and sometimes only perceived) pressure points in insurance coverage disputes. They will address the requirements, mechanics, and strategy regarding so-called “hammer letters,” stipulated or “confessed” judgments, and demands within limits.
Panelists:
- Jim Murray, Blank Rome LLP
- Jodi McDougall, Cozen O'Connor
- Cathy Sugayan, Clyde & Co US LLP
- Marialuisa Gallozzi, Covington & Burling LLP
Seth Lamden: “Adria’s Aftermath: Recent Developments in Coverage for Construction Claims”
Thursday, May 8
The New Jersey Supreme Court’s 2016 decision in Adria Towers sent waves through the construction community. Distinguishing Weedo v. Ston-E-Brick, and looking at Insurance Services Office (“ISO”) drafting history, the court found subcontractors’ faulty work constituted “property damage,” caused by “occurrence,” under general contractors’ commercial general liability (“CGL”) policies. The effects were immediate. Although pre-2016 authority had been sharply divided, many states fell in line with Adria, finding coverage in these circumstances. But some insurers have recently argued that Adria is itself distinguishable and shouldn’t apply outside New Jersey. This panel will examine those arguments, relevant exclusions, and Adria’s impact where adopted.
Panelists:
- Eric Hermanson, White and Williams
- Jeff Vita, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
- Seth Lamden, Blank Rome LLP
- Laura Hanson, Meagher + Geer, P.L.L.P.
Lisa Campisi: “An Ethics Conundrum: What Am I? Coverage Counsel? Defense Counsel? Claim Investigator? (Ethics CLE)”
Friday, May 9
This session will explore the ethics issues that confront both policyholder-side and insurer-side lawyers when dealing with investigations, claims handling, and defense. For example, when is a lawyer who is defending an insured allowed to consult or otherwise be involved in coverage matters? Does it make a difference if defense counsel is appointed by the insurer or by the insured? When is an insurer’s lawyer who is investigating a claim engaging in the daily business of insurance and when is she giving legal advice? Finally, does “splitting the file” make a difference?
Panelists:
- Neil Posner, Much Shelist PC
- John Bonnie, Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial
- Lisa Campisi, Blank Rome LLP
To learn more, please visit the event webpage.
