Fall 2023 Newlsetter

Sponsored by:

SEA Limited logo in red, black and white and linked to sealimited.com

President's Letter
By Kurt Leisure

Photo image of Kurt Leisure, NRRDA President

Dear NRRDA Members,

Fall is in the air and we are in the middle of hurricane season, which leaves many of us on edge.  The property insurance carriers continue to increase premiums because of the number of catastrophic events that have occurred over the past few years.  In California, on the residential side, some of the major property insurance carriers have pulled out of the State completely.

It is clear that we need to think differently about risks, our approach to claims handling, and the uncertainty of the future.  The NRRDA Lighthouse and Annual Conference committees are working diligently to create educational sessions that challenge the current mindset of many in our industry and instead focus on a forward thinking and creative approach.  It is clear that looking at history may not be the best way to think about the future of claims handling and risk management. 

What continues to intrigue me about NRRDA is the willingness to bring the best minds in our industry together and have candid conversations about what is working, what is not, and what claims professionals need to do to control the cost of litigation.  Opposing law firms are leveraging insurance carriers against each other (excess v primary) and their clients in anticipation that the fear of nuclear verdicts, punitive damages, traumatic brain injury allegations, and emotional juries will result in larger settlements.  This approach has been working and the word is getting out.  As risk managers with talented defense teams, we need to be developing more strategic approaches to take the “fear” out of claims settlements, a topic that will be heavily discussed in Rancho Mirage, at our annual conference. 

NRRDA has incredible momentum and our Lighthouse event in Louisville sold out within days.  Our annual conference in Rancho Mirage, California is a little earlier than typical and starts February 21 - February 23, 2024.  If you are planning to attend this event, please check our website frequently for updates as we do limit attendance.  I can assure you that our plans for both Lighthouse and our Annual Conference have taken the networking, educational sessions, and fun, to new levels.  I look forward to seeing you at these events and, if you are interested in golfing in Rancho Mirage, we have a great outing lined up on February 21th, so come early and enjoy all that the desert has to offer at that time of year. 

Respectfully,

​Kurt Leisure

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Why Retailers Shouldn’t Ignore the Aging in Managing Workers’ Compensation Risk

​By: Tim Kelly, Gallagher Bassett

It’s important to look at loss control efforts when you are looking at frequency changes. Since 72% of retail claims occur within the lower age group, loss control efforts are not likely to be focused on age-related factors in this sector. Moreover, for the past three years, since the emergence of COVID, loss prevention has also had to shift their attention from traditional measures to new risks, such as fraud from online pickup, overall shrink rates and an uptick in organized retail crime, which is at an all-time high.4

​Read more here.

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Be a NRRDA Annual Sponsor

NRRDA's annual sponsorship program offers the opportunity to showcase your brand. By becoming an NRRDA Annual Sponsor, you can choose from three prestigious sponsorship levels: Gold, Silver, or Bronze, each with its own set of exclusive benefits.

Annual Sponsor Benefits

• Prominent Online Visibility
• Featured on the Conference App
• Discount to NRRDA Events
• And Much More

To secure a spot as an NRRDA Annual Sponsor and start enjoying these exclusive benefits, click here for the sponsorship prospectus. You can also contact us at [email protected]. We will be happy to discuss the sponsorship levels in more detail and assist with any inquiries you may have.

Sponsor benefits will begin on November 1st, 2023.

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A Sweet Victory for California Employers
By, Jessica J. Jorgenson - Tobin Lucks, LLP

See's Candies are delicious, but a decision involving Woodworkers has delivered a sweet victory for California employers.  See’s Candies are delicious, but who would have guessed that when California employers opened a box of those wonderful treats, it would be the truffle filled with wood that would be the sweetest of all?

Read more here.
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Visual depiction of the 2024 Conference logo showing a palm tree through shades, the NRRDA logo, Feb 21-23, 2024 in Rancho Mirage, California

Click here for all the details about the program, industry scholarships
and panel counsel meetings.