Roofing and Insurance -- Update on All the Hot Topics
Texas is well-known for severe weather, including hail, hurricanes, tornados, floods, and now even freezes. All of these events result in damage to roofs and other building components, which in turn leads to insurance claims. These claims bring together contractors and adjusters, which one might say don’t always mix well together. This session will discuss all the hot topics in the insurance claims world involving weather related damage.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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Understand role of roofing professionals in claims process
- Identify current issues involving construction and insurance claims
- How to work cooperatively with insurance professionals
- Understand how code upgrade coverage works
SPEAKER & BIO: Steve Badger (Zelle LLP)
SPEAKER BIO:
For over three decades, Steve has been at the forefront of significant issues facing the commercial property insurance industry. As a young lawyer in 1992, Steve was asked by a client to evaluate subrogation potential for their significant Hurricane Andrew loss exposure. At that time, the general industry belief was that hurricanes did not present subrogation opportunities as the damage resulted from an “act of god.” Steve disagreed, living in Miami for almost three years and obtaining subrogation recoveries totaling almost $50 million for his client. That work led to Steve becoming a sought-after subrogation attorney for large weather-related losses. For the next decade, Steve devoted his practice to suing contractors, engineers, architects, and material suppliers when buildings failed in moderate weather events.
Shortly after the 911 Terrorist Attack, Steve’s practice moved to New York where he devoted a decade of his career to leading the $5 billion subrogation action against airlines and aviation security companies alleged to be responsible for negligence at airport security checkpoints. As a lead lawyer on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Steve was involved in directing all aspects of the action on behalf of the entire group of property damage plaintiffs, working alongside the nation’s top plaintiffs’ aviation lawyers representing families pursuing wrongful death cases. In 2011, the subrogation litigation settled for $1.2 billion, reportedly still today the largest cash payment subrogation recovery ever obtained by the insurance industry.
Upon Steve’s return to Texas in 2011, he noticed an increasing number of lawsuits against his clients arising from hail damage claims. Since that time, Steve’s practice has been devoted entirely to leading the insurance industry response to the emerging hail risk. His practice has focused primarily on addressing the issues arising in hail damage claims and resulting litigation. In addition to representing his clients in litigated disputes, Steve spends considerable time working with the insurance industry and other interested stakeholders in finding solutions to the abuses and outright fraud prevalent in these matters. This includes development of policy form changes and legislative solutions, as well as the identification and pursuit of actions against fraudulent actors involved in these matters. His work in rooting out improper conduct has given Steve the reputation of being the insurance industry enforcer fighting improper and illegal conduct in weather-related litigation.
In 2020, Steve became actively involved in the insurance industry response to business interruption claims arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to representing his clients in individual and class action matters, Steve worked with the insurance industry trade groups in formulating and directing the overall industry response to the issues arising in these matters.
Today, Steve is back in the trenches assisting his clients with all the “hot topics” taking place in Texas hail and wind claims.
An entertaining and informative speaker, Steve is frequently asked to present for industry groups and clients concerning his work on significant industry risk exposures. The presentation detailing Steve’s decade of work on the historic 911 Terrorist Attack litigation is commonly referred to as the most interesting CE presentation participants have ever attended. His bi-annual “What The Hail? Conference” has become an industry favorite, drawing over 650 attendees in 2024.
Meeting Location: Grapevine Chamber of Commerce
Meeting Address: 200 Vine St E, Grapevine, TX 76051
Registration start time: 11:30 am
Presentation begins: 12:00 pm
Member Cost: $30
Mon-Member/Guest Cost: $40
This Lunch & Learn is sponsored by National Gypsum.
