“Am I covered?”
Insurance policies are notoriously convoluted contracts that take training and experience to understand. Mr. Sapourn has spent more than 30 years studying, interpreting, negotiating and placing standard and manuscript coverage forms. Understanding how a policy is constructed is the key to answering whether a loss is covered.
A structured review
Mr. Sapourn developed a step-by-step method for reviewing the elements of an insurance contract:
- Coverage. Untangle the insuring agreement, definitions, exclusions and endorsements to answer whether coverage applies.
- Limitations and penalties. Evaluate the conditions, sublimits, deductibles and coinsurance provisions hidden in the policy’s many trap doors.
- Value. Arrive at a reasonable value for the claim, which becomes the basis for negotiating the highest fair settlement.
He brings this to policyholders who must litigate because the insurance company refuses to pay.
Construction and specialty policies
The same approach applies to specialized programs, including Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIPs), subcontractor default insurance and manuscript commercial forms. These programs involve many parties and overlapping coverages, which makes careful interpretation essential to avoid gaps and disputes.
Mr. Sapourn has also been qualified as an expert witness on insurance policy interpretation in federal and state courts. If you need to understand what your policy really says, call for a free consultation.