In this issue:

Industry News Update
Take PIA's Latest President's Poll: Broker Compensation Disclosure
Recent Supreme Court Decisions on Workplace Intentional Tort May Have Implications
Changes Made to Financial Responsibility Rules 
Register Now for PIA's Internship Program Golf Outing Fundraiser
Remember to Vote May 4
Give to IMPACT Before the May Primaries
Fill Out an Awards Nomination Today!
2010 Agency Management and Profitability Conference, September 23-24, Downtown Columbus

Featured Benefits 
Agency Automation Assistance
Sircon Services
Build or Upgrade Your Agency Web Site

Education Update
E&O Seminars
CISR Classes
CIC Institutes
PIA Lunch and Learn Central Webinars

Industry News Update

Take PIA’s Latest President’s Poll: Broker Compensation Disclosure
It started six years ago, when a public interest law and policy group suggested certain compensation practices presented conflicts of interest concerning brokers’ fiduciary interests to their clients. Over the next several years, investigations probed several major insurance brokers and carriers.

Fast forward to today, and phrases such as “contingent commissions” and “producer compensation disclosure” are commonly used among insurance and consumer groups alike. Most recently, the state of New York’s Department of Insurance issued new regulations which spell out minimum compensation disclosure requirements for producers in that state.

Take this month’s President’s Poll and let us know what you think of mandatory producer compensation disclosure. I look forward to viewing your responses at www.ohiopia.com.

John Burtch
PIA of Ohio President

P.S. Want to read about the potential “Pandora’s Box” of litigation presented by producer compensation disclosure requirements? You can find this and more in the April edition of PIA’s magazine, Professional Insurance Agents.

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Recent Supreme Court Decisions on Workplace Intentional Tort May Have Implications
Recently, in two separate decisions, the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld the constitutionality of a 2005 state law that limits the ability of workers who are injured on the job to bring suit against their employers for a “workplace intentional tort.” The statute under challenge required that workers asserting intentional tort claims needed to demonstrate that the employer committed the tortious act with the deliberate intent to cause the employee to suffer an injury. The two decisions represent a significant change from the common law that had been developed by Ohio courts over the past 25 to 30 years.

The decisions in Kaminski v. Metal & Wire Prods. Co. and Stetter v. R.J. Corman Derailment Services potentially have wide-ranging implications in the insurance industry. Insurance carriers have typically justified their higher premiums for stop-gap liability coverage on commercial policies as a result of the significant exposure to employers which had been created by the case law developed over the past 30 years. The decisions will certainly limit the exposure of employers to private claims made by employees as a result of workplace injuries. The decisions could also have an impact upon the willingness of the carriers to continue to provide stop-gap liability coverage where presumably, premiums may be significantly reduced due to the reduced number of claims and reduced exposure.

Agents who sell commercial policies should be cautious of reacting to hearsay and should wait until a formal response to the rulings is issued in writing by their carriers. Right now, carriers are having their legal teams examine the court’s rulings to determine things like what exposures remain; are these remaining exposures insurable?; and if so, what coverage will they offer and how much will they charge? Each carrier is working on developing their position on this issue following these rulings and positions will vary from carrier to carrier. It is expected that the ramifications from these rulings will be determined in the coming weeks.

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Changes Made to Financial Responsibility Rules
The Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) recently made some changes to Ohio’s financial responsibility rules as part of their required five-year rule review. The changes took effect March 22. To view the rules, click on the links below. Changes will appear with an underline, while deletions will be crossed out.

Proof of Financial Responsibility. As a result of this rule being amended, a binder of liability insurance bearing the original signature of an authorized insurance agent is no longer acceptable as proof of financial responsibility. Also, a certificate of proof of financial responsibility signed by an agent for the filing of an accident report must now be filled out in its entirety and stamped with the business stamp of the agency, or accompanied by a letter verifying the authenticity of the signature.

According to ODPS, this rule was changed because it was determined that the binder is not a reliable form of proof because of the possibility that the binder may be obtained from an insurance provider, but never actuated.

Financial Responsibility Identification Card. Portions of this rule were deleted to bring it up to date. No significant changes were made.

Proof of Financial Responsibility by Random Selection. The addition to this rule of “shown by reliable evidence” was purposely left ambiguous. According to ODPS, reliable evidence can be a variety of items, such as receipts from a body shop, salvage yard, etc.

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Register Now for PIA’s Internship Program Golf Outing Fundraiser
PIA will be hosting this year’s Internship Program Golf Outing Fundraiser June 14, 2010, at Rattlesnake Ridge Golf Club in Sunbury, Ohio. This golf outing is the signature annual fundraising event sponsored by the Foundation for the Advancement of Insurance Professionals. We hope to build on the success of last year’s golf outing fundraiser and raise even more funds to help support PIA’s Internship Program. The internship program, in its 5th year, continues to attract outstanding college students who will have a unique exposure to the insurance industry via their internship.

To download a sponsorship/registration form, click here.

Contact Kelly Lause today at (800) 555-1742 for more information about the event.

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Remember to Vote May 4
This Primary Election, Ohio voters will have the opportunity to select many candidates for federal, statewide and local offices. Additionally, there are two statewide ballot issues facing Ohio voters this year. We encourage you to learn about the issues and the candidates and their plans to make an informed decision about who offers the best leadership for Ohio and your area.

To find the candidates and issues that will appear on your ballot, contact your county board of elections. You can find a County Board of Elections Directory on the secretary of state’s Web site.

To assist you with some of your decisions, the secretary of state has created a State Issues Report. The report provides the full text and ballot language of the state issues that will appear on voters’ ballots and also provides explanations and arguments for and against the issues.

Here is a run-down of the two statewide proposals that will appear on the May ballot for voters to decide:

ISSUE 1: This ballot issue is a constitutional amendment proposed by the Ohio General Assembly to extend the Ohio Third Frontier Program by authorizing the state to issue $700 million of general obligation bonds to renew and continue programs for research and development in support of Ohio industry, commerce and business. A “YES” vote means approval of the amendment. A “NO” vote means disapproval of the amendment.

ISSUE 2: This ballot issue is a constitutional amendment proposed by the Ohio General Assembly to change the location of the Columbus area casino authorized by statewide vote at the November 2009 General Election from the area known as “The Arena District” to the site of a former General Motors/Delphi Corporation manufacturing plant. The amendment makes no change regarding any other casino authorized by the previous statewide vote. A “YES” vote means approval of the amendment. A “NO” vote means disapproval of the amendment.

Your participation in the Primary Election will help choose deserving candidates to compete in the General Election this fall. These candidates can not only help build Ohio’s future, but also the future of your business. Support your business and your industry simply by going to the polls to cast your primary vote.

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Give to IMPACT Before the May Primaries
This year is a major election year, with many seats up for election, including two on the Ohio Supreme Court. The outcomes of this year’s mid-term elections can have a profound impact on the insurance industry. There are many candidates who are facing not only a tough race in November, but also in the upcoming May primary. By supporting IMPACT, PIA’s political action committee, you can help provide meaningful support for candidates in competitive primary races who share PIA’s views on critical issues and support the independent agent profession.

Our goal is to raise $25,000 this year, and we need your help to reach that goal. To date, more than $13,500 has been raised.

To view a list of 2010 contributors, click here.

Your contribution is your influence toward a better business climate in Ohio - and a stronger foundation for you to serve your clients’ insurance needs. To make your 2010 IMPACT contribution, complete and mail an IMPACT contribution form to PIA with a personal check made payable to IMPACT, or call Carolyn Mangas at (800) 555-1742 to make your contribution over the phone. Please remember that corporate contributions are prohibited by law.

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Fill Out an Awards Nomination Today!
Does someone in your office deserve to be the Outstanding CSR of the Year? The National Alliance is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year (OCSRY) award. This award honors the CSR who has demonstrated the highest level of personal and professional achievement during the past 12 months. Download a nomination form. Completed nomination forms are due May 1 and can be faxed to Katie Gratton at (614) 552-0115 or sent to her via e-mail at Katie@ohiopia.com.

Nominations are also being accepted for PIA industry awards. This is your chance to honor the standouts in the association – professionals who go above and beyond – professionals who make a direct impact for your agency and/or your peers. Nominate a candidate for one of the following awards: Excellence in Leadership, Industry Person of the Year and Community Service. The award winners will be recognized at this year's PIA Industry Awards Dinner on Sept. 23, held in conjunction with this year's Agency Management and Profitability Conference at The Columbus, a Renaissance Hotel, in downtown Columbus. Fill out your nomination form now. Nominations are due June 15.

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2010 Agency Management and Profitability Conference,
Sept. 23-24, Downtown Columbus
This year’s Agency Management and Profitability Conference (AMPC) will be at a new location, with a new agenda and a new experience. At this year’s convention, held at The Columbus, a Renaissance Hotel, in downtown Columbus, you can experience:

• Kick-off Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Robert Hartwig, president of Insurance Information Institute, who will discuss the economic climate and its impact on the insurance industry.
• Insurance Industry Panel Discussion about several state and federal issues facing the insurance industry.
• Professional Development Sessions to better your business.
• Marketplace Exhibit Hall which features more than 35 exhibitors.
• PIA Industry Awards Dinner featuring a prominent keynote speaker.
• Annual Business Meeting Breakfast and Conferment Ceremony to listen to the State of the Association Address and honor the newest classes of CIC, CRM and CISR designees.

PIA has events like no other insurance association in the state. Whether you’re a veteran agent or a new producer getting into the business, AMPC is the only conference that gives you the most for your money. More information will be available in the coming months or visit www.ohiopia.com for the most current information.

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Featured Benefits

Agency Automation Assistance*
You're too busy to worry about automation headaches, but you know you have to integrate your system with your carriers' to stay competitive! PIA offers free technical support from an expert with practical agency experience. He will give you unbiased answers to help you evaluate your options, plan for a system update, purchase new software and understand automation proposals and contract terms. Automation has never been easier. For more information, contact PIA's Resource Center at (800) 555-1742.

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Sircon Services*
By using Sircon for all your agency licensing needs, you can save up to 70 percent over your current costs. Sircon will help you with license applications for resident and non-resident producers and agencies, real-time producer letters of certification, producer license renewal requests, producer name and address changes, continuing education transcripts, finding your license number, and checking your status with a state.

PIA members receive a 15 percent discount on all Sircon's licensing and compliance services. Learn more about Sircon's Producer Workbench and get started today!

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Build or Upgrade Your Agency Web Site*
Your current and potential clients are online right now researching their insurance options. Will your agency's Web site communicate value, accessibility and professionalism? If you don't have an online presence, what message does that send to your clients? PIA has partnered with Websites4insurance.com to offer you a high quality, affordable agency Web site resource.

Included in the discounted PIA member rate of a one-time $200 setup fee and $25/month OR $250/annual service fee:

• More than 40 designs to choose from and the flexibility to edit and customize the entire site
• Online quote forms available for all lines of business
• Domain name registration
• Search engine submission
• 50 e-mail accounts
• Verisign^® 128 bit SSL encryption
• Unlimited custom pages
• Site statistics
• Site reviews

Get started today!

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*These benefits are offered through The Ohio PIA Service Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Professional Insurance Agents Association of Ohio, Inc.

Errors and Omissions: Problems for the Future*
Not all policies are created equal; therefore, you must be able to recognize and understand that there are differences between similar policies written through different companies. This seminar will also discuss real-life case studies as well as solutions that you can implement in your agency. Don’t be caught off guard with potential E&O gaps and exposures.

Cleveland
April 28


Errors and Omissions: From the Courtroom to the Classroom to the Office*
Failing to understand E&O exposures can cause you to make the same mistakes over and over again until a claim happens. Even if good fortune knocks and you avoid a claim, weak office procedures can keep your agency from being as successful as it could otherwise be. It is important that you know and understand the increased expectations of your clients. This seminar will help you make sure the correct coverage is in place.

Cincinnati
April 28


Registration Fee: $69 for members/$79 for non-members per class
CE Credit: Three hours (exam not required for CE credit)
Level: Intermediate
*You could earn a discount on your E&O policy by attending one of these classes. For details, call PIA at (800) 555-1742.
All 2010 E&O seminars are sponsored by Utica Mutual Insurance Company.

To register online, click on the class dates above.
To download a registration form, click here.

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Toledo
Personal Auto
May 6

Cleveland
Dynamics of Service^{2, 3} 
May 11

Cincinnati
Commerical Casualty
May 18

Toledo
William T. Hold¹
June 8

Cleveland
Agency Operations²
June 10

Columbus
Personal Residential
June 22

Cincinnati
Dynamics of Service^2,3
June 24

Registration Fee: $160 per person (add $8 if you need OH CE)
CE Credit: Eight hours for each class (exam not required for CE credit)
Level: Intermediate
¹ A participant must hold the CISR designation and be a dues-paid member of the Society of CISR to attend the William T. Hold seminars, both classroom and online.
² You could earn a discount on your E&O policy. For details, call PIA at (800) 555-1742.
³ While attending a Dynamics of Service seminar, a participant must be a dues-paid member of the Society of CISR in order to receive their CISR update. Participants do not have to hold their CISR designation to attend.

To register online, click on the class date above.
To download a registration form, click here.

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Akron
Personal Lines
May 19-21

Columbus
Commercial Casualty
June 16-18

Registration Fee: $400 for regular institutes; (add $20 if you need OH CE)
CE Credit: 20 hours for each institute (exam not required for CE credit)
Level: Advanced

To register online, click on the class date above.
To download a registration form, click here.

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PIA Lunch and Learn Central Webinars
PIA's Lunch and Learn Webinar programs bring practical, "must-know" topics right into your agency. Learn information targeted to help you and your staff perform your jobs better - all in under an hour (starting at noon), without leaving the office.

Register for Lunch and Learn Webinars and, using a speaker phone, you can offer this learning opportunity to multiple staff at once - for one price - no matter how many people participate. Just register for the program, provide the e-mail address of the primary participant and let PIA do the rest!

New: Each webinar registration now includes a free download of the webinar recording after the program. So now, there's no waiting for CDs, and staff who missed the live webinar will not miss out on essential training.

Employee Theft – Who is an “Employee?”
May 11

Exploring Cyber Liability Exposures and Traditional Insurance
May 19

Using Technology to Create New Business
May 20

Context is Everything – Determining What Insurance Policies Really Mean!
May 25

Approximate start time: Noon; duration approx. 45 minutes - 1 hour
Place: Your conference room/office
Participants will need: Internet e-mail access to receive/view support materials; a telephone (or speaker phone if multiple participants)
Registration fees per phone dialing in: Live teleconference only: $49 members/$69 non-members

For more information about the classes above or to register, click here.

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