Category Property & Casualty Insurance

Co-ops and Condos in New York: Comparing the Regimes

by Bryan Lane Berson, Esq. A. Introduction.  Cooperatives (“co-ops”) and condominiums (“condos”) share some important similarities and have some distinct differences. This column discusses several basic issues that buyers and residents should be aware of. (I refer to the entity as a whole as a “co-op” or “condo,” a unit within an entity as an […]

Contractor Agreements and Accident Reports

by Bryan Lane Berson, Esq. Property owners hire many types of contractors (e.g., custodians, snow removers, repairmen), and their actions or negligence may cause accidents. Injured parties will likely sue property owners and the contractors. Thus, owners should insist that contractor agreements contain insurance and indemnification provisions. Owners should insist that before work begins, they […]

Preventing and Defending Against Premises Liability

by Bryan L. Berson, Esq. Property owners should try to prevent accidents and lawsuits. Proactively inspecting for dangerous conditions, repairing them, and implementing record keeping procedures can reduce legal fees and damage awards, slow increases of insurance premiums, and improve profitability. Most premises liability claims are negligence claims against property owners. A plaintiff must prove […]

Insuring Against Property & Casualty Losses

by Bryan Lane Berson, Esq.  With regard to their businesses, entrepreneurs and executives should think carefully about risks to people and property.  They should eliminate and avoid as many risks as possible and insure against the ones that remain. This column will focus on property & casualty insurance and water damage.  Property – structures, equipment, […]