A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_URI::$config is deprecated

Filename: core/URI.php

Line Number: 101

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Router::$uri is deprecated

Filename: core/Router.php

Line Number: 127

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$benchmark is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$hooks is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$config is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$log is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$utf8 is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$uri is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$exceptions is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$router is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$output is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$security is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$input is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$lang is deprecated

Filename: core/Controller.php

Line Number: 82

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Return type of CI_Session_files_driver::open($save_path, $name) should either be compatible with SessionHandlerInterface::open(string $path, string $name): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 132

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Return type of CI_Session_files_driver::close() should either be compatible with SessionHandlerInterface::close(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 294

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Return type of CI_Session_files_driver::read($session_id) should either be compatible with SessionHandlerInterface::read(string $id): string|false, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 168

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Return type of CI_Session_files_driver::write($session_id, $session_data) should either be compatible with SessionHandlerInterface::write(string $id, string $data): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 237

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Return type of CI_Session_files_driver::destroy($session_id) should either be compatible with SessionHandlerInterface::destroy(string $id): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 317

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Return type of CI_Session_files_driver::gc($maxlifetime) should either be compatible with SessionHandlerInterface::gc(int $max_lifetime): int|false, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 358

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: ini_set(): Session ini settings cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 282

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: session_set_cookie_params(): Session cookie parameters cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 289

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: ini_set(): Session ini settings cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 304

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: ini_set(): Session ini settings cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 314

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: ini_set(): Session ini settings cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 315

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: ini_set(): Session ini settings cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 316

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: ini_set(): Session ini settings cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 317

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: ini_set(): Session ini settings cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 375

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: session_set_save_handler(): Session save handler cannot be changed after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 110

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: session_start(): Session cannot be started after headers have already been sent

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 143

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$session is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 1283

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$email is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 1283

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$pdf is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 1283

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 7
Function: __construct

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$db is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 396

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 8
Function: database

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_DB_mysqli_driver::$failover is deprecated

Filename: database/DB_driver.php

Line Number: 371

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 8
Function: database

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$form_validation is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 1283

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 9
Function: library

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$adminmodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 358

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 10
Function: model

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$leadmodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 358

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 12
Function: model

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$clientmodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 358

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 13
Function: model

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$pagination is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 1283

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/models/Pagemodel.php
Line: 7
Function: library

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 14
Function: model

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property Home::$pagemodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 358

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 14
Function: model

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$load is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$benchmark is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$hooks is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$config is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$log is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$utf8 is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$uri is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$exceptions is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$router is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$output is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$security is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$input is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$lang is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$session is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$email is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$pdf is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$db is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$form_validation is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$adminmodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$leadmodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$clientmodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$pagination is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Creation of dynamic property CI_Loader::$pagemodel is deprecated

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 931

Backtrace:

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/application/controllers/Home.php
Line: 254
Function: view

File: /home/agentsof/public_html/index.php
Line: 315
Function: require_once

A Superstorm Sandy Retrospective: How the Actions of New York Regulators May Shape Responses to Future Natural Disasters

A Superstorm Sandy Retrospective: How the Actions of New York Regulators May Shape Responses to Future Natural Disasters

By Carl J. Pernicone, Esq, Frederick J. Pomerantz, Esq.  Stacey B. Rowland, Esq. and Sandy M. Smith Esq. of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP 

A year after Superstorm Sandy came ashore, the New York Department of Financial Services (Department) issued Circular Letter No 8 of 2013 to inform New York licensed property/casualty insurers of the regulatory standards they should expect to encounter the next time a federal or state disaster emergency is declared. This regulatory guidance echoes the various actions that the Department implemented prior to the onslaught of Superstorm Sandy and for several months thereafter.

While the Department outlines the various regulatory guidelines it may impose when a State Disaster Emergency is declared, the Circular Letter also cautions that the Department may implement additional standards based on the specific circumstances of the emergency, including but not limited to tornados, flooding and earthquakes. The Circular Letter then details the types of actions that the Department may take in a future disaster. These actions are substantively similar to the actions that the Department took in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, as noted below.

Premium Payments
Specifically with respect to the difficulties involved in making premium payments during a state of emergency and pursuant to New York Insurance Law Section 3425 (p), the Department states that it is empowered to impose a moratorium on the termination, cancellation and renewal provisions of that law for a period not to exceed three months. A three-month extension period is also permitted under the statute. As to Superstorm Sandy, the Department began a moratorium of this nature effective October 26, 2012, and pursued its mandate into February 2013. Further, the Department reiterated the position it maintained earlier this year in Circular Letter No. 1 of 2013, requesting insurers to allow policyholders in disaster areas flexibility in terms of making premium payments.

Prompt Action Required
Additionally, the Circular Letter provides that insurers should take prompt action upon receipt of a notice of claim, particularly where the claim is a direct result of the disaster. The Department sets forth a number of steps that the insurer should take in a prompt fashion, including informing claimants of necessary documentation, providing fast and accurate responses to claimants, and promptly reimbursing them for additional living expenses and temporary repairs. Again, the Department warns insurers that additional claims-handling procedures may be initiated based on the nature of the Disaster Emergency. As to Superstorm Sandy, the Department relaxed certain standards relative to documentation needed for proof of loss, per Circular Letter No. 8 of 2012.

Claims Data Reporting
The Department states that it not only might require claims data reporting in accordance with the form and requirements adopted by the Northeast Zone of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners but also impose additional data reports to supplement this information. Such reporting can be required on a daily, weekly or other schedule, based on the specific circumstances of the disaster. The data would be used to compile insurer “report cards” such as the ones assembled following Superstorm Sandy.

Mediation Program
Also, the Department announced that a mediation program may be established to aid in the resolution of disputed claims. Such a program may not be available for certain types of claims, including claims involved in civil actions, claims made under the National Flood Insurance Program and claims made where there is a dispute as to coverage. With respect to Superstorm Sandy, a mediation program was instituted pursuant to a special amendment to New York Insurance Regulation 64 governing Sandy-related claims.

Expedited Licensing Procedure
Finally, the Circular Letter states that the Department may develop an expedited licensing procedure for independent and public adjusters. An expedited process was employed to address the need for adjusters after Superstorm Sandy, which, among other things, permitted adjusters licensed in other states to apply for a temporary adjuster’s licenses in New York.

What actions should Insurers take based on this new regulatory guidance?
Given the Department’s issuance of Circular Letter No. 8 of 2013, insurers should consider taking the following actions to promote compliance in the event of a future disaster emergency:

·   Insurers should review the various issues related to premiums, claims and administrative procedures experienced as a result of Sandy-related claims. This review process should identify the areas where the insurer would have difficulty complying with the standards set forth in the Circular Letter.

·       The insurer should then develop and incorporate into its disaster plans processes and procedures aimed at addressing any compliance issues. These processes and procedures should include an internal monitoring system for the adjudication of disaster-related claims to facilitate reporting to the Department, particularly where such reporting is required on a daily or weekly basis.

 

For more information, contact

Carl J. Pernicone, carl.pernicone@wilsonelser.com - 212.915.5656 

Frederick J. Pomerantz, fred.pomerantz@wilsonelser.com  - 212.915.5109 

Stacey B. Rowland, stacey.rowland@wilsonelser.com - 518.449.8893

Sandy M. Smith, sandy.smith@wilsonelser.com - 518.925.4602   

 

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