AMERICAN LAWYERS QUARTERLY
INSURANCE PROGRAM
The following is a summary of the key features and requirements of the American Lawyers Company Insurance Program. This summary is provided solely for the sake of convenience and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the specific terms and conditions of the Policy and the rules of the American Lawyers Company as in effect from time to time.
Please note that the American Lawyers Company does not itself insure any forwarded claim, or otherwise provide any surety for any listed firm. The Policy is provided by a commercial insurer, and the American Lawyers Company’s obligations under this program are to forward any claim with supporting documents to the insurer. The American Lawyers Company expressly disclaims any other obligation or liability of any kind. Accordingly, to the extent the insurer denies coverage of a claim, or coverage is otherwise unavailable, a forwarder will not be entitled to payment from the American Lawyers Company.
Subject to the terms and conditions of coverage set forth in the Policy, this program indemnifies those who forward cases through the American Lawyers Quarterly ("ALQ") law list against loss due to theft by listed lawyers and not against negligence or any other delinquent misconduct, error of judgment, or breach of contract whatsoever on the part of the attorneys. This Insurance Program is in the form of a $2,000,000.00 insurance policy, and the liability of the American Lawyers Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates is limited to claims with respect to which the insurer accepts liability.
Some specifics of this program are as follows:
- The insurance program includes coverage against acts of “Theft” as defined in the Policy. The policy covers theft by listed attorneys. The policy does not cover individual employees of listed firms. This is not malpractice insurance.
- It covers properly registered cases for 36 months from the date of employment, except that in the event that the listing of an attorney/law firm is terminated for any reason, the coverage period will not exceed 12 months from the date of termination. Proper registration requires each forwarder to send notification to the American Lawyers Company within 35 days from the date each referral was made to the ALQ listed law firm (listee) identifying the listee and such additional information as the American Lawyers Company may require. In addition, the listee must be notified on each referral that his/her name was selected from the ALQ. Compliance with this rule is a condition precedent to coverage under the Policy.
- This program covers listees and claims in all 50 states and
- Neither the American Lawyers Company nor the insurer shall be liable for any loss through any attorney whose names were not listed in that publication and/or website at the time of employment. It is incumbent upon the forwarder to consult ALQ’s current directory, its supplements, and the ALQ website (www.alqlist.com) for current information.
- Subject to the terms of the Policy, the loss shall be calculated as the net sum the forwarder would have received had the remittance been made in due course by the attorney or firm of attorneys after deduction of costs, expenses, fees, and commissions due to the attorney(s). Recovery under the Policy will be 90% of the net loss after a deductible of $250.00 per claim per case forwarded.
- Suit fees and advanced court costs are covered if it is proven that suit has not been filed. Such coverage is subject to the $250.00 deductible and 90% coverage as set forth in the Policy. Suit fees and advanced court costs are not covered if it is proven that suit has been filed.
- American Lawyers Company and the insurer assume no liability for dispute in fee deductions in connection with suit and/or legal fees.
- The forwarder, on becoming aware of any act or acts which may be the basis of a claim under the insurance program, shall notify the law list immediately. The forwarder must thereafter furnish supporting documentation and a total loss figure to the American Lawyers Company within 90 days.
- The Policy does not cover expenses incurred in establishing existence and amount of loss due to “Theft”.
- If there is a discrepancy on a remittance by a listed attorney, it is incumbent upon the forwarder to submit to the American Lawyers Company for adjustment the attorney's check and any other pertinent information of the case. Under no circumstances, should the original check be returned to the attorney for adjustment. Violation of this rule will nullify coverage under this Insurance Program.
- No forwarder shall seek insurance coverage with more than one law list on a single item placed with a receiver, nor shall the forwarder indicate insurance coverage with more than one list to the receiver on a single case. Violation of this rule will nullify coverage under this Insurance Program.
The American Lawyers Company hopes and expects to continue to offer the protections of its Insurance Program to its forwarders. However, because of changes in coverage instituted from time to time by the Insurance Program underwriters, the American Lawyers Company reserves the right to change, modify or terminate the Insurance Program at any time, with or without notice.