SPECIALTY LINES MARKETS
Tight conditions dictate alternative methods
of insuring risks in this class of business
By Larry G. France
Diminished numbers of carriers offering coverage for contractors have put many agents in a quandary as to how to provide for their general, residential and subcontractor clients. Certain conditions that once were considered a problem for only the West Coast contractor risk have begun to spread east. High limits are more difficult to obtain. Carriers are demanding higher attachment points on liability policies. The hard market has a hold on this segment of the industry.
Jay Ginnow, vice president, Heath Brokers, Inc., in Woodland Hills, California (which currently places over $60 million in residential subcontractors and another $15 million in commercial construction business), says the construction insurance industry has not yet reached the bottom of the hard market. "The 2002 results were premature at best. While litigation related to CGL construction defect in the residential sector remains steady, the California legislature adopted a new law, which may slowly affect the number of claims and litigants in the future. SB800 redefines construction defects and mandates the absolute builder's right to repair before a home owner may file a lawsuit. Although many insurers are skeptical of the direct effect the law will have on their claims results, today's problems have escalated in the California marketplace due to insurer problems, failures, and moratoriums in the class."
Ginnow states that market alternatives currently utilized are risk retention groups and, for larger clients, single parent captives. "Larger SIRS are now more common than ever on residential classes. Midwestern residential subcontractors and homebuilders do not have the same market conditions as exist in California. Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada now follow California as a "construction defect" type environment.
"Fortunately, the commercial contractors market remains accessible, Ginnow continues. "Commercial contractors have watched their premiums rise dramatically but are able to find coverage and fulfill their contract obligations as well as cover their exposures."
National Builders Insurance Services, Inc., is the manager of Builders & Contractors Insurance Company, RRG. Peter Foley, president, comments that the insurance availability problems confronting residential contractors, although primarily a western U.S. problem, are spreading eastward. "The reasons are varied and debatable. A confluence of events triggered the severe constriction in the market for residential contractors, starting with precedent-setting legal cases commencing primarily with the 1995 Montrose Chemical vs. Admiral Insurance Company. The broadening of general liability coverage as a result of these cases, coupled with the escalating claims working their way through the overloaded legal system has resulted in carriers seeing their loss experience spiral to triple digits."
Foley says that reinsurance was no longer available for a number of carriers who wrote residential contractors causing either a demise of the carrier or withdrawal from the market. "In conjunction with these events you have home owners developing a level of expectation that their home should be fault free, and the plaintiffs' bar aggressively pursuing the home builder. The general liability policy in many instances was being turned into a warranty rather than a third-party insurance policy."
Builders & Contractors Insurance Company, RRG, is a risk retention group dedicated to insuring contractors. There are more than 84 RRGs that are actual insurance companies which come under the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986.
"They are often confused with risk purchasing groups that are not an insurance company," says Foley. "They offer some significant benefits with the ability to readily expand the geographic territory and, like a surplus lines insurer, offer rate and form relief. In return, the company has to be owned by its insureds who must fit a homogenous definition, and currently an RRG can write only liability coverage. RRGs are a true alternative risk mechanism, though not for everyone, with the structure allowing the insureds to participate in the appreciation of their investment.
In today's marketplace, regardless of the type or class of risk, we can't overlook the difficulty of placing workers compensation, especially construction classes. Amerisafe specializes in placing monoline workers compensation for hazardous industries such as construction, trucking, logging, oil and gas, maritime, USL&H, and manufacturing risks.
"Over the past 12 to 24 months, the WC market for construction tightened dramatically from the days in the 1990s where renewal pricing was either the same or less than the previous year," says Randy Lamm, Amerisafe's marketing manager. "We have all seen the extensive signs of market hardening, including increased state base rates, elimination of policies with dividends or credits, carriers getting out of writing WC for construction or restrictions on certain classes, carriers filing for bankruptcy and the increase of policies going into the assigned risk pool/state fund."
Lamm says that some of the larger signs of hardening are more discriminating tightening from the carriers that will entertain writing WC for new construction business. "This subtle tightening requires increased lead time to market accounts to 45 to 90 days from the normal 30 days in the past. More carriers are going back to pre-inspecting the majority of accounts, and requiring four years of currently valued loss runs before ordering safety inspections. The inspections are being scrutinized more closely, and an underwriter who might have quoted an average or marginal account in the past will not do so today. Underwriters want to know more about a construction company's hiring practices and require more formal safety meetings than in the past."
According to Lamm, another reason for the tightening of the market is that most underwriters are not currently pushed to gain market share. "Now their main focus is to improve profitability of their book of business. Compound this new emphasis with the fact that a lot of the premium growth companies expect is due to large increases on their renewals. All of these factors allow the underwriters to be more selective on new business. Also, frequency of claims--not only the severity--has become a more important part of the formula."
"All of the circumstances of the harder market point to one main point," says Lamm, "Marketing your construction accounts is going to take more lead time."
Contractor risk is not the only class of business that is difficult to place and requires more work on the part of both the agent and underwriter. Most of this extra work is the result of the past 10 to 15 years of not requiring necessary information to underwrite the risk. Now, with a hard market, those bad choices have caught up with the industry.
The following have indicated that they can provide coverage or coverages relating to contractor risk.
Pay careful attention to the territory of operation and the type of contractor risk listed under target markets of each listing.
All Risks, Ltd.
1920 Greenspring Road, Ste. 200
Timonium, MD 21212
Contact: Bob Boyle, Ext. 3072; Calvin Wright, Ext. 3063; Eric Halvorsen, Ext. 3091
E-mail: bboyle@allrisks.com
cwright@allrisks.com
ehalvorsen@allrisks.com
Phone: (800) 366-5810
Fax: (410) 828-8179
An E&S broker operating in all states except AK, ID, LA, ME, MO and NE with limits as needed. Target market is wrap-ups, with all lines considered. All carriers are A rated or better.
Alliance National Insurance Agency, Inc.
37 E. Grand Ave., 2nd fl.
Fox Lake, IL 60020
Contact: Heather Hill, Kelly Crowley
Phone: (847) 587-9040
Fax: (847) 587-9080
Web site: www.insuranceani.com
A broker/wholesale agent operating in AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NY, TN, TX, VA and WI with limits of $50 million. Target markets are crane rental, steel erection & fabricating, environmental consultants/contractors/laboratories. Other coverages offered are GL, umbrella, WC and equipment floaters. Carriers are AIG, Progressive, Colony, Princeton, and CNA.
Amerisafe
2301 Hwy. 190 West
DeRidder, LA 70634
Contact: Randy Lamm
Phone: (800) 256-9052
Fax: (800) 450-1091
E-mail: aiic-mktg@amerisafe.com
Web site: www.amerisafe.com
Amerisafe is a monoline workers compensation insurer operating in AL, AK, AR, DE, DC, FL, GA, NH, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NC, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA and WI with workers comp limits. Target market is hazardous construction accounts for workers compensation. Amerisafe, American Interstate, and Silver Oak Casualty are rated A.
Apollo General Insurance Agency, Inc.
P.O. Box 1508
Sonoma, CA 95476
Contact: Bob Elster, Reilly May
Phone: (800) 624-5829
Fax: (707) 996-7912
E-mail: bob@apgen.com
Web site: www.apgen.com
A general agency/E&S broker operating nationwide with limits of $1 million/$2 million/$1 million. Target markets are demolition contractors, crane & rigging contractors, asbestos abatement contractors, and environmental contractors.
Arrowhead Commercial Division
501 West Broadway, Ste. 1400
San Diego, CA 92101
Contact: Keith Donsky, Ext. 5850
Phone: (800) 903-5489
Fax: (800) 566-7650
E-mail: info@arrowheadgrp.com
Web site: www.arrowheadgrp.com
A general agent that operates in AZ, CA and NV with limits of up to $1 million/$2 million, tools & equipment up to $250,000, installation floater up to $50,000. Will offer surety bonds and commercial, artisan contractors including janitorial and landscapers. Lincoln General is the A rated carrier.
Atlantic Specialty Lines, Inc.
9020 Stony Point Pky., Ste. 450
Richmond, VA 23235
Contact Greg Provenzo
Phone: (800) 368-2095
Fax: (804) 320-7280
Web site: www.atlanticspecial.com
An MGA/E&S broker operating various states by contract and type of business (target states are DC, MD and VA), with limits by contract of $1 million and above. Target market is general contractor/residential, with excess and umbrella available. Various carriers are used to place coverage.
BAT Insurance Corp.
465 S. Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Contact: Tony Trocino
Phone: (310) 282-0753
Fax: (310) 282-7133
E-mail: trotony@earthlink.net
An E&S broker operating in CA and NV with limits of $10 million. Can offer property, contractors' equipment floater and umbrella. Carriers are Clarement, Navigators, Lloyd's, Admiral and United Coastal.
Beacon Hill Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 1532
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Contact: Chris Young
Phone: (800) 596-2156
Web site: www.B-H-A.com
An E&S broker that operates in most states (call to verify) with limits of up to $10 million--higher if needed. Specializes in environmental exposures for general contractors as well as all lines for environmental contractors. Will also write environmental lines. All carriers are A rated or better.
Bohrer, Croxdale & McAdoo, Inc.
P.O. Box 2760
Springfield, MO 65801
Contact: Marilyn Foster, Grace Cumley (MO), Clay Farris (AR)
Missouri
Phone: (800) 779-2550
Fax: (888) 869-2550
E-mail: mfoster@bcmins.com
gcumley@tcmins.com
Arkansas
Phone: (800) 594-5101
Fax: (800) 726-7707
E-mail: cfarrisbcm@conwaycorp.net
An MGA that operates in AR, IL, KS and MO with limits of $1 million/$2 million, plus excess or umbrella. Can offer property, inland marine, and auto. All carriers are rated A or better.
Bonding and Insurance Specialists Agency, Inc.
9340 S. Harlem Ave.
Bridgeview, IL 60455
Contact: Joel Davenport, Dennis Konieczny
Phone: (800) 346-1031
Fax: (708) 598-6686
Web site: www.bisa-inc.com
A program administrator/MGA that operates in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico with limits of $25 million. Target markets are asbestos/lead and environmental contractors. Also offered are workers comp, GL/pollution, bonding and business auto. Zurich is the A rated carrier.
Britt/Paulk Insurance
2904 U.S. Hwy. 27 S.
Carrollton, GA 30117
Contact: Jeff Vaughn (contractors' equipment/crane & rigging/demolition contractors), Sandy Flowers (builders risk, installation floater), Pat Webb (builders risk reporting form)
Phone: (800) 842-8917
E-mail: jeff.vaughn@brittpaulk.com
An MGA/program administrator that operates in all states except HI; call for limits. Target markets are asbestos abatement, construction wrap-up, contractor's pollution, build & design, with inland marine also offered. North American Specialty (NAS), a subsidiary of Swiss Re, is the admitted A rated or better carrier.
Burns & Wilcox, Ltd.
30833 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 220
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Contact: David J. Price
Phone: (800) 521-1918
Web site: www.burnsandwilcox.com
An MGA/E&S broker that operates in all states except AK, HI and NY with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Residential general contractors are not written in most states; subcontractors doing residential work are not written in AZ, CA or NV. Scottsdale, USF and First Specialty are the A rated carriers.
Cal E&S Brokers, Inc.
182-A Orinoco Dr., 2nd fl.
Brightwaters, NY 11718
Contact: Melinda Malich (631) 969-1900
Phone: (800) 997-7943
Fax: (631) 969-8989
E-mail: melinda@calesbrokers.com
New Jersey
999 Mt. Kemble Ave.
Morristown, NJ 07960
Contact: Robert Finnegan (973) 425-1010
Phone: (800) 924-9725
Fax: (973) 425-2020
E-mail: bob@calesbrokers.com
An E&S broker operating in all states with limits of $50 million, including umbrella and excess. Target markets are paper general contractors, trade contractors, street & road, commercial & residential. Also offered are umbrella/excess GL, auto, and OCPs. All admitted and nonadmitted carriers are rated A or better.
Casualty & Surety, Inc.
200 Chase Park South, Ste. 100
Birmingham, AL 35244
Contact: Lamar Andrews, Ext. 22
Phone: (205) 733-1197
Fax: (205) 733-0805
E-mail: landrews@csiapex.com
Web site: www.csiapex.com
An E&S broker that operates in all 50 states with excess limits available. Will not write artisan, asbestos, builders risk, construction wrap-up, contractors build & design. Can offer inland marine/equipment for other coverages related to the risks. All carriers are rated A or better.
Century Surety Group
P.O. Box 163340
Columbus, OH 43216
Contact: Tom Rossi
Web site: www.centurysurety.com
An insurer that operates in all states except AK, AZ, CO, LA, MA, NJ, NY, NC, SC and WA with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Target market is artisan contractors; excess also offered. Century is an A rated carrier.
Continental/Marmorstein & Malone
305 Route 17
P.O. Box 586
Paramus, NJ 07652
Contact: Bill Malone
Phone: (800) 932-0249
Fax: (201) 261-8922
E-mail: bmalone@ca-group.com
Web site: www.ca-group.com
An MGA/E&S broker that operates in NJ and NY only with primary limits of $1 million/$2 million; Excess liability and umbrella also available. Target markets are all artisan classes, and commercial & small residential general contractors. Can also offer contractors' equipment OCP, and builders risk vacant property. American Empire, Essex, Interstate Fire & Casualty, Nautilus, Mt. Vernon and Admiral are the carriers.
Crusader Insurance Co.
23251 Mulholland Dr.
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Contact: Gay Corbett
Phone: (800) 669-9800
Fax: (818) 591-9856
Web site: www.crusaderinsurance.com
Target market is artisan contractors; will not consider generals or roofers. Crusader is a B rated or better carrier.
Delaware Valley Underwriting Agency, Inc.
420 S. York Rd.
Hatboro, PA 19040
Contact: Rita Hareburg, Dan Miller, Joel Kaplan
Phone: (800) 388-0215
Fax: (215) 672-7983
E-mail: millerd@dvua.com kaplan@dvua.com harebury@dvua.com
Web site: www.dvua.com
An E&S wholesaler that operates in DE, MD, NJ and PA with limits of $1 million/$2 million/$2 million--possibly higher upon request. Can offer GL, inland marine, property, auto and umbrella. Various carriers are used to place coverage.
Evolution Insurance Broker Specialty
P.O. Box 4439
Sandy, UT 84091
Contact: F. Darrell Lindsey, President
Phone: (877) 678-7342
Fax: (801) 304-3800
Web site: www.eibdirect.com
An E&S broker operating in all states. Will consider all markets. Lloyd's is an A rated Carrier; Prime Syndicate is a C rated carrier.
Excel Insurance service, Inc.
301 Oxford Valley Rd., Ste. 402A
Yardley, PA 19067
Contact: Dennis Pellegrino, Jr.
Web site: www.excelins.com
An MGA/E&S broker operating in NJ and PA only with limits of $3 million. Will consider all classes. Scottsdale and Colony National are the A rated or better carriers.
Gateway Underwriters Agency
755 S. New Ballas Rd., Ste. 130
St. Louis, MO 63141
Contact: Mary Beth Fox, Barb Smeltz
Phone: (800) 325-7652
Fax: (314) 567-4552
E-mail: marybeth.fox@gua-stl.com barb.smeltz@gua-stl.com
An E&S broker that operates in IL, KS, MO and NE with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Can offer inland marine, auto and property. Carriers are Nautilus, Western World, Scottsdale, and National Fire & Marine.
H.R. Keller & Co., Inc.
1520 Sheridan Dr.
Buffalo, NY 14217
Contact: Rob Martin, John Barton
Phone: (800) 424-2202
A wholesaler/E&S broker that operates in NY state only with limits that vary by company. All contractors are welcome, including generals and paper contractors. Will also offer umbrella, inland marine, contractors' equipment, builders risk and installation floaters. Various admitted and nonadmitted carriers are used to place coverage.
Hull & Company, Inc.
2150 S. Andrews Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
Contact: Chris Hull
Phone: (800) 678-4855
E-mail: info@hullco.com
Web site: www.hullco.com
An MGA/E&S broker that operates in CA, CO, FL, HI, KS, MO, NC, NE, SC, and TX with limits of $1 million+. Target markets are artisans, general contractors and other types of contractors that vary by state. Will also cover contractors' equipment. Multiple A rated carriers are used to place coverage.
Insurance Center Special Risks, Ltd.
246 Park St.
W. Springfield, MA 01090
Contact: Terry Gonet, Sue Domingues
Phone: (888) 773-7475
Fax: (413) 781-0050
E-mail: tgonet@insctrne.com sdomingues@insctrne.com
Web site: www.specialrisksltd.com
An MGA that operates in MA, CT and RI with limits of $1 million/$1 million--general contractors up to $1 millon/$2 million. Target markets are snowplowing and swimming pool installation. Can also offer contractors' equipment, umbrellas and office contents. Essex is the A rated carrier.
Insurance Innovators Group
130 S. Easton Rd.
P.O. Box 969
Glenside, PA 19038
Contact: Fran Reh
Phone: (800) 523-6422
Fax: (215) 886-2482
Web site: www.iiigroup.com
An MGA/E&S broker operating in DE, MD, NJ and PA with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Target market is contractors of all kinds, including paper general contractors. Can offer umbrella and excess. All carriers are A rated.
Izzo Insurance Services, Inc.
7234 W. North Ave.
Elmwood Park IL 60707
Contact: Mike Jones, Program Manager
Phone: (800) 800-1704
Fax: (708) 452-1777
E-mail: mjones@izzoinsurance.com
Web site: www.izzoinsurance.com
An MGA/agency operating in all 50 states with limits of $1 million, employers liability. Target market is artisan contractors. Program consists of workers compensation coverage (monoline) and EPL (monoline). Hartford, Zenith, Alea, AmTrust, AIG and others are the carriers.
Jacobs & Associates
8227 Brecksville Rd.
Brecksville, OH 44141
Contact: Jim Jacobs, Beth Jacobs
Phone: (440) 838-1870
E-mail: Jim@jacobsnow.com
An E&S broker operating in OH only with limits of $10 million. Target markets are artisans and general contractors; inland marine and property also offered. The A rated carriers are Scottsdale, Admiral, Western Heritage, Colony and Mt. Vernon.
Klinger Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 503526
Indianapolis, IN 46256
Contact: Bob Klinger
Phone: (317) 845-9890
Fax: (317) 845-9800
An E&S broker that operates in IL, IN, KY and MI with limits of $1 million, plus umbrella. Target market is commercial contractors. Can offer GL and umbrella. All carriers are A rated.
Lemac & Associates, Inc.
5670 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Contact: William Newton, brokerage; D.J. Gorin, artisan contractor program (MGA)
Web site: www.lemacassociates.com www.lemacga.com
An MGA/E&S broker that operates in all states for brokerage and AZ, CA, CO, NV and OR for the artisan program, with limits of $500,000/$500,000/$500,000 and up to $50 million umbrella. Target market is residential or commercial contractors. Can offer construction management E&O, course of construction, contractor pollution liability and design errors & omission. Various A rated carriers are used to place coverage.
M.J. Kelly Co., Inc.
4415 E. Sunshine
Springfield, MO 65807
Contact: Lori Drake, Heather Duffield, Shawna Cooke
Phone: (800) 725-7211
Fax: (417) 883-7103
E-mail: ldrake@mjkelly.com
Web site: www.mjkelly.com
An E&S broker that operates in AR, FL, IL, KS, MO, MS, OK and TN with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Target market is small to medium-sized risks, with umbrella, auto and contractors equipment offered. Various carriers are used to place coverage.
Market Finders Insurance Corp.
P.O. Box 6549
Louisville, KY 40206
Contact: Karen Cornett, Charlene Curry, Susan Hudgins
Phone: (800) 626-5660
Fax: (502) 426-7970
E-mail: kcornett@mfic.com
An E&S broker that operates in IN, KY, NC, OH, SC, TN and WV with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Most classes are considered. Essex is the GC carrier; Atlantic Casualty, Century Surety, and Colony provide coverage for artisans.
Midwestern General Agency, Inc.
255 N.W. Blue Pky.
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
Contact: Bianca Betts, Wally Wilson
Phone: (816) 246-1200
Fax: (816) 246-1290
Web site: www.mgakcmo.com
An MGA/E&S broker operating in IA, IL, KS, MO and NE with limits of $5 million. Can offer inland marine and builders risk. Various a rated carriers are used.
National Builders Insurance Services, Inc.
8961 W. Sahara, Ste. 106
Las Vegas, NV 89117
Contact: Peter H. Foley
Phone: (702) 254-4494
Fax: (702) 254-6955
E-mail: peterf@nbins.com
Web site: www.nbins.com
The manager and underwriting manager for Builders & Contractors Insurance Company, RRG, operating in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NM, MS, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY and pending in OK. Limits of $1 million per occurrence and $1 million aggregate are available. Target market is residential and commercial contractors, with primary focus on residential; general and subcontractors. Will not write condo/townhouse construction or cranes. As an RRG, will write only liability. Because Builders & Contractors is a new company as of 2/5/02, it is unrated.
National Environmental Coverage Corp.
747 Chestnut Ridge Road, Ste. 305
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Contact: Chris Holmes
Phone: (845) 425-2333
Fax: (845) 425-2853
Web site: www.necc.com
A program administrator operating nationwide with limits that vary by risk and class. Most contractors can be considered for pollution liability. Will also offer CGL/CPL for environmental contractors, contractor pollution liability (no CGL) for non-environmental contractors. Various A rated carriers are used to place coverage.
North Island Facilities, Ltd./NIF Pro
30 Park Ave.
Manhasset, NY 11030
Contact: Steven Rodriguez
Phone: (800) 892-8892
E-mail: srodriguez@nifgroup.com
Web site: www.nifgroup.com
A program administrator/wholesale broker operating on the Eastern Seaboard with primary limits of $1 million/$3 million and umbrella of $5 million. Will not write general contractors, roofers or street & road. Can offer property, inland marine and auto. New Hampshire is the carrier.
Prime Insurance Syndicate, Inc./I.E.B.S.
P.O. Box 4439
Sandy, UT 84091
Contact: Rick J. Lindsey (801) 304-5510 Pete Andersen (801) 304-5591
Fax: (801) 304-5595
Web site: www.primeis.com
An insurer operating nationwide with all limits offered from $100,000 to $5 million and more. All classes are considered. Prime is rated C+ to A.
Professional Design Insurance Management Corp.
P.O. Box 501130
Indianapolis, IN 46250
Contact: Terry Lee, Tanya Cline, Ken McComb
Phone: (317) 570-6945
Fax: (317) 579-6410
E-mail: info@pdiins.com
Web site: www.pdiins.com
An MGA/E&S broker operating throughout the 48 contiguous states with limits of $100,000 to $5 million. Can offer design/build and pollution. Lloyd's and Gulf are the A rated carriers.
Quirk & Company
P.O. Box 792030
San Antonio, TX 78279 or
10106 Desert Sands
San Antonio, TX 78216
Contact: David L. Perez
Phone: (800) 299-9421, Ext. 172
Fax: (210) 340-4075
E-mail: dperez@quirkco.com
An MGA operating in TX only with limits of up to $4 million primary. Target markets are general contractors, artisans, and environmental contractors. Will also offer auto, excess, umbrella, property, contractors' equipment and builders risk. The A rated or above carriers are Western World, National Fire & Marine, and Nautilus.
Richter-Robb Pacific Insurance Services, Inc.
310 Sun West Pl., Ste. C
Manteca, CA 95337
Contact: Lorraine Iglesias,
Lee Puryear, Margaret Browne
Phone: (CA only) (800) 454-4343
An MGA that operates in CA only with limits of $1 million. Target market is artisan contractors; will not write tract homes and condo contractors. Various nonadmitted A rated carriers are used.
RISC, Inc.
2001 Bryan Tower, Ste. 2900
Dallas, TX 75201
Contact: Dan Whitt, Jere Freel, Beth Winstead
Phone: (800) 725-7472
Fax: (214) 954-0999
E-mail: whitt@gorisc.com freel@gorisc.com winstead@gorisc.com
An MGA/E&S broker that operates nationwide with unlimited limits. Target market is all types of contractors including oil & gas, street & road, environmental, artisan and residential. Will also offer umbrella, OCP, contractors' equipment and auto. Various carriers are used to place coverage.
Robert A. Schneider Agency
5620 Smetana Dr.
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Contact: Sue Karkhoff, Cindy Larson, Teri Benson
Phone: (800) 862-6038
Fax: (952) 938-0701
E-mail: rs@rasinc.com
Web site: www.rasinc.com
An MGA/E&S broker operating in IA, MN, ND, SD and WI with limits of $2 million. Target markets are residential home builders-general contractors, artisans and roofers. Will also offer property, inland marine, auto, umbrella, and builders risk. Essex, Nautilus, First Financial and Royal & SunAlliance are the A rated carriers.
Roush Insurance Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 1060
Noblesville, IN 46061
Contact: Gail Pierce, Erin Marcroft, Tony Armor
Phone: (800) 752-8402
Fax: (317) 776-6891
E-mail: erin.marcroft@roushins.com scott.sackers@roushins.com gail.pierce@roushinscom
Web site: www.roushins.com
An MGA operating in IL, IN and OH only with limits of $1 million/$2 million; excess available up to $20 million. Most contractors accepted. Property, contractors' equipment, bonds, and commercial also offered. The A rated or better carriers are Atlantic Casualty, Century Surety, Scottsdale, Evanston, and Associated International.
Russell Bond & Co., Inc.
295 Main St., Ste. 866
Buffalo, NY 14203
Contact: Jeff Latke, Ext. 147; Chris Moyer, Ext. 149; Mike Kraus, Ext. 330
Phone: (800) 333-7266
Fax: (716) 856-0403
E-mail: jltke@russellbond.com
cmoyer@russellbond.com
mkraus@russellbond.com
Web site: www.russellbond.com
An MGA/E&S broker that operates in NY only with limits of $2 million, primary and $25 million, umbrella. Target market is artisan, specialty contractors, and design bond. General contractors will be considered but forms are restrictive. Will offer salting, environmental, property, OOP, EPLI, workers comp, builders risk, RR protective, umbrella, CGL and equipment floaters. Most coverages are provided through nonadmitted A rated or better carriers.
S.H. Smith & Co.
41 N. Main St.
West Hartford, CT 06107
Contact: Patti Roth, John Buckley
Phone: (800) 356-0168
E-mail: pattir@shsmith.com johnb@shsmith.com
An E&S broker that operates in all states except NYC and PA with limits of $25 million. Will not write residential contractors. Umbrella is offered. Carriers are ACE, Admiral, United National, Liberty International, and AIG.
Superior Access Insurance Services
P.O. Box 57092
Irvine, CA 92619
Contact: Ron Barnette, Barbara Hartz
Phone: (800) 272-7550
Fax: (888) 272-7550
Web site: www.superioraccess.net
An MGA/E&S broker that operates on an admitted basis in AZ, CA and NV and on a nonadmitted basis in AZ, CA, TX and NV with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Will write contractors building with 1-5 new homes; commercial (new and repair/maintenance). Will not write tract, condos or apartments. Carriers are Lincoln General (admitted) and Century Surety (nonadmitted), both A rated.
Swett & Crawford Group
21650 Oxnard St., Ste. 1400
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Contact: Craig Rubin
Phone: (800) 262-6099
E-mail: info@swett.com
Web site: www.swett.com
An E&S broker that operates nationwide with limits as needed. Target market is minimum premiums of $50,000. Can write COC, umbrellas, and OCP. Various A rated or better carriers are used.
Unifax Insurance systems, Inc.
23251 Mulholland Dr.
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Contact: Gay Corbett
Phone: (800) 669-9800
Fax: (818) 591-9856
Web site: www.crusaderinsurance.com
An MGA that operates in CA only with limits of $1 million/$2 million aggregate. Target market is artisan contractors--no generals or roofers. Crusader is the B rated carrier.
W.H. Greene & Associates
400 Quaker Road
East Aurora, NY 14052
Contact: Bill Greene, Wil Cote, Bob Schiele
Phone: (716) 805-1090
Fax: (716) 805-1099
E-mail: mail@whgreene.com
An E&S broker that writes primary casualty lines in NY, and umbrella & excess liability and inland marine countrywide. Primary limits are up to $2 million, occurrence/aggregate or $1 million occurrence/$3 million aggregate--with umbrella limits up to $25 million readily available. Target market is residential paper contractors. Will also write contractors, pollution liability, contractors' equipment floater and umbrella liability. Various admitted and nonadmitted A rated or better carriers are used.
Western World Insurance Company
400 Parson's Pond Dr.
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Contact: Timothy P. Hochkeppel, VP
Phone: (201) 847-8600
Fax: (201) 847-1010
Web site: www.westernworld.com
An insurer operating in all states with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Will not write residential contractors in CA or other Montrose-type states. Will also write GL, property and floaters. Western World and Tudor are the A rated or better carriers.
The Wholesale Insurance Group (TWIG)
Nelson St. West, 6th fl.
Brampton, ON L6X 4J2
Canada
Contact: Lisa Mirabelli
Phone: (800) 268-4461
Fax: (888) 567-7868
An insurance wholesaler that operates Canada-wide with limits of up to $75 million. Target markets are bio, PCB, and soil remediation and/or asbestos, microbial and lead abatement. General liability, contractors, pollution liability and professional liability coverage are under one form. Can also cover environmental contracting and engineering activities such as emergency response, underground and above-ground storage tank installation and removal, Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments, and remedial investigations and lab testing. Air Environmental is the carrier.
Yates & Associates Insurance Services
2100 E. Fourth St., 2nd fl.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Contact: Jim Hippard, Santa Ana branch; Ravi Chopra, Glendale branch; Bob Mestayer, Stockton branch
Phone: (800) 660-1125
Fax: (800) 378-8588
E-mail: jhippard@yates-assoc.com
Web site: www.yates-assoc.com
An MGA/E&S broker/wholesaler that operates in CA only with limits of $1 million/$2 million. Excess liability limits are also available. Target markets are small to medium contractors; commercial and certain types of residential. Also all sizes of contractors pollution liability risks. Lincoln General and other A rated nonadmitted carriers are used to place coverage. *
