Fattening Ingredients

As if the boundaries of exposure needed expansion, the American Medical Association has recognized obesity as a disease in the same vein that the American Psychiatric Association has diagnosed and reset a manual of mental disorders. What is happening is simple: more and more diseases, more and more illnesses are being translated into exposures for insurers and, inevitably, for trial lawyers. Recognizing obesity as a disease will simply change the way this condition appears on a number of levels in a number of policies. It’s a growing trend that needs to stop. Right now the insurance industry is being forced to choke on definitions that are, in many cases, just ridiculous…Speaking of definitions, Peter Bickford takes on acronyms in this issue and lays out for our members some observations to go along with the many that he enumerates in his column…. In this issue we present attorney Matthew Vuolo of the Nelson Deluca law firm, who asks a searching question, “Is the Insurance Industry Really Ready for Electronic Transactions?” Over the years the Insurance Advocate has pondered the industry’s readiness for many developments, from fax machines to computers, to risk management, software and, lately even to catastrophe modeling instrumentation. The truth is the industry lags behind other industries, but for good reason. The insurance industry is typically more conservative than others and, given a culture of risk management, tends to move less aggressively then others, but when it moves it moves well… John Nonna, managing partner of the Patton Boggs LLP New York office and co-head of the firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Dispute Resolution practice group, has been recognized once again for his outstanding legal practice for the insurance and reinsurance industry. John was named “Elite Lawyer”—the top honor in a category recognizing outstanding insurance and reinsurance lawyers in the United States market—in The Legal Elite, an annual survey conducted by Intelligent Insurer identifying law firms and lawyers that lead the field in this important area of legal service. Mr. Nonna also earned the top honor on the survey in 2010 and 2012. In compiling the list of winners, the magazine surveyed a variety of sources from throughout the insurance, reinsurance and legal spheres, including in-house counsel, brokers and notable lawyers who serve the industry. Survey results were then coupled with research conducted by the magazine to create the list of winners. In March, John was appointed managing partner of the firm’s New York office where he develops business for existing New York practices, including corporate finance, commercial and securities litigation, insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution, real estate investment and development, white collar and government investigations. Particularly well-known for his work in commercial litigation generally and in the insurance and reinsurance areas in particular, he has handled several of the largest reinsurance arbitrations on record. John and his wife, Jean, who live in Pleasantville, have a large and beautiful family. Congrats, John. Hope you enjoy this issue of the Insurance Advocate and the last days of summer.