NAII Opposes Proposed Conn. Insurance Disclosure Law

In a March 8 letter to the members of the Connecticut Senate’s Judiciary Committee the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) registered its opposition to a proposal that would require insurers to disclose policy limits and coverage, even if there were no litigation pending.

The proposal “would create a mapping system for trial lawyers to the “deep pockets” of an insurer,” wrote Jay W. Jackson NAII local counsel. “The value of an injured party’s claim should not be dependent on how deep the insurance company pockets are.”

Jackson pointed out that the bill, S.B. 538 “sets up impossible mandates” for insurers by requiring them to disclose within 30 days the limits and coverage of their policyholders to injured parties making a claim.

He attacked the bill as not even requiring that an allegedly injured party disclose “how, when or where the injury occurred, or even whether there was a legitimate injury for which there is insurance coverage.”

While Jackson agreed that such information, including disclosure of excess or umbrella coverage, is appropriate after suit is filed, requiring that such insurance information be provided “upfront” would only serve plaintiffs who are “clearly hunting for a likely defendant.”|”naii, opposes, proposed, conn., insurance, disclosure, law