1. Howard J. Franco, Esq. Michael L. Wroniak, Esq. hfranco@ccmslaw.commwroniak@ccmslaw.com Special Guest Star: Luci Thompson

3. WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN INVESTIGATING CLAIMS HOW TO TAKE STATEMENTS RESPONDING TO CLAIMS DEALING WITH THE MEDIA

4.  Types of Claims Trip/Slip and Fall Workplace Injury Third Party Liability Distinction and Scope

5.  Depends on the Type of Claim Tort Based Contract Based  Public Entity v. Private Entity Statutory Requirements Common Law

6.  ELEMENTS TO ESTABLISH LIABILITY DUTY BREACH OF THE DUTY CAUSATION DAMAGES

7.  ELEMENTS TO ESTABLISH LIABILITY HARMED BY A PRODUCT THAT CONTAINED…  MANUFACTURING DEFECT  DESIGN DEFECT  FAILURE TO WARN

8.  USE THESE ELEMENTS TO CONDUCT YOUR INVESTIGATION! Keys to the investigation OWNERSHIP CONTROL NOTICE

9. FIRST: THE INCIDENT OR RECEIVE CLAIM FORM SECOND: BEGIN INVESTIGATION THIRD: CLAIM RESPONSE FOURTH: LAWSUIT

10.  INCIDENT FORM PROTOCOL Develop Protocol Communicate and Follow Protocol “CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION” or “PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF COUNSEL” or “PREPARED IN ANTICIPATION OF LITIGATION”

11. INCIDENT FORM Time, Date and Activity Observations ONLY NO Opinions

12.  GATHER INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY Determine if claim has merit Preservation of evidence  FIX THE PROBLEM?

13.  Respect  Courtesy  Understanding  Professionalism  Sincerity  DO NOT EXPRESS ANY OPINIONS! Avoid commentary Stick to Facts…remember Joe Friday

14. CLAIMANT THIRD PARTY WITNESSES EMPLOYEES INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

16. Inspection Reports Maintenance Records Citizen Service Requests/Complaints E-mails and other correspondence Prior Tort Claims Original Design Documents

17. Contracts  Indemnity Provisions  Insurance Endorsements Meeting Minutes City Council Agenda’s/Reports Municipal Codes

18.  Photographs  Videos  OF WHAT? Physical Injuries Property Damage Accident location  Many different angles  Alleged dangerous condition

19.  Preserve Documents!  Create Paper Trail of Investigation NO OPINIONS  Tender to Third Parties Independent Contractors Contractors Insurance Carriers Insurance Brokers Public Entities  May need to do your own Tort Claim

20.  Deny  Settlement  Worker’s Compensation  Disability

21. Claims investigation is a collaborative effort… especially once litigation begins  Attorney  Claims Representative/Risk Manager  Organizational personnel Define roles and responsibilities at outset of investigation  Division of labor  Avoid duplication of efforts  Cost savings

22. Attorneys and claims/risk managers need to communicate with each other regularly  E-mail, Phone or In-Person  Attorney reports should contain critical analysis and recommendations  Open and honest communication  BOTH GOOD AND BAD!

23. Media shapes and forms public opinion with how it reports your case in several different ways…

24.  Places officials in the public light  Pressure on company and claims handlers  Causes public uproar regardless of “real” facts  Makes case seem larger than it is  Puts your company in a defensive position

25.  Develop relationships and cooperate with local media  Have your communication network set up  Be first to report?

26. Common Mistakes  Too many people making statements One Person One Agency  Not making a statement or talking to the press  Statements that fuel the fire

27. YOUR INVESTIGATION PROVIDES GROUNDWORK FOR DEFENDING LAWSUIT!

28.  The Good  The Bad  The Ugly

29. INVESTIGATIONEVIDENCE  Claim Report  Documentation  Photographs/videos  Statements  Assess Liability  Assess Damages  Direct Evidence  Indirect Evidence  Impeachment Evidence  Depositions  Develop Theme(s)  Assess Liability  Assess Damages