Assessing Risk for a Nuclear Verdict®

Presenters: Leah Heller, CPCU, CRIS and Timothy Fletcher, JD, CPCU

May 20, at 2 p.m. ET

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the alarming rise of nuclear verdicts®—plaintiff damage awards exceeding $10 million—and the more recent emergence of thermonuclear verdicts. Expanding on the 2024 In2Risk presentation, this critical webinar examines how emerging risks, contract mismanagement, and claim inaction can lead to these unexpectedly inflated awards, significantly impacting insurers' loss ratios, insureds' premiums, and ultimately raising costs for consumers. Our expert presenters will analyze the factors driving this trend, including aggressive trial advertising, unregulated third-party litigation funding, growing public mistrust of corporations, and broader social inflation. Attendees will also be equipped to identify early warning signals in cases heading toward potential nuclear verdicts and will develop actionable strategies for mitigation and effective defense at trial.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand the defining characteristics of nuclear and thermonuclear verdicts and their exponential growth in recent years
  • Identify specific risk factors in your organization that could increase vulnerability to nuclear verdicts
  • Recognize early warning signals that indicate a case may be heading toward a nuclear verdict outcome
  • Discover proactive mitigation strategies to implement before litigation begins
  • Master defensive techniques specifically designed to counter plaintiff strategies in high-stakes trials


 

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Leah Heller, CPCU, CRIS

Senior Risk Specialist, Team Lead

CapSpecialty
 

Leah Heller, CPCU, CRIS joined CapSpecialty January 2018 as a senior construction risk specialist. Leah has extensive experience in commercial underwriting and compliance which includes development of coverage forms, guidelines, training, and underwriting audits, working with AIG in NY, then relocated to California, Crum & Forster, Colony, and C.N.A. Leah’s personal accomplishments include an MBA degree and the CPCU and CRIS designations. Leah is currently a CPCU Society Underwriting Interest Group committee member, awards recognition program coordinator, and has served as a webinar moderator, CPCU annual meeting panelist for the Sharing Economy seminar, and co-author of a research paper entitled “Risk Management Implications of the Sharing Economy.”

 

Timothy Fletcher, JD, CPCU

Vice President, Senior Emerging Issues Specialist

Gen Re
 

Tim leads Gen Re’s emerging issues unit as their vice president, senior emerging issues specialist, where he draws from years of experience to identify emerging risks and exposures. He is also an avid contributor to Gen Re’s blog and edits the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Liability Laws Survey.

Tim is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and the Michell-Hamline School of Law with a juris doctorate. He currently serves on the CPCU Society Reinsurance, Excess & Surplus Lines Interest Group and as chapter governor for the Upper South Region. He is a founding member of the Atlanta Insurance Coalition for Change, and a guest lecturer on Risk Management and Insurance at Georgia State University as well as many industry organizations.