Report a Claim
Report a Claim What is a Claim
Thank you for reporting your claim! The first step is to determine what type of claim you wish to report: Incident, Demand, Suit, or Grievance. The definition for each follows. The terms “you” and “your” refer to all insureds under your PDIC Policy.
INCIDENT:
An Incident is a potential claim. Report an Incident when you become aware of facts of circumstances which indicate someone may bring a claim against you. For example, you made an error, or think you may have made an error, during your representation of a client, but the client has not:
- Threatened to make, or made, a claim against you;
- Retained counsel to pursue a claim against you; or
- Asked you for money or damages as a result of a claimed error;
- Provided you with a written or oral demand.
- If you have received a demand or a demand letter, or if your client has, independently or with counsel, made a claim against you, see the definition for Demand, below.
Also use the Incident category to report a potential claim by an employee or former employee arising out of your employment practices.
DEMAND:
A Demand is a written or oral demand for money or damages given to you, regarding your work as a lawyer. A Demand is also a communication in which someone alleges you committed an error in discharging your duties as a lawyer, even if money or damages is not specifically requested. A Demand may come from your client, a former client, their family member, their lawyer or any person who claims to be damaged as a result of your work.
Please also use this category if you wish to report a Demand made by an employee or former employee arising out of your employment practices.
You must report all Demands, even if you believe it is defensible; the alleged error can be remedied; or you believe the demand is frivolous or without merit.
SUIT:
Please use this category to report all lawsuits which name any "Insured" as defined by the Policy. This includes suits against any Insured arising from your Employment Practices.
You must report all suits, even if:
- The suit has not been filed with the court;
- Service has not been perfected;
- The suit is frivolous or without merit;
- The suit can be easily won on motion.
GRIEVANCE:
A Grievance is a written petition filed by someone alleging an Insured committed malpractice or other wrongful or unethical conduct in connection with representation of the client. The petition is filed with the state entity responsible for supervising and disciplining attorneys, generally known as the Attorney Discipline Board, or the Attorney Grievance Board, or something similar.
A Grievance may include complaints about ethical issues, fees issues, legal issues and virtually anything connected to representation of a client. There are two kinds of Grievances, those in the Investigative Phase, and those in the Formal Phase. To proceed in reporting a grievance, you must first determine which type of grievance you wish to report:
- Investigative Phase Grievances: Generally, grievances begin as a request for investigation by the applicable state entity. The purpose of the investigation is to allow the state entity to gather facts needed to determine whether there is sufficient probable cause to pursue a formal complaint. If you are reporting a grievance that has NOT resulted in a formal complaint issued by your State entity, and there has been no finding of probable cause against you, please use this category. Please use this category even if you believe the Grievance is without merit or frivolous.
- Formal Grievances: In Formal Grievances, the applicable state entity has completed its investigation and entered a finding of probable cause, or referring the matter to a formal proceeding, the purpose of which is to restrict or rescind your ability to practice law. Please use this category even if you believe the Grievance is without merit or frivolous.
To Report a Claim
You may email us at claimsintake@hanoverprofessionals.com.
You may call or fax us at the following numbers:
Tel: 800.632.6122
Fax: 616.643.1079
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