Edward J. Priz has
worked full time in the insurance industry since 1976. In his career, he
has worked as a licensed insurance producer, as a Vice-President
of an insurance agency specializing in commercial property and casualty
insurance, and as a consultant on commercial property and casualty
insurance. Since late 1987, he has headed his own consulting
practice on commercial insurance cost and coverage, doing business as
Advanced Insurance Management. In this practice, Mr. Priz provides
professional advice to commercial insureds, as well as to insurance agents,
brokers, agencies, and insurance carriers on Workers Compensation premium and
audit matters.
An area of
particular emphasis in this consulting practice involves reviewing
Workers Compensation insurance premiums and audits to uncover and correct
technical errors by insurers or rating bureaus. Clients of this
consulting practice have included manufacturers, contractors, utilities,
transportation companies, staffing companies, a federal government agency, a
chamber of commerce, and insurance companies and insurance agencies. Mr.
Priz’ consulting clients have included both large and small employers throughout
the
Mr. Priz has qualified
as an expert regarding Workers'
Compensation insurance premium computation, insurance agent/broker standards of
care, and other aspects of commercial property and liability insurance, in both
federal and state courts in Illinois,
Virginia, Florida, Nebraska, Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi,
and Texas.
Mr. Priz has been retained by both plaintiffs and defendants to consult on matters in litigation, arbitration, and mediation that involve proper Workers' Compensation insurance classifications, audits, experience modification factors, commercial insurance coverage, and insurance agent standards of care.
Mr. Priz has been retained by policyholders, insurance agents and brokers, and insurance companies, as an expert in these fields.
He has also served
as an expert in legal hearings before insurance regulators in
Professional Designations and Degrees
Mr. Priz holds the professional
designation Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)
from the American Institute of Property and Liability Underwriters, as well as
the designation Associate in Premium Auditing, from the Insurance
Institute of America. He is a 1974 graduate of Roosevelt University in
Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree (With Honors).
Insurance Career
Mr. Priz entered the insurance
industry in 1976 as a licensed life and health insurance producer in
National Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters
National Society of Insurance Premium
Auditors
Forensic Expert Witness Association.
Mr. Priz has also served on a task force
organized by the Illinois Department of Insurance to implement new Workers’
Compensation insurance regulations.
Publications
Books:
The Ultimate
Guide to Workers' Compensation Insurance,
published in 2005 by Entrepreneur Press.
CompControl,
published in 1995 by Oasis Press, with a revised edition published in 2001.
Chapter 22 of the
Illinois Workers Compensation Manual, published by the Illinois
State Chamber of Commerce in 2008.
“Report on a Study of Small Employers and the South Carolina Second Injury Fund’s Impact on Workers’ Compensation Insurance Premiums” commissioned by the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce.
Articles:
An online article at Entrepreneur.com headlined “Save Thousands on Workers
Comp” published April 10, 2007, and available online at:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/management/insurance/typesofinsurance/article176842.html
A Commentary in The Business L
An online article at Entrepreneur.com, entitled “Workers’ Compensation
101”, published September 2, 2005, and available online at:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/management/insurance/typesofinsurance/article79594.html
An article in
A Commentary in the DuPage Business Ledger, April 1995, entitled
“Businesses Can Act Now to Cut Workers’ Comp Cost”
An article in Corporate Cashflow magazine, dated January, 1993,
entitled “Miscalculated Premiums Cause Workers’ Comp Overcharges”.
An article in Talking To The Boss, October 1991, entitled “Workers
Comp Insurance: Are You Overpaying?”
Mr. Priz is also the author of copyrighted material regarding Workers Compensation insurance on the internet at www.cutcomp.com.
Presentations and Seminars
Mr. Priz has presented lectures and
seminars before a number of insurance and business groups, including
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce
The Workers Compensation Claims Association
The International Kitchen Exhaust
Cleaning Association
The Greater Peoria Contractors & Suppliers Association
The Central Illinois Employers Association
The Illinois Manufacturers Association
The Missouri Contractors Association
The Midwest Society of Professional Consultants
Caterpillar, Inc.
The
The Chicago Roofing Contractors Association
The International Recreational Water Professionals
National Association of Women in Construction
Construction Risk Management Conference sponsored by the International Risk
Management Institute
Mr. Priz has conducted Internet-based
“webinars” on the subject of Workers’ Compensation insurance premiums for:
M. Lee Smith Publishers LLC
Eli Research.
Administrative Hearings
Mr. Priz has assisted a number
of clients in appeals of NCCI decisions at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation
Appeals Board and the Nevada Workers Compensation Appeals Board.
Mr. Priz has also assisted clients in legal hearings before the Illinois
Department of Insurance and the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
Prior Testimony
In
the past six years, Mr. Priz has testified as an expert in the following legal
matters:
P.J.R, & Associates, Inc. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. of Illinois and Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of Illinois, Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. of Illinois and Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of Illinois v. Pete Reiman Case No. 2001-MR-84, filed in Circuit Court of the 20th Judicial Circuit Randolph County, Illinois. Retained by Plaintiff P.J.R. & Associates, provided written report of opinions and deposition testimony regarding Workers Compensation audited premiums.
Factory Sales and Engineering, Inc. and Valbar, Inc. v. Ellsworth Corporation, Tony Currera and Westport Insurance Company and Louisiana Commerce & Trade Association Self Insurers’ Fund Civil Action No. 2007-15870 Division “D”And related Third Party Demand by Louisiana Commerce & Trade Association against Overland Solutions, Inc. and ABC Insurance Company. Retained by third party defendant Overland Solutions, Inc. Provided written report of opinions and deposition testimony regarding the duties and responsibilities of Workers Compensation premium auditors.
Zurich American Insurance Company v. All
American Roofing, Inc., AAA Case No. 51 193 Y 01611 07, in Illinois.
Retained by Claimant Zurich Insurance, provided deposition testimony
regarding Workers Compensation audit premium charges on Retrospective Rating
policies.
Argonaut Insurance Company v. California
Box, Case BC 426323,
arbitration, Superior Court for the State of California, Los Angeles County,
Central District. Retained by defendant California Box, provided deposition
testimony regarding California Workers Compensation insurance premiums,
experience modifier calculations, and Large Deductible policies.
Mahdi Sikkal v. Pinnacol Assurance,
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, MKBS, LLC d/b/a/ Metro
Filed in District Court, City
and State of Denver State of Colorado, Case 2009 cv 11918.
Retained by defendant MKBS, testified and provided written report regarding
Workers Compensation insurance coverage.
Sharon Place and Payne & Associates
d/b/a Focus Healthcare Solutions v. Tim Presko and Tim Presko Insurance Agency,
Inc. Filed in Circuit Court
of Clay County, Missouri, Case No. 08CY-CV05144.
Retained by defendant Presko, provided deposition testimony regarding
insurance agent standards of care involving professional liability insurance.
Hearing No. 09-HR-1289 In the Matter of
the Workers Compensation Insurance Policy Issued to Super Trucking Construction,
Inc. by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, at the Illinois Department of
Insurance.
Retained by Super Trucking Construction, Inc.
Provided sworn testimony at this hearing regarding Workers Compensation
insurance premium charges for owner/operators.
Hearing No. 09-HR-0423 In The Matter of
The Workers Compensation Insurance Policy Issued National International Roofing
by Virginia Surety Company, at the Illinois Department of Insurance.
Retained by National International
Roofing. Provided sworn testimony at
this hearing regarding Workers Compensation insurance premium charges.
Janusz Kondracki v. Pinnacol Assurance,
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, MKBS, LLC d/b/a Metro
Taxi Case No. 2009 CV 5107 District Court, City & County of Denver
State of Colorado And WC No. 4-781-175 State of Colorado Office of
Administrative Courts. Retained by
Defendant MKBS. Provided written
report of opinions and testimony at administrative hearing regarding Workers
Compensation insurance coverage and premium for taxi drivers.
Commerce and Industry Insurance
Company v. Stryden, Inc.
Filed in State Court of Dekalb County, State of Georgia, Civil Action No.
09A-05243-1. Retained by Defendant
Stryden, Inc. Provided written
report of opinions and deposition testimony regarding Workers Compensation
insurance premium charges.
Advantage Framing Systems, Inc.
, and Secura Insurance Company v. Hernandez Agency, LLC.
Filed in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri at Kansas City, Missouri
Case No. 0916-CV01973 6 Division 9.
Retained by Defendant Hernandez Agency.
Provided deposition testimony regarding insurance agent standard of care
and certificates of insurance.
Crum Staffing, Inc. v. National
Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA.
Arbitration between the parties.
Retained by Plaintiff Crum Staffing.
Prepared a written report of opinions and provided deposition testimony
regarding Workers Compensation insurance.
Zenith Insurance Company v.
Spraggins Flooring, Inc.
Filed in United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa
Division Case No. 8:08-cv-542-T-26MAP.
Retained by Plaintiff Zenith Insurance Company.
Prepared a written report of opinions and provided deposition testimony
regarding Workers Compensation insurance premiums and audits.
Virginia Surety Company v.
Raimonde Drilling Corp. v. Dakota Street Insurance, LLC.
Filed in Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois County Department, Law
Division, No. 06 L 006153. Retained
by third-party Plaintiff Raimonde.
Prepared written report of opinions and provided deposition testimony regarding
Workers Compensation insurance premiums, audits, experience modifiers, and
insurance agent duties.
Lumbermens Mutual Casualty et al v. Hydro Aluminum North America, Inc. Arbitration per agreement between parties. Retained by Respondent Hydro. Prepared written report of opinions and provided deposition testimony regarding Workers Compensation insurance premiums, audits, binders, and experience modifiers.
EPIX Holdings Corporation v.
National Union Fire Insurance Company
Arbitration. Retained by
Claimant EPIX. Prepared written
report of opinions and provided deposition testimony regarding Workers
Compensation insurance premiums and audits.
Connecticut Business & Industry
Association v. Ahrens, Fuller, St. John & Vincent, Inc.; Reed Vincent and P/A
Industries, Inc. Filed in Superior Court, Judicial District of Hartford, Docket No
CV-03-0830311S. Retained by
Plaintiff Connecticut Business & Industry Association.
Provided deposition testimony regarding Workers Compensation insurance
and insurance agent duties.
Reliance Insurance v. Wayne
Williamson and Willstaff Crystal, Inc. Filed in USDC Western
District of
Workers Compensation Services,
Inc. v. South Valley Drywall, Inc. Filed in
Companion Property & Casualty
Group v. Henry’s Automobile Auction, Inc.,
filed in the Circuit Court for
St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance
Company v. ABG Caulking Contractors, Inc. v. Gale, Smith and Company, Inc,
filed in the United States
District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division, Case No.
3:05-0437. Retained by third-party
defendant Gale, Smith and Company, Inc.
Prepared a written report of opinions and provided deposition testimony
regarding Large Deductible Workers’ Compensation insurance policies and the
standard of care owed by an insurance producer.
Titan International, Inc., et al, v. George Becker, Ronald Bloom, et al, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Springfield Division, Civil Action No. 00CV3257. Retained by plaintiff Titan. Prepared written reports of opinions, and provided deposition testimony, regarding Workers' Compensation insurance premium computation, commercial insurance markets, insurance underwriting, and experience modification factors for Workers' Compensation insurance.
Ohio
Farmers Insurance Co. v. Ronald J. Hotler, Michael J. Miner, Harold Miner, Jean
Miner, Miner Farms, and Betty J. Frimml,
filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois,
Urbana Division, Case No. 03-2138.
Retained by defendant Miner.
Prepared written report of opinions and provided deposition testimony regarding
the standard of care owed by insurance agents, automobile liability insurance
coverage provided by a Farm Insurance package policy, and Umbrella Liability
insurance coverage.
Liberty Mutual Insurance v.
American Asphalt Company, Inc., filed in Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Camden County, Case
CAM-L-3918-04. Retained by defendant American Asphalt. Prepared a
written report and provided deposition testimony regarding proper Workers'
Compensation classification, premium computation, and Davis-Bacon wage
adjustments.
United States of America v.
William E. Stratton, John J. Leahy, Edward Wisniewski, Starling Alexander, and
Terrence Dolan,
filed in the United States District Court For the Northern District of Illinois
Eastern Division, Case No. 03 CR 0922. Retained by defendants Leahy and
Wisniewski. Testified at trial regarding Workers' Compensation insurance
premium computation, the Illinois Assigned Risk Plan, Experience Rating of
Workers Compensation insurance, and the duties and responsibilities of insurance
agents and brokers.