Liberty Mutual Offers Alternative Resolution Program For Disputed Sandy Claims

An innovative option to resolve complex Sandy claims is being offered to personal and commercial Liberty Mutual insurance customers: independent mediation or arbitration.

The property and casualty insurer announced that it has teamed with Kenneth R. Feinberg of Feinberg Rozen LLP to offer an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. This voluntary, three-phase process is available to Liberty Mutual Insurance customers after the traditional claim adjustment channels are exhausted. The program is also available to Safeco, Peerless, and Ohio Casualty Insurance customers.

“While we anticipate the overwhelming majority of our Sandy claims will be satisfactorily settled in a timely manner through the traditional process, there will be a small group of customers with highly complex issues that may benefit from an alternative route to resolve their claims,” said Ted Gramer, Liberty Mutual executive vice president and chief claims officer, Personal Insurance. “Resolving claims disputes through proven alternatives to the court system could accelerate an expensive settlement process for customers from possibly years to just a few months.”

Feinberg, an expert on mediation and alternative dispute resolution, managed the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and the BP Gulf Coast Claims Facility. He also successfully managed an ADR program for Liberty Mutual in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“Liberty Mutual Insurance is providing its customers with a unique program designed to accelerate the process for the most complex Sandy claims,” said Mr. Feinberg. “Similar to our successful program after Katrina, I am confident that we can provide Liberty Mutual customers with protracted coverage disagreements an independent alternative to reaching quicker resolutions than costly litigation.”

Liberty Mutual, Safeco, Peerless and Ohio Casualty customers can request participation in, or learn more about, the Alternative Dispute Resolution program at (888) 295-0808 or www.LibertyMutualSandyADR.com.

Source: Liberty Mutual Insurance