REGARDING PREMIUM CREDITS
FOR DOCKET CONTROL SYSTEMS
USING DOCKETING SOFTWARE
The goal of this survey was to determine whether malpractice insurance companies are granting reductions in premiums to law firms using calendar/docket software. The survey was commissioned by CompuLaw, publisher of calendar/docket software, and was conducted by Polk Communications, a Los Angeles-based marketing firm.
The survey was conducted through telephone interviews from November 15 to November 27, 1991 [see note below]. The surveyor interviewed only executives familiar with insurance company policy regarding the subject at hand. In some instances, respondents were at the home offices of the insurance companies; in others, they were brokers in charge of overseeing the legal malpractice program of particular carriers.
The insurance companies contacted were: Reliance National Insurance Co., Capital Workshop, Crum & Forster, Golden Eagle Insurance Co., Home Insurance Co., Insurance Company of the West, Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co., Virginia Surety Insurance Corp., National Union Fire/American International Surplus Lines, Evanston Insurance Co., and VASA North Atlantic Insurance Co.
The executives were asked the following questions:
1. DO YOU GRANT PREMIUM REDUCTIONS TO LAW FIRMS THAT HAVE EFFECTIVE DOCKET CONTROL SYSTEMS USING DOCKETING SOFTWARE?
Yes: (6) Reliance National Insurance Co., Crum & Forster, Home Insurance Co., Insurance Co. of the West, Evanston Insurance Co., Virginia Surety Insurance Corp.
No: (3) Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co., National Union Fire, American International Surplus Lines.
2. HOW MUCH ARE THE PREMIUM REDUCTIONS?
| Reliance | Variable | |
| Crum & Forster | Up to 10% | |
| Home Insurance Co. | 2% to 10% | |
| Insurance Co. of the West | Approximately 2% | |
| Evanston Insurance Co. | Variable factor in risk assessment | |
| Virginia Surety Insurance Corp. | Up to 10% |
3. REGARDLESS OF YOUR PREMIUM REDUCTION POLICY, DO YOU VIEW DOCKETING SOFTWARE AS HELPFUL OR UNHELPFUL IN AVOIDING MALPRACTICE CLAIMS?
Helpful: Reliance National Insurance Co., Crum & Forster, Home Insurance Co., Insurance Co. of the West, Evanston Insurance Co., Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co., National Union Fire/American International Surplus Lines, Dearborn Insurance Co.
Unhelpful: None.
4. ARE THERE INSTANCES IN WHICH YOUR COMPANY WILL NOT WRITE MALPRACTICE POLICIES FOR FIRMS THAT DO NOT HAVE DOCKETING CONTROL SYSTEMS USING DOCKETING SOFTWARE?
Yes: Crum & Forster, Evanston Insurance Co., Virginia Surety Insurance Corp. (whose Los Angeles Bar Association program requires docketing software for large firms).
Insurance companies that could not be reached for the survey were: Capital Workshop General Insurance, Golden Eagle Insurance Co., and VASA North Atlantic Insurance Company.
Note: This survey was taken several years ago. Since then, CompuLaw has learned of many more malpractice carriers offering discounts as high as 20%-25%. CompuLaw is planning to commission another malpractice survey in the near future.