Sep

13-15

Claims + Damage Recovery (Sep 13-15)

Protecting utility assets and providing excellent customer service can be a balancing act. This annual program focuses on sharing best practices and building relationships with other leaders in claims and collection management and offers insights from guest speakers who have been expert witnesses in claims investigations. Participants will learn about and discuss issues common to Western utilities such as fire and storm recoveries, inverse condemnation, settlement and negotiations, and proper record keeping from industry professionals.

Register Now

General Details

  • Program Chair(s)
  • Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural

    • Program Location
    • NW Natural
    • 250 SW Taylor Street Portland, OR 97204
    • Who Should Attend
      • Managers or supervisors responsible for claims and collections functions
      • Senior claims investigators and adjusters
      • Collections leadership
      • Legal counsel responsible for claims areas
      • Insurance specialists
      • Service companies supporting claims and collection areas*

      *Service company members are encouraged to attend and are permitted one registration per company. Exceptions may apply; contact nye@westernenergy.org for more information.

  • Registration Options
  • Member: $499 USD
    Regular: $899 USD

    Registration prices increase $100 after August 24, 2022. Registration provides access to all Claims + Damage Recovery agenda items and meeting materials. Registration includes a welcome reception, all meals on the second day including a networking dinner, and breakfast and lunch on the final day. Guest tickets are available for $95 and allow for a personal guest (a spouse or partner who does not work in the energy industry) to accompany a registered attendee at the event. Guest registration includes all meals and receptions, and all program materials.

    Attendees are encouraged to take a moment to review the local and state guidelines related to COVID-19 to prepare for the event.

  • General Cancellation Policy
  • Due to contractual obligations, cancellations received 15 business days prior to the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 6 to 14 business days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. No shows and last minute cancellations, 5 business days prior to the event or less, will be responsible for the full registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the same event are always welcome.
  • Participation Policy
  • Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
  • For more information contact Amy Nye, Program Manager at (971) 303-2119.

Agenda

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Welcome Reception

Join us for a hosted networking reception in downtown Portland co-sponsored by JNR Adjustment Company, Inc. and AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc:

Urban Farmer
The Nines Hotel – Barrel Room
525 SW Morrison Street
Portland, OR 97204

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Registration + Networking Breakfast

Arrive early to register and network with peers over breakfast.

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Welcome to NW Natural
Speaker(s): Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural

The Program Chair and host utility will welcome the group to Portland!

9:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Roundtable Introductions
Facilitator(s): Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural

Get to know your peers through our roundtable introductions. Come prepared to share your name, your role, an overview of your company, a recent success story, and the top 3 challenges you and your team are facing right now. 

10:15 AM - 10:45 AM

Networking Break

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Risk Management Systems
Speaker(s): John Mena, Claims Recovery Team Lead, Southern California Gas Company, Lorrita Stoltz, Administrator/General Liability Claims, Southwest Gas Corporation, Roy Christian, Claims Manager, Southern California Gas Company, Paula Martel, Claims Team Lead, Southern California Gas Company

SoCalGas and Southwest Gas will provide presentations on their claims databases from a user and organizational perspective. This session will cover the importance of good data for analytics, data governance, change management, and provide the business case for liability and recovery as it relates to identifying trends for loss prevention, improving processes, and storing data. You'll also hear lesson learned from implementing a new system.

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Networking Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

The Psychology Behind Nuclear Verdicts
Speaker(s): Aref Jabbour, PhD, Senior Jury Consultant, IMS Consulting & Expert Services

How is it possible that some recent juries have awarded astronomical damage figures? What is driving current jurors to accept and award substantial damage awards? Learn about the psychological and sociological factors that are motivating jurors to award high damages. A seasoned jury consultant, and psychologist, will discuss what drives these large figures in catastrophic injury and property damage cases, and provide strategies to help protect against them.

2:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Networking Break

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

Open Roundtable Discussion: COVID-19
Facilitator(s): Paula Martel, Claims Team Lead, Southern California Gas Company

The pandemic has made a major impact on how we do business. As many organizations do more with less, what are we doing to adapt while balancing employee and customer satisfaction? This interactive discussion will cover customer claims, vaccine mandates, remote workforce, and employee engagement. Come prepared to share your challenges and successes in these areas as we continue to navigate the global pandemic.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Networking Dinner

Join us for a networking dinner in downtown Portland sponsored by KPMG LLP:

Ruth's Chris Steak House
Pacific Center
850 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205

Thursday, September 15, 2022

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Fire/Explosion: Key Investigation Questions
Speaker(s): Yecora Leaphart-Daniels, Corporate Counsel, Idaho Power Company, Roy Christian, Claims Manager, Southern California Gas Company

SoCalGas’ highest volume claim type is often one without a Claimant. Fire Departments frequently request a field response whenever there is a fire/explosion/flash event, regardless if natural gas is a suspected contributor to the damage. Claims has a series of questions presented to the Incident Commander on scene that it uses in order to make a determination if Legal needs to be made aware of the incident. If Legal direction is sought, investigation results are shared with in house Litigation Counsel and a recommendation is given by the attorney as to if further investigation is needed by a Cause & Origin expert. Please note this session is open to utility members only.

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Networking Break

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Extreme Weather Claims
Facilitator(s): Jimmy Yip, Damage Prevention Supervisor, FortisBC, Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural, Chris Urmston, Claims Manager, FortisBC, Shawna Arndorfer, Supervisor, Liability & Recovery Claims, Portland General Electric

In this interactive session, NW Natural, FortisBC, and Portland General Electric, will share examples of claims related to extreme weather events that took place in the Pacific Northwest in 2021 and 2022. Please note this session is open to utility members only. Please note this session is open to utility members only.

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Networking Break

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Open Roundtable Discussion + Wrap Up
Facilitator(s): Kat Rosenbaum, Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager, NW Natural

Ask any remaining questions that were not yet discussed and benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience of the group. We'll wrap up the day by discussing plans for the 2023 Claims + Damage Recovery Forum. Please note this roundtable discussion is open to utility members only.

Hotel + Travel

  • Reservation Instructions
  • Please contact the hotel directly at (503) 223-2100 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $182 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until August 24, 2022 or until the WEI room block is full.

Onsite Safety + Health Info

Effective August 18, 2022, proof of vaccination status or results of a negative COVID-19 test will not be required for admittance into most WEI-hosted programs.

WEI continues to monitor all federal level CDC, Canadian government and public health agency recommendations, as well as local ordinances, as a policy baseline for in-person programs. We encourage all attendees to review the current guidelines related to isolation and precautions prior to traveling to a WEI event, as well as guidance for traveling to and from Canada, which may differ from guidance for traveling to or from the United States.

Some WEI-hosted programs may require proof of vaccination status, if essential for participation, in which case WEI will communicate this requirement in advance of the program start date.

Please refer to WEI’s Safety + Health Code of Conduct for other important considerations.

Meet The Speakers

Katherine Rosenbaum

NW Natural

Chief Litigation Counsel & Claims Manager

John Mena

Southern California Gas Company

Claims Recovery Team Lead

Lorrita Stoltz

Southwest Gas Corporation

Administrator/General Liability Claims
Learn More

I have worked for Southwest Gas for 28 years. I am currently the Administrator/General Liability Claims managing the Company’s general liability, vehicle liability, facility damage recovery, and workers’ compensation programs. Prior roles include Analyst/Risk Management and Legal Assistant.

Roy Christian

Southern California Gas Company

Claims Manager

Yecora Leaphart-Daniels

Idaho Power Company

Corporate Counsel

Jimmy Yip

FortisBC

Damage Prevention Supervisor
Learn More

Jimmy Yip became the Damage Prevention Manager at FortisBC in 2022. Jimmy has held various roles within the organization since joining the company in 2007. He is currently responsible for the damage prevention program leading teams of staff and contractors responsible for outbound One Call activities and various damage investigation and prevention activities. Jimmy graduated with a BBA (Joint Major Business and Geography) with Simon Fraser University, and an MBA from Queen’s University. When not working Jimmy enjoys playing and watching hockey. He is a proud father of two young children and happily married for over 10 years.

Aref Jabbour, PhD

IMS Consulting & Expert Services

Senior Jury Consultant
Learn More

Aref is a clinical psychologist and researcher who is an expert in conflict
resolution, consensus building and persuasive communication skills.
As a trial consultant, Aref applies his extensive knowledge to civil and
criminal cases in the areas of product liability, patent infringement,
white-collar crime, toxic tort, catastrophic injury, complex business
litigation and medical malpractice. More specifically, Aref has extensive
experience in advising corporate clients in personal injury cases
involving gas and electric utilities, transportation including trucking and
railroad companies. Aref has been involved in several hundred mock
trials and focus groups in venues throughout the country. He has
assisted counsel on several high profile cases with case strategy, survey research, juror profile
development, voir dire, jury selection, trial monitoring and analyses of juror decisions.

Aref Jabbour, PhD

IMS Consulting & Expert Services

Senior Jury Consultant
Learn More

Aref is a clinical psychologist and researcher who is an expert in conflict
resolution, consensus building and persuasive communication skills.
As a trial consultant, Aref applies his extensive knowledge to civil and
criminal cases in the areas of product liability, patent infringement,
white-collar crime, toxic tort, catastrophic injury, complex business
litigation and medical malpractice. More specifically, Aref has extensive
experience in advising corporate clients in personal injury cases
involving gas and electric utilities, transportation including trucking and
railroad companies. Aref has been involved in several hundred mock
trials and focus groups in venues throughout the country. He has
assisted counsel on several high profile cases with case strategy, survey research, juror profile
development, voir dire, jury selection, trial monitoring and analyses of juror decisions.

Shawna Arndorfer

Portland General Electric

Supervisor, Liability & Recovery Claims

Chris Urmston

FortisBC

Claims Manager

Paula Martel

Southern California Gas Company

Claims Team Lead