The ALS Group Risk Management Articles

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and if your holiday is anything like my family’s, the football games are as much a part of the tradition as the stuffing. So this year, should you find yourself on the couch, watching the games and struggling to keep your eyes open after all the turkey, try a little thought experiment (it will help you digest): watch the game as a risk management consultant.

Just a few months ago, a senseless and tragic mass shooting at a midnight movie screening in Aurora, Colorado left twelve people dead and nearly sixty injured.  Now, in the wake of the devastating tragedy, three of the victims’ families are suing Cinemark USA Inc., the owner of the Colorado theater, for negligence in its failure to provide the necessary security to its patrons. These developments raise the question, “Does your organization have the proper risk mitigation procedures in place to protect your organization’s bottom line in the event of random acts of violence?”

In January of this year country music star Garth Brooks was awarded $1 million by a jury in a lawsuit stemming from a donation made to Integris Rural Health Inc.  The civil dispute arose from a $500,000 donation Brooks made to the hospital.  Brooks insisted the donation was made in exchange for the naming rights for a new women’s health center opening at the hospital, which he intended to name after his deceased mother.  The hospital, for its part, claimed that the donation was made anonymously, had no spending restrictions, and that the discussions for a $15 million gift in exchange for naming rights had eventually broken down.  Despite the

The first step for many businesses seeking to operate abroad usually involves the transport of goods internationally. Initial shipments are often vital to the success of the venture, so protecting them in case of a catastrophic event is as important as getting the shipments to their proper destination. This is especially relevant considering the recent natural disasters that have affected the shipping trade. Carriers who write Ocean Cargo have suffered a spate of heavy losses, and as a result are actively seeking to narrow their exposures. Ocean Cargo Insurance is subject to less stringent regulation than other types of coverage as state regulators do not require rate and form filing.