Professional Liability

An optometrist prescribes eyeglass lenses with an incorrect  astigmatism correction. While wearing the glasses, the customer  falls down stairs and suffers an injury because his vision is distorted  by the incorrect prescription.  

A claim is made for the customer’s medical expenses to treat the  injuries, including pain and suffering, for an amount of $20,000. 

An advertising agency developed a campaign for a major  client that involved the production of a series of television  commercials. The agency subcontracted the commercial’s  background music to a local freelance musician. After the  commercial aired, another musician claimed the music used  in the commercial had been copied without her permission  from a work she had previously recorded.  

The agency and its client were sued in a $100,000 copyright infringement claim 

A groomer nicks a tendon in a dog’s leg while grooming the dog  with a shaver. A claim is made for the veterinary care expenses  associated with the dog’s injury. 

The cost to cover the injury was $3,800 

A placement agency was hired to locate a qualified candidate to run  a client’s human resources department. The agency recommended  a candidate with management experience but failed to recommend  a candidate with a human resources background. After the client  hired the recommended candidate, it later terminated the person  for lacking proper qualifications. The client hired an attorney to  collect damages incurred as a result of the negligent placement.  In addition, the client had to retain an outside human resources  provider to perform these functions while a replacement  was found. 

It cost over $175,000, including defense and settlement costs .

A travel agent booked a trip around the world for an elderly couple  celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The husband, who  purchased the trip, mentioned that his wife needed handicapped  access for the entire trip, which included hotel stays. He called to  check on the planning of the trip multiple times and reconfirmed  the handicapped access. When the couple arrived in London,  they discovered that their hotel had no handicapped access  because of the age of the building. The husband was furious and  called the agency to demand a refund. The agency rebooked the  London leg of the trip and reconfirmed all of the couple’s other  accommodations. This cost the couple an additional $10,000 as  the trip was being changed at the last minute. They demanded  reimbursement for this charge. The additional expenses exceeded $15,000.

The Travelers Indemnity Company and its property casualty provided this to me.

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