Some 300 insurance professionals attended PIANY’s MetroRAP on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.
During the daylong event, attendees were able to take advantage of networking opportunities, gain powerful educational knowledge on insuring New York City contractors, and the errors-and-omissions pitfalls that can come with construction and renovation projects.
Attendees forged business connections on the trade-show floor, and met with the variety of vendors. Once again, participants were able to vote for the Best in (Trade) Show contest. For the second consecutive year the winners were the representatives from The Friedlander Group, who showed their football spirit throughout the trade show.
To see some photos from the daylong event, see the online photo album.
Insuring the Big Apple
Those who attended MetroRAP had the opportunity to earn 5 CE credits in New York or New Jersey.
In the morning session, Jon Lipton, CIC, CRIS, managing director–New York construction leader for Castle Rock Capacity LLC, a Risk Strategies Company, lead Measure Twice, Insure Once? Insuring NYC Contractors, Property Owners & Tenants. During the class, Lipton discussed how general liability insurance protects those involved in a construction project (e.g., contractors, developers and property owners) against various claims (e.g., property damage or bodily injury). He covered Coverage A–Bodily Injury & Property Damage, Products & Completed Operations—and its exclusions and coverage gaps. He also examined contractual liability and New York state’s Labor Law, among other topics.
He also conducted side-by-side comparisons of several additional insured forms, several pollution exclusions forms, and a few extended completed operations.
During the afternoon session—E&O Pitfalls When Insuring Construction/Renovation Projects—Chris Weldon, Esq., partner, Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg LLP, reviewed the New York state law that affects construction insurance—referencing recent cases and important insurance regulations. He examined the contractor classifications, and additional insureds and certificates of insurance—specifically the insurance producer’s responsibility toward them. Additionally, he discussed the pitfalls that agents and brokers may encounter if they review construction contracts, and he discussed why insurance producers should not be vetting the contracts of their insureds’ general contractors and subcontractors.
The discussion also focused on how insurance producers need to understand who they represent when they are helping to obtain insurance for a construction project. He also outlined the basic aspects of documentation, possible E&O issues, and what agents and brokers need to do when handling a construction insurance claim.
Welcome Reception
Once again, NY-YIP hosted its MetroRAP Welcome Reception at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant. More than 100 insurance professionals attended the event, which included raffles, appetizers and drinks.
To see photos from the Welcome Reception, click here.
Thank you sponsors!
PIANY thanks everyone who attended this year’s MetroRAP. We especially thank the sponsors who generously support this great event.
Plan for the next event
Looking for more opportunities to network and learn with PIA Northeast? Mark your calendars for the Connecticut Convention March 20-21, 2025, at Foxwoods Resort Casino; and the PIANJ | PIANY Annual Conference June 8-10, 2025, at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, N.J. Watch your PIA publications for more details.
Jaye Czupryna is publications manager for PIA Northeast and editor-in-chief of PIA Magazine. She started her career in public relations, and she has been with PIA for more than 20 years. She has overseen PIA Northeast’s various publications, including the award-winning magazine since 2009. Jaye graduated cum laude from Siena College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Communications.
