Darwin Introduces Enhancements to its Lawyers Professional Liability Insurance Policy Including Privacy Wrongful Acts and More

FARMINGTON, Conn., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. (Darwin), (NYSE: DR) has introduced enhancements to its lawyers professional liability policy. Limits of up to $10 million are available for firms from one to one hundred attorneys. All areas of practice will be considered, and Darwin maintains a particular focus on plaintiff's personal injury litigation, class action/mass tort, medical malpractice, securities, environmental, entertainment, and selected areas of intellectual property law with demonstrated specialization and good claims histories. Darwin's new form includes coverage expansions in several areas. These include: -- Coverage for predecessor firms; -- Ability to report claims up to 30 days after the policy's expiration date; -- Coverage for pre- and post-judgment interest; -- Coverage expanded to wrongful acts occurring and claims brought anywhere in the world; -- Legal services definition expanded to include lawyers' services rendered as a member of a formal accreditation, ethics, peer review or licensing board, standards review board, bar association, or any similar board or committee; -- Pollution exclusion has been removed. Darwin also has added coverage benefits through two new endorsements. Darwin's new privacy wrongful acts coverage endorsement is widely available and provides coverage for violations of federal, state, and privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (enacted to protect personal health information; known as HIPAA) and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (dealing with security protection and standards for financial records; known as GLB). This endorsement also covers up to $25,000 in costs incurred if an insured is required to comply with mandated credit monitoring or notification to clients under privacy protection laws. For those attorneys serving as directors and officers for not-for-profit organizations, the policy can be endorsed to provide for outside director liability (ODL) coverage up to $1 million, subject to certain terms and conditions as set forth in the endorsement. "Darwin has had extraordinary success with our lawyers professional liability portfolio," says Annamarie Haught, vice president, professional liability underwriting. "These enhancements reflect our desire to continue to grow and to remain the market of choice for discerning buyers of lawyers professional liability." Important Information Coverage descriptions in this press release are summaries only; all coverages will be determined by the policy as issued. Policies are available only through licensed surplus lines brokers. Additionally, this press release may contain projections, comments, and other forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Each forward looking statement is based on Darwin's plans and expectations, as well as on current events and industry trends. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and the actual outcomes or results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any of these statements. About Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. Darwin is a specialty insurance group based in Farmington, Connecticut. The company is focused on the professional liability insurance market and underwrites directors and officers ("D&O") liability for public and private companies, errors and omissions ("E&O") liability insurance, medical malpractice liability insurance, and other specialty coverages. Darwin member companies include Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc., Darwin National Assurance Company (DNA), and Darwin Select Insurance Company (Darwin Select). DNA and Darwin Select have earned a financial strength rating of "A- (Excellent)" from A.M. Best Company. Darwin is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol, "DR." For more information about Darwin, visit www.darwinpro.com.