GRAMMAR AND POLICIES

Grammar seems to be evolving in an extraordinary way with each passing decade; a new and altered usage of basic words and punctuation marks such as apostrophes, colons/semicolons, parentheses, commas, and other tools for constructing effective written communication has taken precedence over age-old practices.

Commercially speaking, consumers want clear, specific, and understandable communication sans any unaware or hidden disclaimers. As these new grammatical changes continue to culturally increase, what effect will they have on the language that lawful contracts are built upon and the future of contractual obligations?

Many clients in the insurance industry rely heavily on the agents who furnish their contracts to explicitly translate them. Policy interpretation is not easy and even the most tenured agents must dedicate themselves completely when reading and interpreting a policy. The misplacement of a comma or omitting a semicolon can easily influence the acceptance or denial of a claim. For example,  in the case of Rokeach v. Hanover Insurance Company, 2015 WL 2400097, U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6580 (May 19, 2015, S.D.N.Y.), the simple fact that parentheses were omitted from the word ‘occurrence’ deemed it necessary for the insurance company to deny a claim for theft.

Personally analyze or ask your own trusted legal advisors to review your insurance policies for any ambiguous language. If you find yourself in the difficult situation of a denied claim due to supposed policy language, Morgan Elite Specialist Services will be happy to provide a second professional opinion. Our certified public adjusters are unbiased and will review your policy and assist in confirming or disproving the decision of your insurance company. We offer free consultations.