Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 07/22/08
GBS267 19886-20086	LEC	3 Credit(s)	3 Period(s)
Liability Claims Adjusting II
In-depth examination of legal issues, duties and damages encountered in liability claims area. Includes fundamentals of tort law; automobile, products and insurance liability contracts; investigative techniques, and claims evaluation. Prerequisites: GBS266.

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
GBS267   19886-20086	Liability Claims Adjusting II

1.	Compare and contrast the terms claim and casualty claim. (I)
2.	State the responsibilities, functions, and duties of a claims representative. (I)
3.	List and describe the elements of a contract. (II)
4.	Identify basic doctrines of contract law. (II)
5.	Define and classify the basic groups or torts. (III)
6.	Describe specific tort doctirnes and illustrate their application. (III)
7.	Compare and contrast the agency and independent contractor relationship. (III)
8.	Define and recognize bailment situations. (III)
9.	List the rights and duties of motorists, passengers, and pedestrians. (IV)
10.	Apply the appropriate theories of liability to various products liability claims. (V)
11.	List common defenses which can be used against products liability claims. (V)
12.	Analyze liability insurance contracts which includes automobile and professional liability contracts. (VI)
13.	Develop an outline and plan of investigation for given fact situations. (VII)
14.	Develop a framework for analyzing common injuries and diseases. (VIII)
15.	Apply evaluation of principles to determine settlement of a claim.(IX)
16.	Identify various types of workers' compensation laws. (X)

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
GBS267   19886-20086	Liability Claims Adjusting II

I. Casualty Claims Practice A. Definition 1. Claim 2. Casualty Claim B. Claims Representative 1. Definition 2. Types 3. Responsibilities 4. Functions 5. Duties II. Legal Issues A. Common Law 1. Definition 2. Evolution B. Equity C. Appellate Courts D. Legal Terminology E. Contracts 1. Basic Elements a. Offer b. Acceptance c. Consideration 2. Contract Law Doctrines a. Formation b. Modification c. Interpretation d. Effect of Contracts 3. Insurance Contracts 4. Leases 5. Hold Harmless Agreements 6. Regulations III. Fundamentals of Tort Law A. Overview of Tort Law 1. Definition 2. Classification 3. Negligence 4. Land Possessor Duties 5. Landlord/Tenant 6. Intentional Torts 7. Damages B. Tort Doctrines 1. Definition a. Last Clear Chance b. Foreseeability c. Liability Without Fault d. Immunity e. Nuisance 2. Modifications a. Statutory b. Judicial C. Agency Law and Contractors 1. Agency Definition 2. Agent Types 3. Agency Relationships 4. Independent Contractor 5. Tort Implications 6. Termination Agency Relationships D. Bailments 1. Definition 2. Subject Matter 3. Types 4. Liabilities a. Types b. Limitations 5. Innkeeper's Liability 6. Common Carriers IV. Automobiel Liability Within Tort System A. Rights/Duties of Motorist 1. Licensing/Registration 2. Clear Distance Rule 3. Rules of Road 4. Special Situations B. Rights/Duties of Passengers 1. Guests' Claims 2. Automobile Guest Statutes 3. Duration Guest Status C. Vicarious Liability 1. Owner 2. Persons Other Than Owner D. Rights/Duties of Pedestrians 1. Sidewalk 2. Intersections 3. Walking on Highway 4. Traffic Officers, Workers 5. No-Contact Cases E. Pertinent Statutes F. Seat Belt Defense G. No-Fault Legislation H. Reparations 1. Purpose 2. Scope V. Products Liability Laws A. Liability Types 1. Retailer 2. Manufacturer/Distributor 3. Seller B. Liability Theories 1. Negligence 2. Strict Liability 3. Warranty Theories C. Defenses Against Products Liability Claims 1. Abnormal Use 2. Contributory Negligence 3. Allergy, Susceptibility 4. Intervening Negligence 5. Disclaimers D. Codification-Uniform Commercial code 1. Warranties 2. Service Contracts E. Legal Aspects F. Rules of Evidence 1. Nature 2. Presumptions, Inferences 3. Judicial Notice 4. Hearsay Rule 5. Privileged Communications 6. Deception Tests 7. General Categories VI. Liability Insurance Contracts A. Liability Insurance Policy 1. Declarations 2. Insuring Agreements 3. Exclusions 4. Conditions B. Automobile Liability Policy 1. Coverage Questions 2. Permissive Users 3. Loading/Unloading Clause 4. Insured/Uninsured Motorists 5. Medical Payments Coverage C. Professional Liability 1. Medical Malpractice 2. Accountants 3. Architects 4. Attorneys 5. Insurance Adjusters VII. Investigation A. Components 1. Inquiry 2. Verification 3. Comparison B. Scope of Insurance Claims 1. Coverage 2. Liability 3. Damages C. Typical Investigation Plan 1. Statement Technique 2. Form 3. Substance 4. Physical Facts 5. Daigrams D. Verification 1. Photographs 2. Expert Opinion 3. Medical Examination 4. Disability E. Public Records 1. Sources 2. Use 3. Admissibility 4. Common Record Types a. Motor Vehicle Accident Reports b. Federal Income Tax Returns VIII. Medical Aspects of Damages A. Medical Information 1. Trauma vs. Etiology 2. Daignostic Tests Signs 3. Anatomy B. Injuries, Diseases 1. Types 2. Disability Length 3. Eye 4. Heart 5. Blood 5. Intoxication Tests C. Whiplash/Low Back Pain D. Musculoskeletal Spinal Conditions E. Rehabilitation IX. Claims Evaluation A. Evaluation Principles 1. Legal, Factual Liability Issues 2. Tangible, Intangible Damages 3. Mental, Physical Characteristics 4. Forum Appraisal B. Settlement Negotiations 1. Permanent Disability 2. Survival Claims 3. Wrongful Death 4. Settlement Process, Analysis C. Termination of Claim 1. Psychology of Settlement 2. Settlement of Interview 3. Negotiation Methods 4. The Offer 5. Releases X. Workers' Compensation A. Employer's Liability 1. Common-Law Duties 2. Defenses B. Workers' Compensation Laws 1. Type 2. Employments Covered 3. Compensation as Exclusive Remedy 4. Insurance/Fund Requirements 5. Administration 6. Employment Relationship C. Compensation Claim Procedure D. Workers' Compensation Benefits E. Third Party Claims

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