The Human Equation

09/02/2026

Liability insurance costs continue to challenge businesses across industries. Higher claim severity, large jury verdicts, litigation trends, and changing insurer appetites have contributed to increased premiums, higher retentions, and tighter coverage terms. While businesses cannot control the insurance market, they can control how effectively they manage and present their risk.
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By Anita Byer September 2, 2026   Liability insurance costs continue to challenge businesses across industries. Higher claim severity, large jury verdicts, litigation trends, and changing insurer appetites have contributed to increased premiums, higher retentions, and tighter coverage terms. While ...

08/19/2026

Cybersecurity exposure is a large emerging risk for professional services firms. Sonic Wall’s 2026 Professional Services Protect Brief recorded 69.9 million ransomware hits in the industry during the first half of 2026, more than any other industry tracked.

Law firms, accounting practices, consultancies, and engineering firms are being targeted precisely because of what they hold: privileged client data, active financial transactions, and in some cases, administrative access into other organizations' systems. This information gives attackers leverage and a higher possibility of getting their ransom paid. A single breach doesn't just cost money to remediate, it costs client trust, and in regulated industries, it can trigger reporting obligations.

Protecting against this exposure starts with governance, not just IT. Firms that come through an incident intact are the ones that already know who has access to what and why, have a defined response for the first hour after a breach is discovered, and know in advance who's authorized to make the call on ransom, disclosure, and client notification. Having a clear protocol now before an incident, not during one is the highest leverage step a firm can take to prepare for a cyber exposure attack.

08/05/2026

Most businesses know their largest customer, but far fewer know about their largest ‘vendor dependency’ and the impact to operations a vendor can cause when the vendor experiences an interruption of their business. Vendor concentration risk is catastrophic when too many critical functions run through too few outside parties.

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By Anita Byer 08/05/2026   Most businesses know their largest customer, but far fewer know about their largest ‘vendor dependency’ and the impact to operations a vendor can cause when the vendor experiences an interruption of their business due to a casualty loss, supply chain disruption, techn...

07/29/2026

Peak hurricane season runs mid-August through October, which means the most dangerous stretch is right in front of us not months away. If you don't have a plan in place yet, now is the time!

A hurricane category plan isn't optional, it's the difference between a temporary disruption and a permanent closure. Nearly 40% of small businesses never reopen after a major disaster.

Here are 4 steps needed to start building your plan:

1️⃣ Assess your exposure. Know your flood zone, wind-borne debris region, and building vulnerabilities.

2️⃣ Match coverage to risk. Review property limits, named storm deductibles, and business interruption periods against realistic recovery timelines.

3️⃣ Define your response by category. What triggers evacuation? Remote operations? Full shutdown? Cat 1 and Cat 5 require different playbooks.

4️⃣ Document and drill. A plan your team hasn't practiced is just a PDF.

A solid cat plan protects your people, your operations, and your bottom line.

07/15/2026

Recently, a jury trial in Los Angeles against Meta and Google resulted in a pivotal $6 Million verdict against the defendant, not for its content, but for its habit-forming design that resulted in depression and anxiety of a minor plaintiff.

The evolving litigation around design, algorithms and architecture affects more than social media platforms. Gaming companies, streaming services, developers, and AI firms may all be at risk for liability associated with an ‘addictive’ design.

Read about it here: https://wp.me/ph5PpX-2ZR

07/01/2026

The Fourth of July is a time for celebration, but it also brings an increased risk of fires, property damage, injuries, and potential liability for businesses.

Before the holiday, consider taking a few simple precautions:

Review your property's fire prevention measures.
Remove combustible materials from around your building.
Test fire alarms and ensure fire extinguishers are readily accessible.
Verify your security and alarm systems are functioning properly before closing for the holiday.
Remind employees that personal fireworks should never be used on company property unless part of a properly permitted event.

Taking a few preventive steps before the holiday can help reduce risk and keep your business, employees, and customers safe.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

06/24/2026

While the property and casualty insurance industry is currently exceptionally healthy due to underwriting gains and investment returns, the general liability and casualty lines are a notable exception, with claims frequency and severity on an uptick, producing underwriting losses and steady increases in loss reserves — the funds insurers set aside to pay for claims that have been reported but not yet settled.

Click below to read the full blog post.

By Anita Byer June 24, 2026 While the property and casualty insurance industry is currently exceptionally healthy due to underwriting gains and investment returns, the general liability and casualty lines are a notable exception, with claims frequency and severity on an uptick, producing underwritin...

06/17/2026

🍹 The hospitality industry thrives on great experiences — but serving alcohol comes with serious legal exposure that many operators underestimate.

Liquor liability is one of the most overlooked risks in hospitality. One intoxicated guest who leaves your bar and causes an accident can expose your business to lawsuits, license suspension, and criminal charges.

Here's what triggers it:
→ Serving a visibly intoxicated patron
→ Selling to anyone below legal drinking age
→ Missing behavioral warning signs (slurred speech, stumbling, erratic behavior)
→ Not monitoring how much guests consume

Here's how to reduce your exposure:
→ Train ALL staff — servers, hosts, bussers, not just bartenders
→ Document every incident
→ Card consistently and verify IDs
→ Have a written policy for cutting off service
→ Carry the right liquor liability coverage

There is no safe harbor for negligence — but there IS protection for businesses that demonstrate good faith compliance.

06/10/2026

If your business puts drivers on the road, fleet safety isn't optional — it's a core risk management priority.

Companies that employ individuals to utilize their own private passengers for company business, and/or maintain a fleet of company owned or leased vehicles, are exposed to daily risks like injuries to drivers, passengers, or other 3rd parties, as well as damage to vehicles, equipment, and the property of others.

A strong fleet safety program includes:
✅ A fleet safety policy
✅ Procedures for compliance with state and local laws
✅ Clear driver qualification and screening standards
✅ Documented vehicle use and maintenance policies
✅ Regular MVR (motor vehicle record) monitoring
✅ Driver training and incident response protocols
✅ Telematics and data-driven performance tracking
✅ Appropriate insurance

Fleet risk doesn't manage itself. A proactive program protects your people, your balance sheet, and your reputation.

06/04/2026

AI is now screening resumes, scoring video interviews, and ranking candidates at companies of all sizes — most employers assume that using a third-party tool shields them from risk. It doesn't. Federal courts have begun treating AI software vendors as "agents" of the employer, meaning your organization cannot simply point the finger at the vendor if a discriminatory outcomes occur. Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA all apply regardless of whether a hiring decision is made by a human or an algorithm — and a growing patchwork of state laws is tightening the rules further.

The question isn't whether you use AI in hiring — it's whether you can defend how it works. Vendor audits, bias testing, documentation, and human oversight aren't just best practices anymore. They're your legal shield. If your organization hasn't conducted a compliance review of its AI hiring tools, the exposure is real and growing.