Presentation Overview
Wednesday, MAY 6, 8:00AM-9:00AM
Nicollet Ballroom
On today’s projects, contractors and trades are asked to interpret incomplete details, suggest substitutions, support testing, and troubleshoot performance issues—often under schedule pressure. Those day-to-day decisions can create liability when a loss occurs and trigger insurance coverages such as Builder’s Risk, General Liability, and Professional Liability.
This session outlines key differences among these coverages, highlights common factors that can jeopardize them, and uses scenario-based examples to help professionals identify early red flags. It also connects these concepts to field practices—such as structured reporting, quality verification, and effective project documentation—that reduce rework, minimize disputes, and clearly demonstrate what work was performed, when, and why.
Learning Objectives:
- Distinguish how Builder’s Risk, General Liability, and Professional Liability respond to losses
- Identify when air barrier scope can drift into “professional services” exposure
- Apply “claim vs. circumstance” decision-making to preserve claims-made coverage
- Implement documentation and post-loss practices that improve coverage positioning and reduce dispute time
Brian Callaghan, CPCU, ARM, ARe, CRIS, Vice President - Risk Management, American Contractors Insurance Group
Mr. Callaghan joined ACIG in 2018. He began his professional career at Zurich North America as an underwriter in the construction industry segment focusing on primary and excess construction casualty insurance. He has continued to specialize in construction risk with experience in contractor-controlled insurance programs and subcontractor default insurance. Prior to joining ACIG, he worked at Swiss Re. Mr. Callaghan holds a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in risk management & insurance from The University of Georgia. His continuing education in insurance includes the Charted Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Reinsurance, and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist designations.
Mary Kilnay, General Counsel, American Contractors Insurance Group
Ms. Kilany joined ACIG in April 2019. Prior to joining ACIG, she served as a partner in the law firm Savrick, Schumann, Johnson, McGarr, Kaminski & Shirley, where she represented national commercial primary and excess insurance companies as coverage counsel on construction defect, bodily injury, products liability, and business-related claims. Ms. Kilany has experience advising on a variety of contract and insurance related matters, including contractual risk transfer issues, additional insured issues, commercial general liability claims, commercial property claims, and auto and garagekeepers claims. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Central College and Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa.
