· one or more search terms can be put in one or more of the Subject, Text or State fields (It is normally best to put the policy term(s) in the Subject field and the key factual term(s) in the Text field. For example, to determine if a skunk is a rodent, type "Rodent*" in the Subject field and "Skunk*" in the Text field.)

· for optimal results, leave the State field set on "All 50 States" to bring up annotations and other documents containing case law from around the U.S.

C. Table of Contents

(located in the Coverage Research page)

· provides quick access to State-by-State documents/charts

· allows retrieval of all coverage documents by drilling down through appropriate folder

· permits searching for information by policy or topic

· gives quick access to FAQs and annotations

D. Other Search Methods

(located in the Coverage Research page)

· permits search for information through other methods such as Broad Search and Advanced Search

· contains Case Law search method

E. Search Results

Results of a search are displayed in a certain order. It typically goes from the more general to the more specific. First, are any FAQs or annotations that contain the search terms. Next, come Q&As and Claims Magazine Articles. Following are Test Your Coverage Knowledge questions. This is followed by State-By-State charts. Next in line are Catastrophe Bulletins. Finally, come the Case Law and the CQs (prior Coverage Opinions).

2. Benefits of Using the Subject and Text Fields at the Same Time

The Subject field is a good way to limit your search results to documents that focus directly on the issue(s) you are concerned with, typically policy terms. However, the Text field is good to use when looking for a less common term that might not be the subject of a document. It is also good to use the Text field with the Subject field so that you can click on the "Next Match" option at the top of the screen to advance throughout the text of the document to where your search term(s) appear. This is particularly useful in long documents.

3. Benefit of Putting Name of State in Text Field Instead of State Field

All PLRB law reviews (case summaries) and many coverage opinions have the particular state involved noted in the document's State field. These documents could be located, in part, by typing the name of the state you want in the "State" field. However, there are numerous general documents (such as FAQs) that have useful state-specific references that would not be found if a state were typed in the "State" field. In order to locate state specific references in these general documents, simply do a "Subject" / "Text" search with any relevant terms but leave the State set on "All 50 States." If you want to see if a general document, such as an annotation, contains a reference to a particular state, include the name of the relevant state in the "Text" field, instead of typing it in the "State" field.

4. Home Button

If you get lost, or are not quite sure where you are in the database and want to get back to the beginning, you can always click on the PLRB Home button at the top of the screen.

5. The Term Expander: *

Use the "*" [located above the #8 key] after the root of a word to broaden your search results. This symbol will retrieve documents containing any word with the letters preceding the * symbol. For example, by typing "collaps*", your search will retrieve all documents containing words starting with "collaps", including collapse, collapsed, and collapsing. Use the "*" to find the plural of a word - vehicle just finds the word vehicle in a document, whereas vehicle* finds both vehicle and vehicles throughout the document.

6. And, Or

· You can put multiple terms in the same field. By typing "and" or just leaving a blank space between your search terms, your search will retrieve only documents containing all of the typed terms.

· To look at the search terms as alternatives to each other, type an "or" between those terms.

7. State-by-State Charts

There are many coverage issues PLRB has broken down into useful state-by-state charts. One quick way to view these is to click on the Coverage Research tab on the left of the PLRB homepage, and type "Chart" in the box in the upper left corner marked Subject.

If you want to reduce the charts you retrieve, you can also type in the same box what type of chart you are looking for, i.e., ACV, water, causation, ensuing etc.. Note, these charts can also be accessed quickly through the Table of Contents by clicking in the State-by-State folder.

The database contains a number of state-by-state compilations of coverage issues including:

· Actual Cash Value (PLRB)

· Adjuster Licensing Statutes (PLRB)

· Anti-concurrent Causation Preface (is it enforced or proximate cause analysis used?)

· Appraisal (what is the scope, what are its requirements?)

· Collapse (how is it defined?)

· Common Law Marriage (is it valid?)

· Condo Statutes (PLRB)

· Diminished Value (LIRB)

· Earth Movement Exclusion (must it be natural and catastrophic?)

· Ensuing / Resulting Loss (is it broadly or narrowly interpreted?)

· Fraud Statutes (PLRB)

· Innocent Coinsured (PLRB)

· Ordinance or Law Exclusion (when is it enforced?)

· Proximate Cause (how is it determined?)

· Proof of Loss (how long do insured/insurer have to file/respond?)

· Residency Compendium (PLRB & LIRB)

· Rental Car Compendium (LIRB)

· Same Sex Marriage (PLRB)

· Settling / Wear and Tear Exclusion (is it limited to non-fortuitous losses?)

· Suit Limitations (PLRB)

· Tax and Demolition Lien Statutes (PLRB)

· Unfair Claims Practices Acts (PLRB & LIRB)

· Valued Policies (PLRB)

· Water Damage Exclusion (does natural source rule apply?)

8. Searching For Phrases: " "

To search for a particular phrase, simply put it in quotes. For example, by typing "plumbing system" or "surface water" the computer will look for the words together as a phrase.

9. Documents - Annotations

Annotations are discussions and interpretation of insurance policy language. PLRB/LIRB's annotations should be the first place you look when doing coverage research as they are constantly updated and contain sample case law from throughout the country. PLRB's annotations include the Homeowners, Businessowners, Commercial Property and Business Income policies. Our annotations contain a great deal of information and frequently include state-by-state discussions of related cases. Annotated Policies and Endorsements:

PLRB Policy Annotations

HO - Homeowners Section I (first party)

BP - Businessowners

CP - Commercial Property

BI - Business Income

BR - Builders Risk

PLRB HO Endorsements

Computer Coverage

Earthquake

Inflation Guard

Mold " Fungi, Rot, or Bacteria Coverage

Other Structures Increased Limits

Personal Property Replacement Cost

Scheduled Personal Property

Special Personal Property

Water Backup

Windstorm/Hail Deductible

LIRB Policy Annotations

HO - Homeowners Section II

PA - Personal Auto

GP - Garage Policy

CG - Commercial General Liability

PLRB Commercial Endorsements

Brands and Labels

Condo Commercial Unit-Owners

Earthquake

Functional Valuation

Loss Payable

Ordinance or Law Coverage

Protective Systems and Safeguards

Stock

Utility Interruption

Value Reporting

10. Documents " Frequently Asked Questions / Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are general discussions of issues frequently asked of PLRB. Some of the topics include: condominium issues, matching, tree roots, tear out coverage, and backup v. overflow of water. FAQs offer valuable general discussions on first party property coverage issues with supporting case law.

Questions and Answers (Q&As) are designed to address specific coverage issues. They are similar to FAQs but are not confined to just the most frequently asked questions. Q&As include topics on ACV, the water damage exclusion, loss caused by computer viruses, and loss caused by animals. The LIRB database contains Q&As on auto, commercial and homeowners issues.

Emerging Issues address new issues that have little case law.

11. Homeowners Section II, Liability

PLRB members have access to LIRB's Homewners Section II, Liability materials, including their Annotation and Q&A series on Section II liability issues.

12. Viewing a Document in a Full Size Window

Once you've found a document you're interested in, you can view it in a full size window by:

right click on the link to the document you want

select "Open in New Window"

Another option to view a document in a larger viewing area is to click on the desired document's link and then click on "full screen view" at the top of the screen. To return to normal view, simply click on "split screen view."

13. Document Excerpts

In the Results screen, there is a field called Document Excerpts. This allows you to adjust the amount of information that appears in your Results field. When it is set to Off, you only see the document Title and its Location. When you turn on the Document Excerpts, it can be set at Short, Medium, or Long; each setting gives a little more of the document, highlighting the searched terms.

14. To Copy a Document into a Word File, Remember "ACV"

To copy an entire document into a Word document,

(1) click anywhere within the text of the document you want,

(2) hit "Ctrl" and "A" at the same time to highlight the entire document,

(3) hit "Ctrl" and "C" at the same time to copy the entire document, and

(4) go to a Word document and hit "Ctrl" and "V" at the same time to paste the document into your file.

15. Capturing Links to Documents: the URL feature

Now that you've located the PLRB or LIRB document that addresses your topic of interest, you may want to share that document with a co-worker. To do so, follow these steps:

(1) Click anywhere in the document itself

(2) Click "Clear Highlights" on the gold bar on the top of your screen

(3) Select "Get URL" from the gold bar on the top of your screen

(4) Select "Shrink URL"

(5) Copy and paste the URL into your Word or e-mail document.

This method is particularly useful if you wish to share multiple documents with your co-worker because you can point to several documents without bogging down an e-mail with too many attachments.

16. Another Method to Send a Document to a Co-Worker: E-Mail

As an alternative to sending your co-worker the URL to the document(s) you selected, you can send the actual document via e-mail. To do so, follow these steps:

a. Click anywhere in the document itself

b. Click "Clear Highlights" on the gold bar on the top of your screen

c. Select "Save" from the gold bar on the top of your screen

d. This permits you to save the document in as a Word file.

17. Distance Learning Modules

Many of PLRB/LIRB's Distance Learning Modules can be taken to earn Continuing Education or Continuing Legal Education credits in certain states. Dozens of other modules may be taken for educational purposes.

PLRB/LIRB Distance Learning modules can be found by

(1) clicking on the yellow "Educational Research" tab on the PLRB/LIRB homepage,

(2) then by clicking on "Distance Learning" located on the upper yellow bar.

The following is a sample of Distance Learning Modules may be taken for CL/CLE credits:

Analysis of Brain Injury Claim

Animal Liability

Collapse

Commercial Roofing

Depositions for Insurance Professionals

Institutional Bad Faith and Written Discovery

Introduction to Negligence Concepts

Premises Liability (2 Sections)

Valued Policy Laws Explained

Water Back Ups and Overflows

Water Damage Exclusions

Note, PLRB and LIRB are currently developing additional modules for release this year.

18. Bulletins

Whenever there is a natural disaster that causes major property damage, we write a bulletin addressing the relevant related coverage issues, regulations, orders, statutes and case law. Examples include named Hurricanes that reach the United States. In addition, there are bulletins on wildfires and earthquakes that cause major property damage. To quickly access PLRB's current information in one place, go to Coverage Research and type Bulletin in the Subject field.

19. Lightning Probability Charts on Weather / Cats Page

Unlike other weather information searchable through the weather/cats page, the lightning information is forecast data (it shows the probability of two cloud to ground lighting strikes within a three hour period).

Due to a National Weather Service computer failure, there is a gap in the lightning probability data from November 15, 2006 through January 9, 2007.

20. Online Catastrophe Mapping.

The PLRB Online Catastrophe Mapping gives the user access to Catastrophe Services' geocoded data for severe weather and occurrences, much of the same data that is in our text-only database.

· To geocode an address for a search, the user enters the address in the "Find Location" box and clicks "Go."

· To find data for a specific date, or a range of dates, the user goes to the "Date Filter" and selects the "Date" or the "Range" and enters the appropriate information.

· Then the user can select which "Perils" are to be searched.

· The user may also select NEXRAD hail and wind radar displays or our geocoded Lightning Probability data for the address and date.

All the GIS data may be downloaded into your company's GIS software as well. After the search data has been displayed, the user may click on "Download" in the "Summary" box and all the data displayed on the screen will be available in an .exe file for your own application.

21. Can't Find the Info You Want? Ask PLRB

If you cannot locate the info you need in our database, on our home page www.plrb.org or www.lirb.org click on the yellow "Coverage Research" tab on the PLRB homepage, then click on "Ask PLRB" on the yellow bar across the top of the screen. You may then submit a coverage question to one of our coverage attorneys. Or you may click on "Ask A Coverage Question" on the right hand side of our Home page.

If you need to speak with a coverage attorney, call: (888) 711-7572 (for PLRB) or (888) 711-5472 (for LIRB).