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After a mine subsidence forced the evacuation of homes in Dunmore Borough, PA, lawmakers invited Maurice Gardner, a subsidence investigator with the state Department of Environmental Protection, to their monthly work session. The property insurance expert answered questions from residents about Pennsylvania’s subsidence insurance program.

Mr. Gardner spoke about the details of the program, which is offered for both residential and commercial properties. In a place like Dunmore, where nearly the entire town sits atop coal mines, the insurance is “definitely worth having,” he said. Regular homeowner’s insurance typically does not cover subsidences. The DEP program is a nonprofit fund established in the early 1960s. Mr. Gardner also talked about what to expect from a subsidence. It usually happens quickly, causing a foundation to crack or shift. The deeper the mine, the wider the surface area affected, he said.

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news.

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AMI Insurance was a time-bomb waiting to explode, exposing how woefully ill-prepared New Zealand’s second biggest residential insurance company is to cope with a worst case catastrophe, an insurance expert says.

The Government was forced to bail out AMI with a $500 million financial guarantee after the insurer said it was at risk of not being able to pay out on all claims relating to the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch. Massey University senior insurance lecturer Michael Naylor says apart from AMI’s difficulties, New Zealand’s largely Australian-owned insurance companies are sound with strong A grade credit ratings.

Read more: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries.

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Hospital administration expert witnesses may write reports and opine on hospital regulations, physician credentialing, hospital bylaws, and related topics. In How to Work as a Hospital Administration Expert, eHow.com writes:

Hospital administrators are executive-level staffs who oversee all areas of hospital management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook, the median salary for a medical and health services managers is $73,340 per year.

Get a degree in a field related to hospital administration. Although you may work as a hospital administrator with a bachelor’s degree, most hospital administration experts have a master’s degree or doctorate in healthcare management or related field.

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In Understanding healthcare plan costs and complexities, medical insurance expert witness Robert H. Dobson writes:

Abstract The many available choices in the U.S. commercial insurance market, combined with the unique complexities of the current healthcare market, create a complex cause-and-effect matrix that is reflected in a range of different health plan costs. This paper examines five types of plan design and the costs associated with them, and includes an analysis of the many variables at work. The paper also cautions that actuarial considerations must be used in the proper context if they are to support an effective healthcare reform effort.

Read more: insight.milliman.com.

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Entertainment expert witnesses may testify on motion picture distribution, media piracy, royalties, and related topics. In Protecting Creativity, Expanding Consumer Choice, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. writes:

More than 2.4 million American jobs rely upon a healthy film and television industry in the United States. We are committed to safeguarding these jobs by protecting intellectual property and delivering innovative choices to consumers. To be successful, we seek to constructively engage with diverse stakeholders. This includes:

* Partnering with the technology and communications communities to reduce copyright theft and expand the diversity of legitimate choices available to consumers, so they can enjoy the genuine product – authentic copies of movies & TV shows – at a fair price and in flexible and hassle-free ways.

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Underground storage tank expert witnesses may opine on underground storage containers, storage facilities containers, and underground storage facilities. In Field Guide to Underground Storage Tanks, The National Association of Realtors writes:

An underground storage tank system is a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground. [Federal U.S. underground storage tank] regulations apply to only underground tanks and piping storing either petroleum or certain hazardous substances.” (Basic Information About the Underground Storage Tank Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nov. 17, 2009).

Why are underground storage tanks regulated by the U.S. government? As with any liquid-containing vessel, USTs have the ability to degrade and wear over time, in turn causing leaks. These leaks can pose substantial public health and safety risks, ranging from contaminating the groundwater that many Americans rely on for drinking water, to potential fire or explosion risk, (Overview of the Federal UST Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 2, 2010)

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Leasing expert witnesses may testify on commercial leasing, lease purchases, rental agreements, and related topics. In the Monthly Lease & Financing Index, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association shows new business up 24% from 2010.

ELFA reports that economic activity for the equipment finance sector shows overall new business volume for January was $4.2 billion, up 24% compared to same period in 2010. Receivables over 30 days increased slightly to 2.8% in January from 2.7% in December, but declined by 35% compared to same period in 2010. Charge-offs declined significantly, falling to 1.0% from 1.4% in December, and also showed improvement over same period in 2010.

The latest Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, including methodology and participants is available at http://www.elfaonline.org/ind/research/MLFI/

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Genetics expert witnesses may write reports and opine on genetic diagnosis, prenatal testing, medical genetics, and related topics.

Genetics is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms which deals with the molecular structure and function of genes. In simpler words the genetics is the study of traits one inherit from there parents in form of genes. Genes plays an important role in determining some ones appearance and behavior of organisms, it is the combination of genetics with what an organism experiences that determines the ultimate outcome. Also the parents can also transfer diseases and disorder to their children. Also sometimes the abnormalities in genes can cause genetic disorder.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com.

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Medical insurance expert witness Mr. L. Lamar Blount, CPA, FHFMA, CFF, offers links to Medicare & Medicaid resources from his website Health Law Network. They include:

Health Insurance Reform
* COBRA Continuation of Coverage * Health Insurance Reform for Consumers * Health Insurance Reform for Employers * Self-Funded Nonfederal Governmental Plans

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Entertainment expert witnesses may testify on motion picture distribution, media piracy, royalties, and related topics. In Protecting Creativity, Expanding Consumer Choice, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. writes:

From the visual arts to the software industry, more and more people around the globe make their living based on the power of their creative ideas and those of others. This means we all have a global stake in protecting intellectual property rights and recognizing that these safeguards are a cornerstone of a healthy global information economy. That’s no different from the importance of protecting any other property rights such as those in manufactured products, homes and public buildings and the people and industries that contribute to those parts of our economic strength and well-being.

Read more: mpaa.com.