By Porter Wright on To our knowledge, this press release announces the first nano-specific liability insurance coverage available in the United States. Many nano-related businesses have been waiting a long time for a product like this. It will be interesting to see industry reaction. Lexington Insurance Company Introduces LexNanoShieldSM March 30, 2010 10:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time NEW YORK–(EON: … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on New Edition of Nanotechnology Law Report Inside you will find: EPA Considering New Approach to Nanoscale Materials Under TSCA EPA May Issue Mandatory Data Collection Rule for Nanoscale Materials Under TSCA EPA Takes Aim at Antimicrobial Products Under FIFRA EPA Unveils New Principles for Chemical Management Reform EPA Report on the Use of Nanoscale TiO2 … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on For anyone interested, I am presenting my recently approved Virginia CLE presentation "Insurance, Nanotechnology, and Risk" in mid-September to a national intellectual property law firm based here in D.C. The presentation covers issues related to the alleged environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risks accompanying certain nanoscale materials from the perspective of both the insured and insurer. … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on For anyone who might be interested, I will be speaking on nano-related insurance issues at the opening plenary of the National Nanotechnology Initiative’s upcoming Oct. 6 -7 conference and workshop on Nanomaterials and the Environment & Instrumentation. The draft agenda for the conference can be found here, and the plenary is also supposed to be broadcast … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Zurich North America recently published the June 2009 edition of its Industry Insight online magazine which focuses exclusively on nanotechnology issues. The magazine contains four informative articles which are well worth reading: "At the leading edge: Zurich’s thought leadership on nanotechnology;" "No small thing: The enormous potential of nano;" "The kings of small things: The regulatory … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Here is the Summer 2009 edition of Nanotechnology Law Report. The newsletter contains the below-listed articles (and more): EPA Issues Significant New Use Rules for Carbon Nanotubes Are Nanoparticles Released by Cutting or Compounding Nano-Composites? Annual Nano TiO2 Production Estimated at 44,000 Metric Tons Are Nano Consumer Products Headed Underground? Oversight of Next Generation Nanotechnology … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Chubb Insurance is hosting a one-day nanotechnology insurance conference on October 13, 2009 in North Branch, New Jersey: "Nanotechnology: What is the Best Safety and Risk Management Approach?" From the conference website: "This conference brings together prominent nanotechnology speakers who will review nanotechnology background, health and safety, and potential insurance and liability issues. Current risk … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The Nanotechnology Health and Safety Forum which is being sponsored by Battelle, Porter Wright, University of Washington, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and several others is taking place on June 8 – 9, 2009 at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, Washington. Keynote speakers include: Dr. Leroy Hood, Co-Founder of the Institute for Systems Biology; Dr. … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Battelle Memorial Institute, the University of Washington, and the University of Oregon are co-sponsoring the international Nanotechnology Health and Safety Forum (NHSF) in Seattle, Washington on June 8 – 9, 2009. The NHSF is coinciding with the first world-wide meeting of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) TC 229 — Nanotechnologies being held in the United States, … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Earlier today, Continental Western Insurance Group issued what appears to be one of the first nano-specific commercial insurance exclusions in the United States. Although Continental originally posted the exclusion and two supporting documents on its website, the materials were removed after BNA published an article about the exclusion this morning. We managed to print out … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Another insurance company has entered the nanotechnology risk debate. In addition to Lloyd’s and Swiss re, ACE Casualty Risk recently released both a white paper and podcast discussing nanotechnology issues.… Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on No, I’m not talking about the insurance policy that you may need for buying that big holiday gift. Rather, I’m talking about the conference that Lloyd’s of London has scheduled to discuss nanotechnology risks in the context of insurance.… Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on Nanotechnology Law Report’s own John Monica will be speaking on nanotechnology risks at HarrisMartin’s New Technology & Insurance Risk Conference, at the New York Marriott Financial Center Hotel, New York, NY, March, 1-2 2007. The conference covers many emerging risks facing the insurance industry, including nanotechnology risks. John will be speaking on the second day of … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on MEH: Having read the same article, I agree with John that a national fund, similar to that of the Superfund that is limping along under CERCLA, is premature, and perhaps even unnecessary. However, the idea of offering nanotechnology insurance, I think, has merit from an environmental protection standpoint. Environmental contamination insurance is now available when … Continue Reading
By Porter Wright on The insurance industry makes a great effort to research and identify potential liability trends. In a recent Orlando Sentinel article, a commercial insurance expert expressed concern that the explosive growth of nanotechnology could have unintended health consequences, and if it proves harmful, “lawsuits will fly.” Frank Coyne — CEO of Insurance Services Office Inc. — … Continue Reading