Castle Rock Insurance Agency. Business - Personal, Restaurant Insurance, Builders Risk, Auto, Home and coastal properties. Property & Casualty Insurance. NY, NJ & PA http://www.castlerockagency.com Thu, 23 May 2013 20:06:14 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.castlerockagency.com/images/M_images/castle_rock_insurance_agency.png http://www.castlerockagency.com Castle Rock Insurance Agency. Business - Personal, Restaurant Insurance, Builders Risk, Auto, Home and coastal properties. Property & Casualty Insurance. NY, NJ & PA http://www.castlerockagency.com/agency-news/client-care-news/ice-dams-and-roof-snow-removal.html An ice dam has the potential to cause serious damage to both your roof and the inside of your home. It is important to take the right steps to protect your home from the risks associated with heavy snow and ice. What is an Ice Dam? An ice dam can form when water from melting snow re-freezes at the edge of your roofline. Without roof snow removal, the ice dam may grow large enough to prevent water from draining off the roof. The water can then back up underneath the roof shingles and make its way inside your home. Agency News - Client Care News Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:05:31 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/agency-news/client-care-news/nyc-hurricane-sandy-rapid-repairs-program-via-michael-bloomberg.html MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES NYC RAPID REPAIRS PROGRAM (http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/rapid_repairs.html) TO QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY FIX HOMES DAMAGED BY SANDY Homeowners Who Enroll In Program Won't Have to Pay Upfront for Repairs Unprecedented Partnership with FEMA Will Get People Back into Homes Faster Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Director of Housing Recovery Operations Brad Gair today announced NYC Rapid Repairs, a new program to send teams of contractors and City inspectors into neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy and quickly and efficiently make necessary repairs to damaged homes. Through an unprecedented partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the City, we are bringing in contractors who will be given responsibility for specific geographic areas hard hit by Sandy. Agency News - Client Care News Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:00:00 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/agency-news/client-care-news/tropical-storm-sandy-claim-information.html Family, Friends, Clients, Neighbors, We wanted to send out an email to our family, friends, clients and neighbors to let you know our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected by Hurricane Sandy. This horrific, tragic & unprecedented storm has impacted countless numbers of people and businesses in communities in the Northeast and we sincerely hope that all of you and your families and friends are not only well, but also safe. We also hope you are able to begin a return to your daily routines. Castle Rock Agency Inc. is a member of the same communities you live in and we have also been affected by this horrific anomaly. We want to let you know that for the last week our power on our block and the surrounding blocks have been diverted to NYU hospital and our phone lines have also been down. We want to apologize for the clients that have been trying to get through and were unable. We want to let you know that for the last week we are working behind the scenes, monitoring emails and attempting... Agency News - Client Care News Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:41:00 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/agency-news/client-care-news/hurricane-sandy-update.html Good afternoon, We’re concerned about our customers who may be affected by Sandy. Please monitor local weather conditions and heed emergency warnings, especially if you’re told to evacuate. We also encourage you to track the storm’s progress on the National Hurricane Center’s website (http://click.amica.com/r/08K2I42/OFZS2/5EATK/N70UT/D43TB/2V/h), which features hurricane tracking maps, storm updates and advisories. If you suffer a loss as a result of this storm, you can file a claim anytime day or night: Online using Claim Form at www.castlerockagency.com (/) Please follow up on any claims you submitted via the web within 24 hours. Meanwhile, please stay safe. Sincerely, Castle Rock Agency Inc Helpful Links: National Hurricane Center www.hurricanes.gov (http://click.amica.com/r/08K2I42/OFZS2/5EATK/N70UT/M98V4/2V/h) American Red Cross www.redcross.org (http://click.amica.com/r/08K2I42/OFZS2/5EATK/N70UT/YH4YF/2V/h) Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov (http://click.amica.com/r/08K2I42/OFZS2/5EATK/N70UT/S325Q/2V/h) Agency News - Client Care News Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:18:00 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/insurance/baby-products-liability-insurance-requirements.html Retailers Increase Product Liability Insurance Requirements for Manufactures This week one of America's largest retailers of baby products and home goods released their new Product Liability Insurance requirements to be imposed on makers of clothing, toys, play items, furniture, car seat, strollers and food items. (Hint the name has lots of B's in it) These new product liability insurance requirements are startling. For small baby product manufacturers, getting ones foot in the door of a large retailer has enough obstacles; floating credit, fronting merchandise, meeting order requirement and of course insurance requirements. In most cases for manufacturers and distributors that have products made overseas, aside from material & production costs, insurance costs can rank at the top of the expense list. News - Insurance Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:09:43 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/insurance/insurance-defense-costs---what-is-covered.html Does Your Business Insurance Policy Cover Defense Costs Within the Insurance Limit or Defense Costs Outside of the Insurance Limit? Did you know that a liability policy, which is part of any typical business insurance policy or commercial insurance policy coverage, has two distinct obligations? A liability insurance policy, if it is a general liability, product liability or professional liability insurance policy is designed to protect you against your legal obligation to pay others because you have hurt them and/or have damaged their property. A policy also defends you against claims or lawsuits. In other words, besides paying for claims or suits, a liability policy also pays for their related legal costs and court fees. News - Insurance Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:28:42 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/insurance/insuring-an-internet-based-business.html Does Your Internet Based Business Have the Proper Business Insurance Many businesses are making increasing use of the Internet to promote their products & services. Due to this medium’s connection to savvy, technologically astute consumers, it is an ideal method for promoting and selling products. However, even as greater advantage is being taken of electronic transactions, it is important to keep a bit of old, yet still excellent advice - "Let the buyer beware." News - Insurance Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:31:21 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/insurance/irs-gives-employers-partial-amnesty-on-employees-misclassified-as-independent-contractors.html The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering a partial amnesty to employers who openly come forth about having misclassified employees as independent contractors, or "1099's" to avoid paying federal payroll taxes, the IRS announced this week. Why do Employers Classify workers as Independent Contractors vs Putting them on the Books as Employees? News - Insurance Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:39:49 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/agency-news/client-care-news/preparing-for-a-hurricane.html With Hurricane Irene quickly approaching the North East the following are some tips in preparing for a Hurricane. Preparing for a Hurricane Before a windstorm or hurricane hits your area, there are some important steps you should take to stay safe and help minimize damage to your property. Stock up on such necessities as food and bottled water, as well as a first aid kit, a portable radio, warm clothing, and clean blankets. Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries handy. Since open flames can be hazardous, avoid relying upon candles and kerosene lamps as potential light sources. Protect windows with boards or shutters. Look around your property and reduce the threat of flying debris. Move all outdoor items (patio furniture, garbage cans, garden tools) indoors. If possible, remove any tree limbs that may be too close to your home, or appear to be diseased or damaged. Check mobile home tie-downs. If you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture – or move it to a higher floor – to protect it from flooding. Agency News - Client Care News Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:30:30 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/insurance/new-york-city-process-server-bond---license---permit-bond.html New York City Process Server Bonds Now AvailableCastle Rock Insurance Agency is now offering the newly mandated New York City Process Server License Bonds required by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.The Process Server Bonds are Available in both required $10,000 for individuals and $100,000 for Process Server Companies.See below from the NYC.Gov Website (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/licenses/110.shtml) .The deliberate failure by some process servers to deliver the notification of a court filing followed by a false affidavit of successful delivery has been described “as a rising problem” in New York City and was outlined in our article “Fraudulent Service of Process Continues to Plague New York” published in October 2009. In response, the New York City Council has passed legislation with new, stringent regulations for service of process in their effort to directly protect consumers from improper delivery of court filing notifications, known as’ ‘Sewer Service’. The newly passed bill requires all process servers serving process in New York City adhere to the following: News - Insurance Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:31:30 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/agency-articles/new-york-state-construction-industry-fair-play-actnew-york-state-construction-industry-fair-play-act.html Effective Oct. 26, 2010, New York State will officially change the view of workers in construction trades, due to enactment of “The New York State Construction Industry Fair Play Act.” The law makes it very difficult to qualify construction workers as Independent Contractors or sub-contractors. Also, the new law makes it clear that someone cannot qualify as an independent contractor merely by maintaining a workers' compensation policy, as some may have assumed in the past. Presumption-of-employment established. This new law (S.5847-F) creates a strong legal presumption that construction workers are employees. This represents quite a paradigm shift in an industry where a large portion of workers traditionally have been treated as Independent Contractors. The “presumption” of employment can be overcome, so these workers can be classified as Independent Contractors—but only if they meet certain very specific criteria. To be treated as Independent Contractors, they must qualify as a separate business entity (see below), plus meet certain qualifications showing true separation from the general contractor that does the hiring, or sub-contracting. As an insurance broker at Castle Rock Agency (http://www.castlerockagency.com) we often... News - Agency Articles Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:09:11 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/agency-news/client-care-news/insuring-for-household-hazards.html Brett Lipton of Castle Rock Agency was cited in the August, 2010 Edition of The Cooperator The Co-op Condo Monthly regarding insurance coverage concerns for co-op condo buildings owners. Read the Entire Article Here (http://cooperator.com/articles/2125/1/Insuring-for-Household-Hazards/Page1.html) Agency News - Client Care News Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:28:42 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/day-cares-schools-churches-physical-abuse-sexual-molestation-insurance.html Reading this article may be the first step in protecting you and your business from the ruthless personal injury attorneys that lurk in the shadows of our society and make a living suing people.Yes, there are legitimate claims being brought to the doors of our courthouses, but many of them are frivolous and unwarranted. News - Agency Articles Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:33:25 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/agency-articles/renovation-contractors-may-face-fines-with-new-epa-regulations.html Effective 04-22-2010 New EPA Regulations may face renovation contractors with $37,000 a day fines.The New EPA Regulations apply to the following: Any contractor renovating any of the following buildings built before 1978HomesOfficesSchoolGovernmentEtc.Work now must be performed by a certified contractorFailure to comply results in $37,000 fine per day News - Agency Articles Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:39:55 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/agency-articles/media-liability-insurance-a-growing-issue-in-a-world-of-wire-and-print.html Media Liability Insurance Concerns Reach Beyond Authors Writers As insurance brokers Jon Lipton Brett Lipton of Castle Rock Insurance Agency NY often receive phone calls from individuals and organizations looking for general liability coverage. The variety of these organizations run the gamut, from your basic contractor to the adult model day care. But it is not this gamut they are concerned about, at least not for this article, it is the individual and/or organizations that calls seeking general liability insurance for a media related company and are unaware that they need a very specific and obscure coverage called media liability insurance, Authors Liability or Communication Liability Insurance. News - Agency Articles Tue, 30 Mar 2010 07:18:00 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/personal-lines/coop---condo-insurance-negligence-question.html When Negligence Is SuspectedQ. I am a shareholder in a co-op. Last year, my radiator sprang a leak, causing damage to my neighbor below. The board fixed the radiator, and I was not asked to pay for the repair. Now, however, I am being asked to pay for damages to my downstairs neighbor. Am I responsible? News - Personal Lines Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:30:57 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/news/insurance/new-york-cracks-down-on-general-contractors-liability-insurance.html New York City Building Department Issues Notice to General ContractorsIn a recent release the New York City Building Department has ceased accepting Insurance Certificates from General Contractors brandishing Certificates of General Liability Insurance for Artisan Insurance Policies. Reason being, these policies do not offer coverage the the General Contractors as General Contractors, these are very specifically, Contractor Policies, big difference. News - Insurance Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/newsflashes/agency-articles/jewelry-insurance-concerns.html Homeowner insurance carriers often have restrictions and capacity limitations for jewelry. Many carriers are not willing to write higher-value jewelry. It can be difficult to find a policy that adequately covers jewelry and also offers the client a competitive price. A stand-alone jewelry policy (personal articles floater—PAF) addresses the jewelry need without impacting the homeowners policy. Newsflashes - Agency Articles Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:33:29 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/agency-news/client-care-news/online-new-york-state-defensive-driving-course.html Online New York State Defensive Driving Course NYThe 6 Hour New York State Defensive Driving Course is now available Online.Online New York Defensive Driving Course (external/online-defensive-driving-course.html) Agency News - Client Care News Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:49:57 +0100 http://www.castlerockagency.com/newsflashes/newsflash/employee-or-independent-contractor.html Employee or Independent Contractor? Most employers in our industry, whether the management company or the homeowners association directly, believe that substantial costs can be saved by their associations utilizing independent contractors in lieu of employees. By hiring independent contractors the employer attempts to avoid costs related to: Salaries Benefits Payroll and unemployment taxes Labor law disputes Wage and hour claims Overtime Workers compensation coverage Responsibility for most worker negligence occurrences The employer also avoids having to supply office space, overhead, and equipment/supplies normally associated with an employer/employee relationship. Furthermore, if the employer becomes unhappy with the worker's performance, it can easily change to another independent contractor without having to experience the trauma associated with terminating an employee. Newsflashes - Newsflash Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:42:52 +0100