February 22, 2013 - Oregon State Bar

BOG Agenda Memo —Ira Zarov CEO PLF
February 7, 2013 Page 2
of time that, in an embarrassment of riches, it charged insureds a single dollar for a number of
ensuing years.)
All that said, although circumstances can change quickly, we are optimistic that if current trends
continue, the PLF will have a strong performance in 2013.
STAFFING
In the past two years, two experienced claims attorneys have retired. Happily, we have been
able to attract experienced and highly qualified candidates. Two new claims attorneys have
been added to our staff ‐ Holli Houston and Sharnel Mesirow. Ms. Houston previously worked
for a defense panel firm. Ms. Mesirow previously worked as a solo practitioner and most
recently as an associate at the Gevurtz Menashe firm. She was chosen from a pool of seventysix
applicants.
PLF – BOG Issues
Each year, the PLF brings to the BOG for approval proposed changes to the coverage plan. The
changes reflect new developments in the law as well as issues that arise during the course of
the previous year. In addition to changes in the coverage plan, there are often changes to the
PLF Policy Manual which the BOG must approve. Also, in the normal course of events, the PLF
Budget and Assessment is approved by the BOG in the last quarter of the year. The 2014
budget will most likely include some reorganization of several PLF departments because of
retirements and succession planning.
Another issue that will be brought to the BOG is the Special Underwriting Assessment (SUA).
SUA is a surcharge on amounts over $75,000 spent on a covered party’s claim. After intensive
study the PLF Board of Directors voted in 2012 to discontinue the SUA program at the end of
2013 for the reasons that SUA produced little income, potentially compromised the relationship
of the claims attorneys to covered parties, and was arguably not altogether fair. Proponents of
SUA believed that there should be a consequence for those who have malpractice claims
requiring PLF expenditures. The BOG must approve the change in policy.
At the end of 2012, issues were raised on the solo and small firm practitioner website about the
cost of the PLF installment plan. We are in the process of reviewing those issues in order to
determine the feasibility of implementing some of the suggestions. We will report to the BOG
on that review and, if appropriate, will bring policy changes consistent with the review to the
BOG.
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