Show Notes
Insurance vs Larry Silverstein and the World Trade Center Collapse on 9.11 What happens when a terrorist attack becomes a highly litigated claim? Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In my sixth episode, I take a deep dive into the legal wrangling around the property policy covering the World Trade Center. This is a wild ride! Links: 9/11 – An Occurrence That Changed The World - Insurance - United States (mondaq.com) Really outstanding summary of the various lawsuits and coverage issues surrounding whether or not the WTC attack was one occurrence or two. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/06/how-lawmakers-protected-and-failed-9-11-first-responders.html Larry Silverstein - Wikipedia Do yourself a favor and limit your searches for Larry Silverstein to this article. The amount of horrible antisemitic and conspiracy theory websites that come up with a google search of his name is not worth sorting through. Larry Silverstein Writes His Own WTC History – SURFACE (surfacemag.com) 15 Years After 9/11, Larry Silverstein Finally Recreated WTC || World Trade Center The Twin Towers Project: A Cautionary Tale: The building of the World Trade Center showed what happens when pols and bureaucrats, rather than the market, control redevelopment. | City Journal (city-journal.org) Definitely an opinion piece, but with some good history. World Trade Center - Development, 9/11 Attacks & Rebuilding - HISTORY Judge seals Willis E&O documents on WTC placement | Business Insurance Law Journal Articles (sorry, no links): Ten Years after 9/11: Property Insurance Lessons Learned, Scott G. Johnson, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal Spring Summer 2011, Vol 46, No 3 /4 pp 658-733: Outstanding overview of all the property issues and cases brought in court, including Business Interruption, Salvage, and Tenants in the WTC building. THE INSURANCE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11: MYRIAD CLAIMS, MULTIPLE LINES, ARGUMENTS OVER OCCURRENCE COUNTING, WAR RISK EXCLUSIONS, THE FUTURE OF TERRORISM COVERAGE, AND NEW ISSUES OF GOVERNMENT ROLE Jeffrey W. Stempel, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal Spring 2002, Vol. 37, No 3 pp 817-882: Overview of issues including War Exclusion, but as it was less than a year after 9.11, you have to read it knowing a lot of his assertions wouldn't hold true. As WTC trial proceeds, jurors demand clarification; Michael Ha National Underwriter Property and Casualty Risk and Benefits Management Vol 108, Issue 7: Michael Ha wrote a lot of articles on this trial. I haven't cited all of them here, but I used a lot of them in this research. Broker didn't inform insurers of form switch, Douglas McLeod, Business Insurance, Vol 38, no 9, March 2004: another reporter who wrote a lot of articles that I used. WTC Case shows importance of documenting negotiations, Akos Swierkiewicz, Business Insurance, June 21 2004 Articles that would require a subscription: WTC update: Silverstein shenanigans earn court ban but contempt motion dropped (insuranceinsider.com) Willis to hand over WTC E&O documents (insuranceinsider.com) This is soooo funny. World Trade Center Deal Remains in Doubt - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Books: Hire These People: My audio editor, and AMAZING Voice Over Actor—who did all the VO for this episode: Zach Stinnett Music Credits: Boulangerie by Jeremy Sherman, courtesy of NeoSounds: Boulangerie, LynneMusic | NeoSounds music library Contact Me: [email protected]
More from Insurance Vs History
Ever wondered how insurance intersects with slavery in America? My latest episode of Insurance vs History dives into the world of life insurance and American slavery. I'll reveal how life insurance on enslaved people helped historians and genealogists uncover stories that few textbooks ever mention. From lost documents to innovative legislation, we'll explore the surprising ways insurance records have brought new transparency to America's past.
Insurance Festivus: Real Grievances, 23 and Me Updates, and Tesla Turmoil Happy Festivus—it's time to air all our insurance grievances! Featuring real listener comments, updates on the 23andMe bankruptcy (cyber insurers, anyone?), and the wild world of Tesla Insurance, this is a great way to close out the year. Selected References: https://apnews.com/article/whistleblower-china-surveillance-tech-silicon-valley-adbd0bcfbb0892bfcb85948acb3f515f https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/tesla-insurance-unit-sued-over-alleged-auto-coverage-underpayments-2025-11-05/ Hire me to speak at your meeting! I can talk about the topic of your choice, or I can talk about the history of insurance and why insurance matters. Reach out for booking info or just to connect at [email protected] Help keep independent podcasts going by contributing to my production costs: See my page at Buy Me a Coffee: Insurance vs History is Exploring all the ways Insurance changed History...or failed to. Website: www.insurancevshistory.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredithbrasher Music Credits: Boulangerie by Jeremy Sherman, courtesy of NeoSounds: Boulangerie, LynneMusic | NeoSounds music library
Insurance CEO Pay: What's Fair, What's History, and What's Next? I started trying to answer one question: is Insurance CEO pay fair? and ended up with a massive project. In this episode, I dig into the history of executive pay, share eye-opening stats from AIG, and ask for your help with figuring out who gets paid what and how that's changed over time. Plus, submit your insurance grievance for inclusion in my holiday Festivus episode! Selected References: 1. https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2025/06/16/827459.htm 2. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/insurance-ceo-salary-how-much-do-executives-of-the-top-insurers-earn-467192.aspx 3. https://consumerfed.org/press_release/insurance-ceos-get-27-salary-and-bonus-bump-while-consumers-see-premium-hikes-and-non-renewals/ 4. https://www.businessinsurance.com/gallery/highest-paid-insurance-executives-2025/ 5. https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2025/8/neuehealths-mikan-tops-insurtech-ceo-pay-list-in-2024-92202141 6. https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2025/8/arch-capitals-papadopoulo-tops-pc-insurer-ceo-pay-list-in-2024-92167011
Is Your DNA Safe? Inside 23andMe's Bankruptcy and Insurance Challenges What happens when a company owns your DNA data—and then goes bankrupt? In this episode, I dive into the complicated story of 23andMe, exploring its insurance challenges, genetic data risks, privacy concerns, and the ongoing impact for consumers in today's health and insurance landscape. If you have data with 23andMe or any other consumer focused genetic data company, I strongly suggest you listen. Selected References: https://www.inc.com/magazine/201510/jeff-bercovici/the-dna-whisperer.html 23andMe, Antonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review, Volume 119, No. 4 https://www.fastcompany.com/3052283/how-ceo-anne-wojcicki-turned-23andme-around-after-falling-out-with-the- https://restructuring.ra.kroll.com/23andMe/ (Bankruptcy Documents) Hire me to speak at your meeting! I can talk about the topic of your choice, or I can talk about the history of insurance and why insurance matters. Reach out for booking info or just to connect at [email protected] Help keep independent podcasts going by contributing to my production costs: See my page at Buy Me a Coffee: Insurance vs History is Exploring all the ways Insurance changed History...or failed to. Music Credits: Boulangerie by Jeremy Sherman, courtesy of NeoSounds: Boulangerie, LynneMusic | NeoSounds music library Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredithbrasher
Tesla's Insurance Gamble: Why Cheaper Isn't Always Better (& What History Teaches Us) Why would Tesla get into the insurance business, and is it really a new idea? In this episode, I explore Tesla's foray into insurance, the bumps they've hit along the way, and why history shows automakers rarely succeed with insurance. Selected References: 1. https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2025/10/06/tesla-insurance-in-trouble-for-claims-mishandling/?kw=Tesla%20insurance%20in%20trouble%20for%20claims%20mishandling&utm_source=email&utm_medium=enl&utm_campaign=newsroomupdate&utm_content=20251006&utm_term=pc360&oly_enc_id&user_id=29a99e396b51ff1e37567d2fe2ef4b2d7540d4c206a60ee86a83e02abf0199f8 2. https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release064-2025.cfm 3. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/tesla-insurance/ 4. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/auto-motor/why-has-tesla-insurance-fallen-short-for-some-customers-471754.aspx 5. https://www.insurancethoughtleadership.com/six-things-commentary/why-tesla-insurance-will-flop Hire me to speak at your meeting! I can talk about the topic of your choice, or I can talk about the history of insurance and why insurance matters. Reach out for booking info or just to connect at [email protected] Help keep independent podcasts going by contributing to my production costs: See my page at Buy Me a Coffee: Insurance vs History is Exploring all the ways Insurance changed History...or failed to. Music Credits: Boulangerie by Jeremy Sherman, courtesy of NeoSounds: Boulangerie, LynneMusic | NeoSounds music library Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meredithbrasher