KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ
ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE
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Naming subscriber as additional insured /  how does the collection process work / webinar today
April 30, 2019
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Free Webinar - starts today.  Register now
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Topic: How to negotiate the guarantee and holdback in the APA 
When: April 30, 2019 
Time: 12 PM to 1 PM New York time 
Presented by: Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq 
Who should attend: owners thinking about buying or selling 
Sign up here:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/924497262641412354
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Topic: Negotiating terms in Dealer Agreement with your central station 
When: May 7, 2019
Time: 12 PM to 1 PM New York time 
Presented by: Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq 
Who should attend: dealers and central stations 
Sign up here:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1815847150023705858
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more on new fire regulations for 2019, are they open to interpretation from article on April 20, 2019
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Naming subscriber as additional insured
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Ken,
            I am just trying to get a hold of your recommendations and the reason so I don’t have to bug you anymore.  In a previous email you suggested it was OK to have the customer named as additional insured (in that case the General Contractor). 
            On the email of this morning, you suggest to not have the customer named as additional insured.  I hope to understand the difference.
Gary
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Response
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            There are a few simple rules to abide by:
1.  Do not name your subscriber as an additional insured unless the contract you sign requires you to add the subscriber as additional insured
2.  Add the subscriber as an additional insured if you have agreed to indemnify the subscriber, even if the contract is silent on additional insured requirement.
            If you use the Standard Form Agreements then your subscriber will be indemnifying you and adding you as an additional insured.  This is the normal situation in the alarm world.  By subscriber I mean whoever you are contracting with, so it can be with general contractor, subcontractor, owner or end user [you should always have contract with end user].  
            But we know that you are often required to modify the Standard Form Agreement or sign a vendor agreement, one presented by the GC, owner or end user, your subscriber.  If that agreement requires you to provide indemnity then you should add whoever you are indemnifying as an additional insured.  The reason for this is that are backing up your indemnity obligation with insurance protection.
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how does the collection process work
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    You have several options when you consider collections.
•           you can keep the process in-house, sending letters and making calls until you restore payments or lose the account
•           you can use a collection agency [don't use this option]
•           you can find an attorney to pursue your collections
•           you can engage Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum if you use our Standard Form Agreements
•           you can commence a lawsuit or exercise your option for arbitration
    In-house collection practices are fine as long as you don't alienate the subscriber to the point where the subscriber becomes emotionally entrenched with such animosity that paying you is the last item on the agenda and the subscriber would, rather than pay you, pay a lawyer or go bankrupt or disappear.  You are limited to calls, letters and terminating service, none of which are particularly effective unless the alarm system is mandatory.  However even turning off service may only cause the subscriber to seek other services from your competitors.
    Collection agencies are not a good choice.  The personnel are not well suited to retaining your subscriber's business [they get paid only on what they collect, not reinstatements].  Keep in mind that the sales person you spoke to and sold you on the collection agency service is not the fellow who will be making the harassing calls to your subscriber.  The collection agency will delay engaging counsel because that cost eats into its fees which now has to go mostly to the lawyers.  The lawyers are not "alarm experts' and you're not their client, the collection agency is.
    Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum probably processes more or as many cases as any law firm.  We will represent you if you use our updated Standard Form Agreements.  Why do we insist on that?  Two reasons:
    We are familiar with the terms of those agreements and know that the contract terms have strong collection provisions.
    We include an arbitration provision in our Standard Form Agreements and we have chosen an arbitration forum that is reasonable in price and efficient in processing the proceedings.  Generally we start the arbitration process within a few days of getting the assignment from you.  It starts with a Demand For Arbitration [residential subscribers have to get a 30 day demand letter first] and many cases settle quickly once the demand is made.  If not settled the subscriber has 15 days to respond and generally a hearing is scheduled within 30 days.  Most arbitration cases have a $125 filing fee.  Service of the Demand for Arbitration is by mail, so there is no costly process server charges.  Except for extraordinary large cases the arbitration is conducted by a signal arbitrator and the hearing can be by telephone, video or submission of the papers.  You won't have to take a day off work for the trial.  
    Are your chances better in arbitration or in court?  They are the same.  You'll likely win the cases you should, and lose the cases you should.  In arbitration the decision is final; no appeal is permitted, so at least you have finality and the process is quick.  
    Once you have an arbitration award that award needs to be "confirmed" in court, so you will have to commence a proceeding to confirm the award [unless you and the subscriber comply with the award without having to confirm it].  That court proceeding will be brought by Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum if you're in NY or NJ.  In other states you [or we] will have to find a local lawyer to confirm the award.  The proceeding to confirm the award will not require a trial or your involvement at all.  There are very few reasons a court will not confirm the award.  Once the award is confirmed it becomes a regular court judgment.  
    The arbitration provision serves another important purpose in the contract; it prevents the subscriber from commencing or joining a class action against you.  
    To find out more about Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum's collection department go here:  https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/collections#content
    To send us collection cases contact our head paralegal Kathleen Lampert at 516 747 6700 x 319 or email her at KLampert@Kirschenbaumesq.com
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CONCIERGE LAWYER SERVICE FOR THE ALARM INDUSTRY PROGRAM
You can check out the program and sign up here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/concierge or contact our Program Coordinator Stacy Spector, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 304.

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Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq
Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC
Attorneys at Law
200 Garden City Plaza
Garden City, NY 11530
516 747 6700 x 301
ken@kirschenbaumesq.com
www.KirschenbaumEsq.com