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Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Reserve For Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses [Abstract]  
Reserve For Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses [Text Block]

7. Reserves for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) represent the estimated ultimate net cost of all reported and unreported losses incurred through each balance sheet date. The reserves for unpaid losses and LAE are estimated using individual case-basis valuations and statistical analyses. These reserves are revised periodically and are subject to the effects of trends in loss severity and frequency. Due to the inherent uncertainty in estimating unpaid losses and LAE, the actual ultimate amounts may differ from the recorded amounts. The estimates are periodically reviewed and adjusted as experience develops or new information becomes known. Such adjustments are included in current operations.

 

We recorded $1.6 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development during the three months ended June 30, 2012. We recorded $1.4 million of favorable prior years’ loss development during the six months ended June 30, 2012. For the year to date, our General Aviation business unit experienced $2.7 million of favorable prior years’ loss development related to our liability and aircraft lines of business. Our Standard Commercial business unit experienced $1.9 million of favorable prior years’ loss development primarily related to commercial property and auto liability partially offset by the late development of a general liability claim. Our Workers Compensation business unit experienced $0.9 million of favorable prior years’ loss development. These favorable developments were partially offset by unfavorable prior year loss development in our Personal Lines business unit and our E&S Commercial business unit for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Our Personal Lines business unit experienced $2.3 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development of which $1.6 million is the result of unfavorable development in auto liability claims spread throughout various states. The remaining unfavorable prior years’ loss development for our Personal Lines business unit was the result of $0.7 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development in our low value dwelling/homeowners line of business. For the year to date, our E&S Commercial business unit had $1.8 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development related primarily to commercial auto liability and physical damage.

 

We recorded $0.7 million and $15.8 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. For the first half of fiscal 2011, our Personal Lines business unit experienced $14.3 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development of which $9.5 million was attributable to Florida developing much worse than expected due primarily to rapid growth in the claim volume from Florida and the complexity related to Florida personal injury protection coverage claims. The remaining unfavorable prior years’ loss development for our Personal Lines business unit was primarily due to development of auto liability claims spread throughout our other states. For the first half of fiscal 2011, our E&S Commercial business unit had $3.1 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development related primarily to commercial auto liability and physical damage, while our Standard Commercial business unit experienced $0.5 million of unfavorable prior years’ loss development driven by a late developing umbrella claim and large loss developments in a commercial property claim and a commercial auto liability claim. These unfavorable developments were partially offset by $2.1 million of favorable prior years’ loss development in our General Aviation business unit related to our liability lines of business.