“I received confirmation of my malpractice policy yesterday, and was pleasantly surprised to find discount coupons for use with OSBA-sponsored events and materials. I could figure that giving those coupons my annual liability premium is considerably less than six months’ auto insurance premiums and represents a statistically insignificant portion of my COBRA medical coverage.
I admit to having been about as enthusiastic about getting malpractice coverage as I am about getting root-canals. I was therefore surprised to find that your application process is simple and well designed and that your staff is professional, knowledgeable and genuinely pleasant: Thank you for an unexpectedly pleasant experience and thank you for making what could be a difficult process simple, reasonable and gracious.”
William K. Smith
I admit to having been about as enthusiastic about getting malpractice coverage as I am about getting root-canals. I was therefore surprised to find that your application process is simple and well designed and that your staff is professional, knowledgeable and genuinely pleasant: Thank you for an unexpectedly pleasant experience and thank you for making what could be a difficult process simple, reasonable and gracious.”
William K. Smith
ABOUT OBLIC
Mission And Basic Beliefs
At OBLIC, our mission is to protect lawyers and their clients. Our mission is founded on the following:
Value: OBLIC meets the needs of our policyholders by providing the right coverage with the right service at the right price.
Service: OBLIC’s personal, prompt service educates our clients while anticipating their needs.
Availability: Since 1979, OBLIC has been writing Lawyers Professional Liability Insurance and will continue to provide an unparalleled product in the future.
Integrity: OBLIC earns the trust of our policyholders and the legal community by honoring our commitments and providing unparalleled service backed by financial strength.
Partner with the Ohio State Bar Association: Through our alignment with the OSBA, OBLIC enhances the professional life of the legal community by supporting the OSBA and participating in their initiatives.
HISTORY
OBLIC was incorporated on December 5, 1978 and commenced operations on September 1, 1979. The company was formed in response to an ongoing insurance crisis among Ohio attorneys. Commercial carriers had been withdrawing from the lawyer’s professional liability (LPL) insurance market at the time, and prices for coverage were increasing rapidly.
Initially, OBLIC’s stock was sold to Ohio attorneys and law firms, although specific shares were issued only to the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA). In 1998, the shares were redeemed at a price much greater than the original purchase price. Today, the OSBA is the sole shareholder.
OBLIC owns its facility with their headquarters located at 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Columbus, Ohio, the companion to the OSBA headquarters building.
STRONG FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES
OBLIC’s record of profitable operations is impressive, having consistently surpassed industry standards while producing an underwriting profit in 9 of the last 10 years. In recognition of this steady performance and our financial stability, the A.M. Best Company has consistently assigned OBLIC a rating of A (“Excellent”).
CLAIMS SERVICE AND LOSS PREVENTION
OBLIC’s policyholders are extremely loyal and express high appreciation for the quality of our claims service. Claims are processed by long-tenured attorneys from start to finish. OBLIC has a history of offering loss control seminars in partnership with the Solo, Small Firms & General Practice Section of the OSBA. We also provide customers with malpractice alert newsletters and with other literature pertinent to loss control (such as free copies of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct).
PERSONNEL
Executive
Steve Couch, JD, President and CEO
Frederick Hunker, JD, CPCU, Vice President Claims
Jack Stith, JD, Chairman of the Board
Finance
Jeffery Pearson, Director of Finance
Christine Thrall, Accounting Technician
Claims
Gretchen Koehler Mote, Claims Counsel
Underwriting
Angela E Poe, Underwriter
Linda L Shaw, Underwriter
Rachel G Ritchie, New Business Underwriter
Carol Ross, Underwriting Support Staff
Information Technology
Antionette M Goff, Director of Information Technology
Administrative
Brandy M Barozzini, Administrative Assistant
At OBLIC, our mission is to protect lawyers and their clients. Our mission is founded on the following:
Value: OBLIC meets the needs of our policyholders by providing the right coverage with the right service at the right price.
Service: OBLIC’s personal, prompt service educates our clients while anticipating their needs.
Availability: Since 1979, OBLIC has been writing Lawyers Professional Liability Insurance and will continue to provide an unparalleled product in the future.
Integrity: OBLIC earns the trust of our policyholders and the legal community by honoring our commitments and providing unparalleled service backed by financial strength.
Partner with the Ohio State Bar Association: Through our alignment with the OSBA, OBLIC enhances the professional life of the legal community by supporting the OSBA and participating in their initiatives.
HISTORY
OBLIC was incorporated on December 5, 1978 and commenced operations on September 1, 1979. The company was formed in response to an ongoing insurance crisis among Ohio attorneys. Commercial carriers had been withdrawing from the lawyer’s professional liability (LPL) insurance market at the time, and prices for coverage were increasing rapidly.
Initially, OBLIC’s stock was sold to Ohio attorneys and law firms, although specific shares were issued only to the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA). In 1998, the shares were redeemed at a price much greater than the original purchase price. Today, the OSBA is the sole shareholder.
OBLIC owns its facility with their headquarters located at 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Columbus, Ohio, the companion to the OSBA headquarters building.
STRONG FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES
OBLIC’s record of profitable operations is impressive, having consistently surpassed industry standards while producing an underwriting profit in 9 of the last 10 years. In recognition of this steady performance and our financial stability, the A.M. Best Company has consistently assigned OBLIC a rating of A (“Excellent”).
CLAIMS SERVICE AND LOSS PREVENTION
OBLIC’s policyholders are extremely loyal and express high appreciation for the quality of our claims service. Claims are processed by long-tenured attorneys from start to finish. OBLIC has a history of offering loss control seminars in partnership with the Solo, Small Firms & General Practice Section of the OSBA. We also provide customers with malpractice alert newsletters and with other literature pertinent to loss control (such as free copies of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct).
PERSONNEL
Executive
Steve Couch, JD, President and CEO
Frederick Hunker, JD, CPCU, Vice President Claims
Jack Stith, JD, Chairman of the Board
Finance
Jeffery Pearson, Director of Finance
Christine Thrall, Accounting Technician
Claims
Gretchen Koehler Mote, Claims Counsel
Underwriting
Angela E Poe, Underwriter
Linda L Shaw, Underwriter
Rachel G Ritchie, New Business Underwriter
Carol Ross, Underwriting Support Staff
Information Technology
Antionette M Goff, Director of Information Technology
Administrative
Brandy M Barozzini, Administrative Assistant
