Overview of the Program From Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc.
Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. offers a targeted General & Artisan Contractors Insurance program, placed on a non-admitted (E&S) basis, designed for agents who need professional lines and pollution solutions for construction-related risks. The program combines errors & omissions (E&O), professional liability, and contractor pollution liability, with capacity to place project-specific policies and provide retroactive coverage when appropriate. Coverage is available through a market placement with CNA via Schinnerer as the managing general underwriter.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program is a solid fit when you represent contractors with design or professional exposure in addition to traditional operations. Typical accounts include:
- General contractors and design-build firms seeking combined professional and pollution liability limits
- Artisan and specialty contractors requiring E&O or faulty workmanship protection
- Construction managers and at-risk CM services with professional exposure
- Projects that need standalone, project-specific professional/pollution policies
In general, the program targets small-to-mid-sized contractors and specialty trades. It is less suited for national or heavy civil contractors with large, complex environmental exposures or accounts with significant unresolved claims histories — discuss borderline submissions with underwriting early.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
- Combined offerings: E&O (new), professional liability, and contractor pollution liability tailored to construction exposures
- Limits available up to $10 million to match project or contractual requirements
- Retroactive coverage options for qualifying general contractors to help close prior acts gaps
- Faulty workmanship coverage available for specialty contractors where appropriate
- Project-specific policies for single project placement and scheduleable limits
- Placement on an E&S (non-admitted) basis gives underwriting flexibility for unique or hard-to-place risks
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
- Minimum premium guidance: E&O from $3,200; professional liability from $6,000; pollution from $1,000. These are starting points — final pricing varies by exposure, limits, and work history.
- Minimum self-insured retention: $5,000 for artisan contractors and $10,000 for general contractors. Higher SIRs may apply on larger accounts.
- Underwriting looks for clear scope of services, documented quality control, and reasonable claims history. Provide contracts, written scope of work, and loss runs with submissions.
Territories and Availability
This program is available on an E&S basis in the following states and territories: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, DC, WV, WI, WY. Because offerings are non-admitted, availability and policy forms may vary by state and by underwriting appetite.
Why Work With Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. on This Business
As a managing general underwriter with access to CNA capacity, Schinnerer brings construction professional lines expertise and flexible E&S placement options. The program is useful when clients need combined professional/pollution solutions, retroactive coverage, or project-specific placement that admitted markets may not provide. Schinnerer supports agent submissions with focused underwriting and the ability to tailor terms for contractor and design-build exposures.
Example Scenarios
- You have a regional general contractor who provides design-build services on municipal projects and needs combined professional liability and pollution coverage with retroactive coverage for prior design work.
- An artisan subcontractor (e.g., HVAC or electrical specialty) requires E&O protection and faulty workmanship extension for a single large commercial project — you can submit for a project-specific policy with limits up to $10M.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of contractor accounts are a good fit for this program?
Typical fits are small-to-mid-sized general contractors, design-build firms, construction managers with professional exposure, and artisan/specialty trades that need E&O, professional liability, or pollution coverage — including project-specific placements.
Are these policies admitted or non-admitted?
Policies under this program are written on an E&S (non-admitted) basis. That allows underwriting flexibility for construction professional and pollution risks but means state filing status will differ from admitted paper.
What are the minimum premiums and retention expectations?
Premiums typically start at the levels noted: E&O from about $3,200; professional liability from about $6,000; pollution from about $1,000. Minimum self-insured retentions are generally $5,000 for artisan contractors and $10,000 for general contractors. Final terms depend on exposure and underwriting.
Is retroactive coverage available?
Yes — retroactive coverage can be considered for qualifying general contractors. Provide prior acts information and loss history early in the submission to evaluate retro options.
Can you write project-specific policies?
Yes. The program supports project-specific professional and pollution policies when the project scope, contract, and exposures are clearly documented in the submission.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.