The George Volk Agency to offer First-of-its Kind Contract Litigation Insurance from Sonoma Risk

Sonoma Risk Expands Policy Coverage to One of the Finest - Independent Agents in New Jersey.

Enables More Businesses and Individuals to Better Manage Financial Risk in Litigation.

Milltown, NJ, July 12, 2011 – Sonoma Risk Insurance Agency and The George Volk Agency today announced the distribution of Contract Litigation Insurance (CLI) in New Jersey. Underwritten by Zurich. This policy helps to protect plaintiffs and defendants from having to pay their adversary's attorneys' fees should they lose their case.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of defendants lose their contract disputes at trial according to the Bureau of Justice.

"With 'Loser Pays' provisions becoming more prevalent in the U.S. legal system, litigants are thinking twice before bringing even strong cases to court. Legal fees are often more than the damages. With Defendant Contract Litigation Insurance (DCLI) and Plaintiff Contract Litigation Insurance (PCLI), companies and individuals can protect themselves from having to pay their adversary's legal fees and can decide whether or not to pursue a case based on its merits," said Kevin Martin, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sonoma Risk Insurance.

Contract Litigation Insurance (CLI) will offer a variety of benefits to businesses and individuals including:

• Sealing a gap in coverage while reducing financial risk exposure
• Enabling companies/individuals to pursue strong claims that otherwise may have been abandoned due to financial liability
• Allowing general counsels and business owners to budget litigation costs more effectively

"We're excited to offer this coverage from Sonoma Risk. It is consistent with one of our core values – providing the clients we serve with the ability to effectively manage their financial risk," says Chris Volk, Commercial Lines Mgr., The George Volk Agency.

The collaboration provides The George Volk Agency access to all of Sonoma Risk's legal insurance products, including its flagship product, Plaintiff Contract Litigation Insurance™ (PCLI), as well as the recently launched Defendant Contract Litigation Insurance™ (DCLI).

To provide the maximum amount of flexibility to businesses and individuals, any litigant in a breach-of-contract lawsuit may purchase or apply for a CLI policy. The most cost effective time for a plaintiff to apply for a CLI policy is within the first 60 days of the initial filing of the lawsuit. The most cost effective time for a defendant to apply for a CLI policy is within 60 days of service of the complaint.

After these optimal purchase periods have expired, an applicant may still apply for CLI coverage but the price to procure coverage may increase and the ability to place coverage may decrease.

Zurich, which has provided specialized insurance to commercial and professional markets through qualified program administrators in Zurich North America Commercial's Programs business for more than 50 years, is underwriting the Defendant Contract Litigation Insurance (DCLI) and Plaintiff Contract Litigation Insurance (PCLI) policies.

"When we first launched this program with Sonoma Risk, we said attorneys who share information about the benefits of this new program with their clients are exhibiting their continued desire to uphold the ethical and professional responsibilities that come with practicing law," said Damiano Servidio, head of Professional Services for Zurich's Programs business. "We are pleased that this message is resonating so quickly within the legal community and is helping us expand this new policy from where we first launched it in Los Angeles."

ABOUT SONOMA RISK INSURANCE AGENCY

Sonoma Risk is dedicated to providing innovative and affordable litigation insurance to individuals, businesses, and corporations. Its policies are underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, a leading global insurance carrier.

For more information go to www.sonomarisk.com.

ABOUT THE GEORGE VOLK AGENCY

Since 1981, The George Volk Agency has been providing insurance protection coupled with priceless guidance to individuals and businesses throughout NJ, NY & PA.

For more information go to www.volkinsurance.com.

ABOUT ZURICH

Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurance provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East as well as other markets. For more information about Zurich's business in North America, go to http://www.zurichna.com/zna/media/news-releases/archive/boilerplate.htm.

Underwritten by individual members companies of Zurich in North America, this PCLI policy is offered only in certain jurisdictions and can be purchased only on a surplus lines basis from a licensed surplus lines producer. The description here is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies and coverages described.

For more information about programs offered by Zurich, go to http://www.zurichna.com/programs.

© 2011 Sonoma Risk Insurance Agency.