Taking a break from the 20-year-old reports in front of him, former homicide detective Louis Scarcella looks outs from the witness box in a Brooklyn courtroom. A row of indignant men wearing hats with the words “Wrongfully Convicted” printed on them look back at him. These men, who are now exonerated, are the same ones he helped arrest and imprison decades ago for crimes they did not commit. As it were, the men were framed.
As Mr. Scarcella testifies at the wrongful conviction hearing, one of the victims of the failure of justice, Derrick Hamilton, can’t help but voice his sentiments. It really bothers him, Mr. Hamilton says, that Scarcella hasn’t been arrested, while he and many other wrongfully convicted men are forever labeled as criminals.
Situations like this and other forms of professional liabilities are not limited to the forensic industry, though.
No matter what business you put up or what industry you specialize in, there will always be risks that stand in the way of your path to success. These risks include honest mistakes that can damage your reputation or ruin your livelihood. But such risks also include accusations of making an error and compromising your clients.
Despite the potential negative feedback and other fallout, though, you still need to take risks for your business to stabilize and flourish.
Protect the business from negative outcomes and costly legal action through errors and omissions insurance (E&O), otherwise known as professional liability insurance.