The big 5-0! In this special 50th episode of the Subrogation Support Network, Ashton Kirsch sits down with Carl Van, founder of the International Insurance Institute and one of the most sought-after claims trainers in the country. With 27 years of running workshops for carriers like State Farm, Allstate, and Progressive, Carl has spent more time listening to real claims calls than just about anyone alive — and what he's heard might surprise you.

They cover:

• The words and phrases adjusters use every day that quietly undermine their negotiations
• Why "I took a look at your file" and "I came up with a number" are costing you settlements
• The voicemail multiplier, and why letting calls go to voicemail is generating three to four times more work
• How to negotiate with attorneys without getting pushed around
• Why great customer service actually saves time instead of taking it

Plus — Carl makes the case that picking up the phone isn't just good manners, it's the single most underrated time management move in the industry.

Freight brokers have long escaped liability for cargo theft by pointing the finger at carriers — but the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Montgomery v. Caribe just changed the rules. In this episode, host Ashton Kirsch sits down with MWL's very own cargo subrogation attorney, Lance Jones, to break down what the ruling actually means, why framing your claim around motor vehicle safety is now everything, and how practitioners can pursue brokers in ways that simply weren't viable before. They also dig into the growing crisis of AI-assisted fraud, identity theft in the trucking industry, and what brokers need to do right now to protect themselves in a post-Montgomery world.

Before Pete Fowler was one of the country's leading construction defect experts, he was digging ditches to fund a rock and roll career. These days, he trades the stage for the witness stand, but the performance instincts are the same: stay composed, know your material, and never let a smart opponent rattle you.

In this episode, Ashton sits down with Pete Fowler, founder of Pete Fowler Construction Consultants, a national firm with expertise spanning construction defects, fire investigation, slip-and-fall, and everything in between. Pete brings decades of forensic consulting experience and a refreshingly no-nonsense take on what it actually takes to move a construction defect case from a pile of documents to a recoverable claim.

They cover:

• The "minimum viable product" approach to expert engagement and why it saves time and money
• What lawyers and adjusters are doing wrong when they hand files to experts
• The post-COVID construction defect surge and the specific claim types you should be watching

Plus, Pete shares why organized files are worth more than you think and what a cabinet falling on someone's foot has to do with the state of American construction.