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M Malicious Mischief
Injury to the rights or property of another with a wicked or perverse intent.
Malpractice
A performance by a professional which is deficient in skill from what might ordinarily be expected of a professional person. The standard of performance to which a professional person will be held is necessarily higher than the standard which an unskilled person would be expected to display.
Market Value
The value of an asset based on a current market valuation, e.g., the amount for which the item could be sold on the open market.
Material Fact
Something affecting a contract of insurance important enough to change the agreement between the company and the policyholder. Material facts must be disclosed if asked about. Failure to do so may result in a voiding of the policy involved. Mercantile Risk
Hazard or peril of a merchant in selling his stock of goods.
Merchandise
Those goods which a commercial enterprise ordinarily sells to its customers.
Minor
A person under the age of being legally capable of transacting business on his own behalf.
Misrepresentation
An incorrect statement made about a material fact. Misrepresentation can be innocent, e.g., arising from an oversight; fraudulent (in other words, a deliberate untruth with intent to deceive) or the result of extreme carelessness where a statement is made without regard to whether it is true or false. When a misrepresentation is discovered, the insurer may either continue the contract or treat the contract as void with a full return of any premiums paid. In order for the insurer to successfully treat a policy as void, the misrepresented fact must be material to the risk.
Moral Hazard
Danger of loss arising from the nature of the insured rather than from the physical nature of the risk. This would encompass those instances where the chance of loss is increased by an insured's carelessness, incompetence, recklessness, indifference to loss or an insured's fraudulent nature. Mortgage Clause
A clause in an insurance policy which stipulates the rights and obligations of the insurer and the mortgagee. The main characteristics of this clause are that the mortgagee is granted protection in the event a loss is denied due to the actions of the insured (provided that the mortgagee was not aware of the insured's wrongful action) and, in return, the mortgagee accepts responsibility to advise the insurer of any misrepresentation or change in risk of which the mortgagee is aware.
Multiperil Policy
A policy which is a combination of fire and casualty (or fire, casualty and inland marine coverages) in a single contract such as the Homeowner's Policy.
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