One of the most common policy endorsement requests is to add an additional insured to a commercial general liability (CGL) policy. Parties who add others as additional insureds are sharing their liability insurance with that other entity, and may have to pay an additional premium in order to do so. These endorsements generally promise to defend the additional insured in the event of a claim or suit.

Typically, the insured who controls the work or the property provides the primary insurance, adding the owner or landlord as an additional insured. For example, tenants add building owners as additional insureds; manufacturers add vendors; and subcontractors add contractors or owners.

One relationship that may not be as obvious is that of a facility owner that insists on being added as an additional insured on a temporary occupant's CGL policy. This doesn't seem unusual when a seasonal or holiday retail outlet sets up a kiosk or temporary sales site in a mall. But what about civic and social groups that use school or retail areas for fund raisers or meetings? In my community, a newly formed religious group holds services in the high school building. The Scouts, sports booster groups, and various self-health organizations meet in a variety of facilities, from malls to school district buildings and churches.