Imagine if our legislatures had truly knowledgeable insurance consumer advocates. Do you think the insurance industry would have tried to pass laws in Texas and Florida that allowed insurance rates to unfairly rise or allow immunity for wrongful conduct after a loss occurs like TWIA is attempting in Texas?

By electing Frank Artiles, a Florida public adjuster, for the Florida House of Representatives in South Florida, I don’t see those kinds of things happening. My law firm is dedicated to helping this become a reality, and we need your help.

On Thursday, August 13, we are co-hosting a fundraiser for Frank Artiles with Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz in our Coral Gables office from 6 pm to 7:30pm. Frank is a wonderful person and will make a devoted public servant. We need more bright individuals like Frank Artiles in our legislature who are willing to stand up for the average insurance consumer as Senator Mike Fasano does.

The Merlin Law Group is also presenting a continuing education seminar for public adjusters earlier the same day. At 4:00, I will make an hour-long presentation, Ethical Issues in Presenting Claims. I expect this class to be very interactive, as they usually are when a roomful of public adjusters come together to learn and share with fellow professionals. I have applied for 1 ethics credit for public adjusting continuing education for this class. The following topics are on the agenda:

Unauthorized/Unlicensed Practice of Law: How to recognize it and to ensure you do not do it

Unauthorized/Unlicensed Public Adjusting: The legal ramifications of contractors and others associated with the building trade who are not licensed public adjusters and who negotiate insurance recoveries with insurance adjusters

Code of Ethics: Discussion of the public adjuster’s ethical requirement to "put the duty for fair and honest treatment of the claimant above the adjusters own interests in every instance."

Public Adjusting Contracts: Discussion of waiting periods, signing proofs of loss, appearing for EUOs, excessive fees, and all questions you may have on these topics.

The seminar is in the Westin Colonnade Hotel immediately adjacent to our Coral Gables office. We will host a cocktail party/fundraiser thereafter in our Coral Gables office at 6.

Everybody is welcome to attend the fundraiser. All public adjusters along Florida’s east coast should make their way down that afternoon for education, political support, and fun.

You never know what can happen in life until you try. We need your help on this endeavor for Frank.

Public Adjusters can register for the Ethics Seminar by clicking here.