Pictures can speak a thousand words. In a coverage decision finding for the policyholder, those photos may speak hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Continue Reading Pictures Explain Why There Is Coverage and State Farm Will Face Bad Faith at Trial
The Rigsby Sisters Whistleblower Case Against State Farm Comes to an End After 16 Years
State Farm issued the following simple press release regarding the Rigsby sisters’ whistleblower lawsuit against State Farm arising from Hurricane Katrina:
Continue Reading The Rigsby Sisters Whistleblower Case Against State Farm Comes to an End After 16 Years
Why Has State Farm Stopped Paying Appraisal Awards?
State Farm has a new claims process involving appraisal. The problem for many policyholders is that it is often resulting in payment for amounts less than the appraisal panel decided—sometimes, nothing is paid.
Continue Reading Why Has State Farm Stopped Paying Appraisal Awards?
Discrimination Concerns at State Farm
State Farm Insurance Company is 100 years old. It is the largest property and casualty insurance and largest automobile insurance provider in the United States. State Farm has a huge presence in the insurance marketplace. A recent New York Times article, Where State Farm Sees ‘a Lot of Fraud,’ Black Customers See Discrimination-The giant insurer is facing lawsuits from customers, agents and former employees accusing it of racial discrimination,1 caught my attention. The article stated in part:
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State Farm New Policy Filing In California Should Be Concerning To All In the Property Insurance Industry—An Example Is the New Appraisal Language
United Policyholders is the one organization that policyholders can count on to stand up and comment on what insurance companies are trying to push through departments of insurance. United Policyholders Sandy Watts and I will be presenting today about insurance gaps created in new language found in insurance policies. One policy form we will be talking about is the one State Farm is pushing for approval in the California Department of Insurance.
Continue Reading State Farm New Policy Filing In California Should Be Concerning To All In the Property Insurance Industry—An Example Is the New Appraisal Language
Are Virtual Adjustments Better? Join Tuesday at 2 With Chip Merlin for a Discussion About New Claims Handling Trends
A recent article addressing virtual adjustment of State Farm’s 34,000 broken pipe claims in Texas caught my attention. State Farm Adjusters Go Virtual as More Than 34,000 Claims Roll in for Texas Winter Storm, is worthy of consideration by all property claims adjusters.
Continue Reading Are Virtual Adjustments Better? Join Tuesday at 2 With Chip Merlin for a Discussion About New Claims Handling Trends
State Farm Arbitration of Insurance Claims—Christina Phillips Analyzes the Pros, Cons, and How to Go About State Farm Arbitration on Chip at 2 Today
Arbitration of insurance claims, whether a homeowners claim or a commercial property insurance claim, is a growing trend in the insurance claims world. Understanding what arbitration is, how to prepare a claim for arbitration, and what to watch out for in arbitration is crucial if a policyholder is going to receive a full recovery. Christina Phillips is a leader in the advocacy for policyholders and will be my guest today at 2 pm EST discussing State Farm arbitration do’s and don’ts.
Continue Reading State Farm Arbitration of Insurance Claims—Christina Phillips Analyzes the Pros, Cons, and How to Go About State Farm Arbitration on Chip at 2 Today
Hot Off the Insurance Law Coverage Press—DO NOT DEPRECIATE LABOR TO ARRIVE AT ACTUAL CASH VALUE!
Shane Smith wrote about a big policyholder win against Allstate in this weekend’s post, Another Court Ruling on Improper Depreciation of Labor. Today, the same Court of Appeals ruled the same way against State Farm.1
Continue Reading Hot Off the Insurance Law Coverage Press—DO NOT DEPRECIATE LABOR TO ARRIVE AT ACTUAL CASH VALUE!
Repairability of Damaged Portions of a Structure: Is Rot or Wear and Tear Always Excluded?
Property which simply wears out or is damaged by rot is never covered, right? That is what most insurance company adjusters and attorneys will say. Indeed, they will defiantly state something like: “This is a property insurance policy and not a maintenance contract.”
So, what happens if the damaged portion of the property cannot be repaired because the underlying property has pre-existing rot or is simply worn out?
Continue Reading Repairability of Damaged Portions of a Structure: Is Rot or Wear and Tear Always Excluded?
Federal District Court Weighs in on Whether Labor Can Be Depreciated in Arriving at an Actual Cash Value Loss Settlement
Whether labor can be depreciated in arriving at an actual cash value property loss settlement has been a hot topic of debate over these past five years. A federal district court in Ohio recently weighed in on the issue in ruling on motions to dismiss two putative class action lawsuits, one against State Farm Fire & Casualty Company1 and one against Allstate Indemnity Company.2
Continue Reading Federal District Court Weighs in on Whether Labor Can Be Depreciated in Arriving at an Actual Cash Value Loss Settlement