In January, state legislators introduced bills to increase and/or extend insurance coverage to policyholders facing declared disasters.… Continue Reading
The 2017 Atlantic Storm Season was one of the most active in over a decade with many communities receiving multiple blows in quick succession. This is not the first season where the same communities have been the target of more than one storm within the hurricane season.… Continue Reading
I hope each and every one of you are in the midst of a wonderful holiday season! I am writing this blog from a food court in Toronto, Canada. While I am on a vacation to see family, the weather is making me rethink my life choices. It is currently 19 degrees. This Floridian is … Continue Reading
Rene Sigman is co-chairing an important Hurricane Harvey seminar today discussing all the Hurricane Harvey issues. Yours truly is on a panel discussing how Hurricane Harvey differs from other hurricane litigation, but there is one similarity even worse. . .TWIA is again on the warpath against its own customers.… Continue Reading
Florida Senator Gary Farmer filed an Assignment of Benefits reform bill in the Florida Senate. As discussed in Unauthorized Practice of Public Adjusting Case Petitioned to Texas Supreme Court, and Two different approaches to the Assignment of Benefits Issue, I expect that some form of assignment of benefit reform will be passed in Florida this … Continue Reading
Friends, Here is the first bill regarding Assignment of Benefits for the 2018 Florida Legislative Session – Senate Bill 62. Keep in mind, this is only a filed bill in the Senate. There have been no votes or meetings on this bill.… Continue Reading
There are many rumors going around about House Bill 1774, better known as “The Hail Bill” or “The Blue Tarp Bill,” which will go into effect on September 1, 2017. It is important to debunk those rumors and explain exactly what the bill means to Texas policyholders and their rights in this state.… Continue Reading
Assignment of Benefits (“AOBs”) has been an issue in the property insurance realm for several years. In fact, the Florida Legislature made a hard push to address the issue during the 2017 Session but was unable to do so. The two main AOB bills that gained traction last Session dealt with the issue in slightly … Continue Reading
First, sorry it has been so long since my last post! It was a blast seeing a lot of you during the FAPIA conference in Duck Key. The fishing, comradery, and education were all amazing. (Unless you were in my fishing boat…and if you were I apologize). During the FAPIA conference I was honored to … Continue Reading
Florida law is significantly more specific about who may work on, aid in, or prepare a claim for a policyholder. Many insurance restoration contractors, all insurance consultants, and all those non-licensed third parties who help contractors, policyholders and public adjusters with insurance claims should get ready for a new way of doing business when a … Continue Reading
On May 7 and May 25, 2017, I wrote about Texas House Bill 1774/Senate Bill 10 that adds significant hurdles to policyholders who want to dispute weather-related property damage claims. On May 26, 2017, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law and it will now go into effect on September 1, 2017.… Continue Reading
Most states follow the “American Rule” when it comes to litigation. In other words, absent a specific statute or contractual provision to the contrary, each party pays their own legal costs and fees. However, the Oklahoma legislature passed, and on May 10, 2017, the governor signed into law, a bill which, in essence, abolished the … Continue Reading
On May 7, 2017, I posted Texas House of Representatives Passes House Bill 1774, noting that the potential law could have a negative impact on Texas policyholders and their representatives, and promising you an update. Last week, the Texas Senate passed the latest version of the bill, and it is now before the Governor for … Continue Reading
Introduced on February 13, 2017, Texas House Bill 1774/Senate Bill 10, has been proposed by its sponsors as a way to curb hail storm lawsuit abuse. However, if signed into law, the bill could have a negative impact on Texas policyholders who have suffered any type of property damage relating to a natural disaster, hail … Continue Reading
I sent the following open and public letter yesterday regarding Texas roof claims in response to Texas legislation which encourages insurance companies to pay less than what is owed, less than what roofing manufacturers require to be done, and encourages unsafe conditions which literally kill people:… Continue Reading
Merlin Law Group has recently entered into a custom service with our online legal research vendor to provide updates on proposed property insurance legislation, regulations, and insurance commissioner bulletins. The reason is we have done this is because of the increased number of proposed bills and changes in administrative law from the departments of insurance. … Continue Reading
Merlin Law Group Attorney and State Representative at Florida House Of Representatives, Sean Shaw, will be LIVE today at 11am EST talking about this year’s legislative session in Tallahassee. Here’s your chance to ask questions before the session. You don’t want to miss it! Go to https://www.facebook.com/seanmichaelshaw @ 11am EST 3/2/17 to tune in.… Continue Reading
Frustration is starting to set in for many policyholders with Hurricane Matthew claims. Here are few tips for those who are concerned that they are not being properly indemnified.… Continue Reading
Both the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) and the American Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (AAPIA) support Maryland’s House Bill 136. For the past six months drafting has been going on to come up with a bill that Gene Veno says will act as a consumer property protection bill.… Continue Reading
The 2017 Florida Legislative Session does not start until March 7th but committee weeks have begun in both Chambers. As a member of the Florida House of Representatives, I have been assigned to the following committees: Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee Commerce Committee Energy & Utilities Subcommittee Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee Insurance & … Continue Reading
I want to thank everyone who helped us achieve a hard fought victory in my August 30th primary for the Florida House of Representatives. My law firm colleagues have been with me every step of this journey. They never wavered in their support and were there to offer whatever assistance I needed on my cases. … Continue Reading
Last Tuesday night, I held my head in my hands almost crying after Sean Shaw confirmed he won election to Florida’s House of Representatives by a little more than a hundred votes. I could see the relief in Sean’s eyes as well. Waiting for a jury verdict and results from an election have certain similar … Continue Reading
For those of us that practice in the area of property damage in Colorado, June 6, 2012, is a day with much notoriety. A large wind and hail storm passed through the state, causing extraordinary damage. Even though it was classified as a catastrophic event, many insurers still challenged damages, so I represented a high … Continue Reading
