Emily Marlowe

Emily Marlow handles litigation of disaster claims of all varieties on behalf of damaged individuals and businesses for Merlin Law Group, P.A. Read More...

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National Flood Conference – An Insider’s Perspective, Days 2 & 3

By Emily Marlowe on June 7, 2019 Posted in Insurance

If you’ve read my recap from Day 1 of the National Flood Conference, you’ll know that there was a lot to discuss from Day 1. Days 2 & 3 were a bit less eventful, and largely more geared towards flood insurance agents and lenders. As with Day 1, there were often several courses running concurrently, … Continue Reading

National Flood Conference – An Insider’s Perspective of Day 1

By Emily Marlowe on June 5, 2019 Posted in Insurance

This year I’ve been privileged with the opportunity to attend the 2019 National Flood Conference in Washington D.C. The National Flood Conference is a three-day annual event for flood insurance industry professionals, and various other professionals whose industries overlap in some way with flood insurance (think mortgage lenders, insurance agents, mold remediators, attorneys, etc.). Over … Continue Reading

Texas Hail Claims – Know Your Rights Under Chapter 541 of the Texas Insurance Code

By Emily Marlowe on May 21, 2019 Posted in Bad Faith

If your home was burglarized, would you sit back and do nothing? No. You would likely call the police or law enforcement to report the burglary, and hope they find your stolen property. If the police arrested the person who stole your property, would you let that person off without punishment, accountability, and repayment for … Continue Reading

Update on Houston Flood Litigation Against US Army Corps of Engineers

By Emily Marlowe on January 18, 2019 Posted in Insurance

Houston was under water during Hurricane Harvey. Many people whose properties were not flooded from the Hurricane itself, and had never previously flooded, found themselves waist deep in flood water – their homes, businesses, and personal property forever ruined.… Continue Reading

Flood Insurance for Commercial Properties

By Emily Marlowe on December 20, 2018 Posted in Commercial Insurance Claims

After every major flood event, I am contacted by at least one business owner and/or condominium owner who suffered flood damage, filed their claim with their NFIP1 Flood Insurance Company (Allstate, Hartford, Wright Flood, Farmers, FEMA, etc.), and was then told by either the flood insurance company or adjuster that the flood insurance policy did … Continue Reading

Fact or Fiction – Attorney Fees in NFIP Flood Cases

By Emily Marlowe on November 21, 2018 Posted in Insurance

It is an unfortunate reality that flood victims generally have very limited recourse against their flood insurance company – particularly if their insurance company is a Write Your Own (“WYO”) Company operating under the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”).… Continue Reading

The Texas Department of Insurance Deserves to Know Your Complaints About an Insurance Company or Adjuster

By Emily Marlowe on September 25, 2018 Posted in Consumer Protection

If you are unhappy or have a complaint with how you were treated by your insurance company or adjuster it’s important to let the Texas Department of Insurance know. Many people do not realize that they can file an official complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance (“TDI”) for various bad acts or mistreatment by … Continue Reading

Update on Flood Cases Against the US Army Corps of Engineers

By Emily Marlowe on August 16, 2018 Posted in Insurance

2017 wasn’t the best year for Houston Texas. Due to the unprecedented rain fall that occurred during Hurricane Harvey, the Barker Reservoir and the Addicks Reservoir—both located off of Highway 6 in Houston—quickly filled to their maximum capacity. In an effort to protect the greater Houston area from experiencing even worse flood inundation, the US … Continue Reading

Hurricane Harvey Critical Flood Deadline in One Month – Texans Have Not Been Made Aware!

By Emily Marlowe on July 26, 2018 Posted in Insurance

Many Texans will lose their right to additional flood insurance money that they’re entitled to – this situation is urgent. The most important deadline for Texans with Hurricane Harvey flood damage is quickly approaching – it’s only one month away on the anniversary of Harvey – and Texans largely have no clue.… Continue Reading

Merlin Law Group Asks FEMA to Extend the Proof of Loss Deadline for Victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria

By Emily Marlowe on June 22, 2018 Posted in Insurance Claim

As advocates for victims whose lives have been turned upside down as a result of the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Maria, we know that one year may not be enough time for flood victims to obtain the estimates and documents necessary to submit their required proof of loss form … Continue Reading

Texas Insurance Appraisal: Who is Grading Insurance Company Papers and the Policies They Sell?

By Emily Marlowe on June 19, 2018 Posted in Insurance, Texas Insurers

It is no secret that there are problems with the appraisal process. The ever-growing issues with appraisal include, but certainly are not limited to, exorbitant expenses pushed onto policyholders and insurance companies, gamesmanship, and the never-ending questions of: When is appraisal appropriate What can be addressed and assessed within appraisal, and Whether a policyholder’s claims … Continue Reading

Are TWIA Appraisals Ever Fair or Impartial?

By Emily Marlowe on May 17, 2018 Posted in Insurance

TWIA (short for Texas Windstorm Insurance Association), frequently referred to as the Texas windstorm insurance carrier of last resort, just can’t seem to get this insurance claims handling thing right. A conclusion quite alarming considering that insurance claims handling is one of the primary functions of its business. At this point many are left wondering … Continue Reading

The Status of Appraisal in Texas Insurance Policies & Claims

By Emily Marlowe on April 24, 2018 Posted in Insurance

The majority of insurance policyholders do not realize that their property insurance policy may contain an appraisal provision. Insurance companies attempt to use appraisal provisions to impose unnecessary burdens on insureds and to eliminate the insureds potential to file a lawsuit against the insurance company and its adjusters for violations of the Texas Insurance Code, … Continue Reading

The Mortgage Company Refuses to Release Your Insurance Claim Payment – Your Rights and Steps to Take

By Emily Marlowe on April 19, 2018 Posted in Insurance

I recently met with a couple whose house was partially blown away in a tornado a year ago. I’ll call them Mr. and Mrs. Garcia. Mr. and Mrs. Garcia did everything they were supposed to – they promptly filed the tornado claim with their insurance company, they took photos of the damages, hired a public … Continue Reading

Insurance Fraud – It’s a Widespread Industry Problem

By Emily Marlowe on February 20, 2018 Posted in Insurance

Fraud is generally defined as an act done with the intent to deceive or misrepresent others in order to attain or secure some unlawful gain or deprive a victim of a legal right. Different courts, states, and bodies of law throughout our country have their own unique causes of action based in fraud, or where … Continue Reading

Challenging the Insurance Adjuster’s Claim Assessment or Report

By Emily Marlowe on January 20, 2018 Posted in Insurance

It is no secret that insurance policies are confusing: they are long – often 40 or more pages – and contain vague language that can be unclear and difficult to understand, even for the most educated people. After large scale natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, insurance companies and their adjusters frequently rely on vague and … Continue Reading

Proof of Loss – What Is It, and Why Is It Important?

By Emily Marlowe on December 23, 2017 Posted in Insurance

Over the past several months the United States has experienced significant and unprecedented disaster events: Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, California Wild Fires, and more.… Continue Reading

When to Contact an Attorney on Your Flood Insurance Claim

By Emily Marlowe on November 27, 2017 Posted in Insurance

A strange noise echoing throughout your home wakes you from a deep slumber in the middle of the night. You’ve lived in your home for years but never heard this loud sound before. You sit up, step out of bed, and immediately you’re knee deep in luke-warm water. You shout to jostle your family awake. … Continue Reading