Chomp, Chomp! Insurance Policies are designed to cover sudden and accidental loss and damage. Mary Wischusen, 77, believed that she had a suffered a sudden and accidental act of nature and that coverage would be afforded when a gator came crashing into her kitchen. This 11-foot alligator was not her domestic pet or a planned … Continue Reading
Chip Merlin posted about the Wear and Tear Exclusion just last month in Wear and Tear Exclusions Versus Depreciation For Resulting Damage To Worn and Torn Older Parts of a Structure. Explaining about wear and tear, Chip gave this example: The judge made up his own example of ten old bolts giving way and then … Continue Reading
North Carolina was battered by Hurricane Florence last year and reports show very concerning issues of claims handling and low claim payments after the storm. Perhaps Hurricane Michael losses pulled adjusters out of North Carolina and for some insureds caused additional delays to their claims. North Carolina does have an option where you can advise … Continue Reading
Congress must periodically renew the NFIP’s statutory authority to operate. On Dec. 21, 2018, the President signed legislation passed by Congress that extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) authorization to May 31, 2019.… Continue Reading
The Georgia Office of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner has a simple online process for filing your complaint. How the office responds to this Complaint may not be satisfying but it is important that a record is made of the insurance claims that are not properly handled.… Continue Reading
In the wake of Hurricane Michael, some policyholders are starting to see a response from their insurance companies for their home and business losses. The extent and the magnitude of the damages that Hurricane Michael caused has been captured by some media outlets but down played by others. Many of those dealing directly with the … Continue Reading
After a disaster, United Policyholders is always a good resource to review for policyholders and family members of those with a home or business affected by the hurricane. This non-profit organization has many programs and services that may guide you in the aftermath of a storm when stress levels are high, and you have many … Continue Reading
North Carolina received another “F” from R Streets Institute’s 2018 Insurance Regulation Report Card. North Carolina finished 49th, with only Delaware getting a lower score. Louisiana and Massachusetts also received an “F”.… Continue Reading
At this point, it seems that Hurricane Florence will strike and cause damage to buildings and homes beginning on Thursday, September 13, 2018. While hurricanes seem to always have an ingredient of unpredictability, the experts at the National Hurricane Center are warning of extreme winds, intense rain and storm surge.… Continue Reading
The Carolinas are bracing for the impacts of Hurricane Florence – currently a Category 4 hurricane at time of publication. Unlike many storms when the hurricane track is hotly debated, and landfall is anyone’s guess, the tracking models seem to be in agreement: … Continue Reading
Frequent readers of our blog know that property insurance losses center on the insurance policy. The Policy provisions are the most fundamental and are always important in a breach of contract case. Despite the importance of the policy, you would think that insurance company adjusters, independent adjusters, and the representatives working on insurance claims would … Continue Reading
Merlin Law Group has often questioned the representatives and adjusters of People’s Trust Insurance Company (“PTIC”) during depositions about what has transpired in our client’s insurance claims for damages, but it would be very interesting to see the processing of my client’s claims before Merlin Law Group was hired and understand what goes on behind … Continue Reading
At least one Michigan court has ruled that even when the execute general adjuster calls a building’s damage a collapse and labels it as a “cave in,” the denial will stand where the policy language supports an exclusion.1 This case arises out damages that occurred to a large commercial shop that repairs commercial trucks. There … Continue Reading
Last week, Jason Cieri and I presented our second CLE course on Broadway in New York City: Frequently Debated First-Party Property Insurance Issues.… Continue Reading
When you read about the small Village of Indian Hill, Ohio, you can’t help but think of it as a safe rural town in an out of the way location with rolling hills- something like a place out of a storybook. The community gathers together and celebrates holidays and news in the town revolves around … Continue Reading
Last week, Richard Tutwiler of Tutwiler and Associates, Matthew Garnett of Vernis and Bowling, Heather Filegar of Southern Healthy Homes, and I presented at the 2018 Windstorm Insurance Conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Rick Tutwiler who will be the President of the Windstorm Insurance Network in 2020, wanted to expand the course offering … Continue Reading
There is a great holiday commercial that is making the rounds again and it shows a man who wakes up and he is covered in wrapping paper. In fact, as it goes on you see everything in his life in wrapping paper: his kids, wife, car, and all of the blessing he has in his … Continue Reading
A few days ago, I sent my video about Florida Consumer Complaints to an adjuster with a client who could not find the Florida Department of Financial Services Consumer Complaint information.… Continue Reading
Now is time to register for the National Association of Public Insurance Adjuster Mid-Year Meeting being held in New Orleans from November 30 – December 2, 2017.… Continue Reading
On Friday, I took a deposition from our Tampa office via video conference questioning an adjuster in Charlotte. At about 1:45 pm, Erin Dunnovant rushed in our boardroom to tell me the office building and our entire area was being evacuated. I had to suspend the deposition and grab my computer. Opposing counsel said they … Continue Reading
When disaster strikes, stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed and unfamiliar with the process can make your property damage claim a lot worse.… Continue Reading
When it comes to business interruption and extra expense coverage, many think of this insurance as a safety net, but how tangled that net becomes after a loss can impact your bottom line and viability.… Continue Reading
An April 2017 report by United Policyholders reveals the state rankings of homeowner insurance protections that impact buying insurance. The research revealed that many major insurance companies and many states withhold coverage and policy provisions from consumers during the purchase. These same companies and states also withhold payment information.… Continue Reading
Now is the time to make plans and register to attend the Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters’ 2017 Spring Conference. The GAPIA conference will be held on May 2, 2017, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. You can register for the conference by clicking here.… Continue Reading
