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Public adjusters need to double-check their licensing paperwork. That was my thought while reading an Order temporarily suspending many public adjusters from any public adjusting activities because the Georgia Department of Insurance claims that its paperwork does not reflect an approved contract. There are a lot of public adjusters named in the Order, including past Presidents of the Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (GAPIA) and one Past President of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters.…

Continue Reading Georgia Insurance Commissioner Effectively Suspends Most Georgia Public Adjusting Activity—And Then Admits A Mistake Doing So! 

Examinations under oath are important to recovery. Reasonable production of relevant documents that are part of a cooperative investigation is important as well. Failure to provide an examination under oath and documents is a one-way street to help an insurer deny recovery.
Continue Reading Failure to Provide an Examination Under Oath and Documents Can Result in Lost Benefits

Significant losses make it difficult to quantify the amount of damage recoverable for personal property. Property insurance adjusters will sometimes find all the personal property was consumed in the fire. There is very little left over to view. Refreshing the policyholder’s mind with the types, amounts, and condition of personal property consumed in a major fire takes patience, time, and a great deal of expertise for the property insurance adjuster to evaluate the amount owed under the policy.
Continue Reading Personal Property Valuation In Georgia Following A Fire

A recent legal skirmish under a builders risk policy contains significant discussion about Georgia law allowing insurance companies to shorten the time to file a lawsuit. The trial court Order1 not dismissing the lawsuit despite a one-year limitation, and the brief of the policyholder are attached because they are worthy of study if you find yourself in a Georgia situation where the insurer is relying upon a statute of limitation defense.
Continue Reading Georgia Allows Property Insurers to Shorten Statute of Limitations But There Are Exceptions

Jim Beck, Georgia Insurance Commissioner

I had barely finished my speech with Nicole Vinson at the Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (GAPIA) Spring Conference this morning when news broke that Jim Beck, Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner had been indicted in a 38-count criminal complaint for a fraudulent scheme involving insurance inspections and invoices. It alleged that Beck, a former insurance company lobbyist and executive, embezzled more than $2 million, used a Christian group in the scheme, and that some of the money went to his campaign.
Continue Reading Georgia Insurance Commissioner Indicted By Federal Government For Fraudulent Insurance Scheme

Foy and Anita Taff

The Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters will hold its Spring Meeting on May 14 in Atlanta. GAPIA is one of the hardest working public adjuster associations I have ever been associated with. Unfortunately, we will be without Foy Taff of Taff Claims Service.
Continue Reading Georgia Association of Public Insurance Adjusters’ May 14 Spring Conference Will Be Missing Foy Taff

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 How To File A Complaint With The Georgia Department of Insurance About Your Delaying, Denying and Bad Treating Insurance Company

Anita Taff and Chip Merlin

Anita Taff and the entire GAPIA public adjuster Board of Directors should be congratulated for their success. I have the pleasure and the frustration of being in many different geographic areas where public adjuster organizations are having difficulties maintaining cohesiveness within their ranks. This is a…