Last week, I was preparing for a four-or-so-hour presentation for the National Claims Institute. The title of the presentation was “How To Prepare Hurricane Files For Litigation.” My excellent and valued co-presenter was Remington Huggins, who prepared a masterful PowerPoint to which I only added some minor edits.
Karen Schiffmiller, a leader and Past President of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, wrote the following note in response to an article, Miami Homeowner Charged with Defrauding Citizens by Claiming Old Damage:
Continue Reading Disclosures of Prior Damage and Claims Presentation Accuracy Avoid Claims Disputes
Good Friday afternoon usually finds me taking time off and trying to find some time to contemplate how things are going in my life. However, the Almighty had a special event for me last Friday afternoon—David Young’s exceptional funeral service.
One of the interesting aspects of my professional life is receiving information from readers of this blog, who alert me to new matters and changes to old matters. The texts, emails, and phone calls I receive are from folks who work with policyholders, insurers, and even capable insurance defense attorneys whom we fight in courtrooms throughout the country. I appreciate this and try to share much of this with you.
Continue Reading Order Overrules Louisiana Directive Outlawing Anti Public Adjuster Policy Language
A new legislative bill filed in Florida will have a significant impact on the Florida public adjusting profession if it becomes law. The proposed law enlarges the amount of time a policyholder can cancel a public adjuster contract, provides for a cancellation of a public adjuster contract if estimates of damage are not provided to the insurer within 45 days, requires notice to the insurer within three days rather than 30 days if a public adjuster is retained, and provides that the fee percentage amount when a client hires a public adjuster after an insurer’s first offer “shall” be 10 percent of the new amount collected.
Public adjusters have been calling us asking what can be done about some insurance companies placing endorsements into policies that prohibit policyholders from hiring public adjusters and preventing public adjusters from being involved with the policyholder’s claims. The National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) has taken the lead in fighting this by sending letters to all state attorney generals and actively raising the issue with the insurance departments. NAPIA’s general counsel, Brian Goodman, and I have spoken about this issue in the past because the clauses appear to breach licensing laws and raise violations of state and federal antitrust laws.
They say you should save the best for last. So, Steve Badger, Rene Sigman, and yours truly are making the last presentation at the Texas Association of Public Insurance Adjusters Spring Conference on March 2 in Austin, Texas. Given our preparation, the title seems appropriate, Three for One & One for All! A Lively Discussion of Hot Topics In Texas Claims & Litigation.
The California Association of Public Insurance Adjusters will hold a continuing education session followed by legislative day next week. It will fittingly be held in Sacramento, California, so that public adjusters can visit government leaders. Assuming that I finish and do not sink during the Islands Race to San Diego on Merlin this weekend, I will be making a presentation with Amy Bach of United Policyholders next Tuesday, February 27.
Note: This guest post is by Brian S. Goodman. Brian is a partner at the Baltimore law firm of Goodman & Donohue, LLC. He is also General Counsel to NAPIA.
Like many of you, I read Chip Merlin’s blog post every day in my role as General Counsel to the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (www.napia.com). So it was with great interest that I recently reviewed his post about the proposed new licensing Bill in Kentucky. Chip has asked for my thoughts on this, which I am happy to provide.
Continue Reading Goodman on Kentucky Public Adjuster Licensing Bill
The Kentucky legislature now has new pending legislation regarding public adjusters. There are significant changes to contract requirements and new proposed fee caps.
Continue Reading Breaking News—Public Adjuster Legislation Filed In Kentucky