“MAPFRE is not paying property insurance claims and is threatening the safety of Puerto Ricans,” was the message public adjuster Jack Hanks noted in a CBS news report. Jack Hanks and David Skipton held a seminar in Tampa earlier this spring for public adjusters just starting out in the public adjusting business. Hanks is an excellent speaker and educator as one can tell from the news story.
Continue Reading CBS News Report—Public Adjuster Calls Out MAPFRE For Not Paying Puerto Rico Hurricane Claims
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico Continues Ruling On Accord & Satisfaction Hurricane Maria Claims
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico has continued to rule in favor of the policyholders in Hurricane Maria claims.
Continue Reading The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico Continues Ruling On Accord & Satisfaction Hurricane Maria Claims
Tasadores: No Se Pierdan El Seminario “Proceso De Tasación En Puerto Rico” Este Próximo 29 y 30 de Junio de 2021
La asociación de Tasadores conocida como IAUA (siglas en inglés para Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association) en colaboración con la OCS, Oficina del Comisionado de Seguros, celebrarán el próximo 29 y 30 de junio de 2021, en La Concha Resort, un seminario de capacitación sobre el Proceso de Tasación en Puerto Rico. La participación en este seminario, con otro evento y experiencia profesional, les permitirá solicitar la aprobación de la OCS como árbitro aprobado. Además, el cumplimiento de este requisito les permitirá estar en la lista de árbitros aprobados, mantenido por la OCS.
Continue Reading Tasadores: No Se Pierdan El Seminario “Proceso De Tasación En Puerto Rico” Este Próximo 29 y 30 de Junio de 2021
Appraisers: Don’t Miss The Seminar “Appraisal Process In Puerto Rico” on June 29 and 30, 2021
The Association of Appraisers/ Umpires known as IAUA (Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association) in collaboration with the OCS, (Office of the Insurance Commissioner), will hold a seminar training on the Appraisal Process in Puerto Rico. The seminar will be on June 29 and 30, 2021, at La Concha Resort. Participation in this seminar, with another event and professional experience, will allow you to request to be approved as an umpire by the OCS. In addition, compliance with this requirement will allow participants to be on the list of approved umpires, maintained by the OCS.
Continue Reading Appraisers: Don’t Miss The Seminar “Appraisal Process In Puerto Rico” on June 29 and 30, 2021
Accord & Satisfaction: Puerto Rico Supreme Court Rules for Policyholder in Hurricane Maria Claim
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria caused catastrophes through its passing by Puerto Rico. As mentioned in past blogs,1 many policyholders filed their insurance claims and as soon as they received their response from the carrier along with a check, they proceeded to deposit the check unaware that even if they did not agree with the amounts, these were considered “total and final” payments and therefore, a waiver to their right to claim. Since then, as I have discussed on other blog posts, many policyholders have battled in court as to the application of accord & satisfaction doctrine to their claims.2
Continue Reading Accord & Satisfaction: Puerto Rico Supreme Court Rules for Policyholder in Hurricane Maria Claim
Another Win for Adjustable Claim Amounts Not in Controversy
As discussed in my previous blog post, Should an Insurance Company Pay Adjustable Claim Amounts Not in Controversy While Another Amount Is Still In Dispute?, the payment of undisputed amounts is an issue that is frequently being argued in Puerto Rico courts for Hurricane Maria claims. As recent as this week (May 12, 2021) the First Instance Court of Carolina, Puerto Rico, granted a Partial Summary Judgement and ordered the carrier to pay the adjustable amounts not in controversy.
Continue Reading Another Win for Adjustable Claim Amounts Not in Controversy
What is Microinsurance?
After Hurricane Maria caused catastrophic damage in Puerto Rico, many new laws and law amendments were made to benefit policyholders. As mentioned on my previous blog,1 one of these laws provided policyholders the option of microinsurance but it was not until recently (almost three years after the laws) that the first microinsurance company, Optima Insurance, is now available for policyholders.
Continue Reading What is Microinsurance?
Should an Insurance Company Pay Adjustable Claim Amounts Not in Controversy While Another Amount Still Is?
Although appellate rulings are not precedential in Puerto Rico, they are highlighted as very important persuasive authority when the Supreme Court has not made a holding on the issue in controversy. Recently, two appellate court panels ruled on the issue of adjusted amounts that are not in controversy in an insurance claim. Both judicial panels determined the insurance companies should pay these amounts.
Continue Reading Should an Insurance Company Pay Adjustable Claim Amounts Not in Controversy While Another Amount Still Is?
Puerto Rico Update: Real Legacy Confirms Rumors of Insolvency – What’s Next? Part II
It has been two years since Real Legacy announced their insolvency1 and only approximately 800 of the claims have been paid (excluding 430 cases that are still in court and all claims that did not have an agreement prior to the insurance company announcing its insolvency).2 In other words, it could take three or four more years for Real Legacy insureds to get their Hurricane Maria claims paid.
Continue Reading Puerto Rico Update: Real Legacy Confirms Rumors of Insolvency – What’s Next? Part II
Accord & Satisfaction: Will My Insurance Claim Be Dismissed If I Deposit A Payment? – Part 2
Communications between Insurance Companies and their insureds are always important, and copies of these are requested to understand insurance claims when filing a complaint. Recently, the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals ruled on an Accord and Satisfaction case in which Plaintiff presented a memo received from the insurer that contradicted its allegations against the Plaintiff’s Hurricane claim.
Continue Reading Accord & Satisfaction: Will My Insurance Claim Be Dismissed If I Deposit A Payment? – Part 2