Robert Reynolds

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(Note: This is the thirteenth of a thirteen part series on examination under oath).

“You know the insurance company is going to cut the estimate in half, so you have to pump it up.”

I can’t tell you how many public adjusters have expounded this philosophy to me. As I tell them all: do not go down that road, as it is a slippery slope. First, if the estimate is significantly higher than the carrier’s evaluation of the claim, SIU (Special Investigative Unit, the fraud division) becomes involved. This will now offer your client the unique opportunity to undergo a fraud investigation. What will this entail? Well, the policyholder is guaranteed to be asked to sit for examination under oath and all of the fun that goes along with that endeavor. So, this begs the question: what may the policyholder expect at the EUO of a suspected inflated claim?…

Continue Reading Typical Questions Asked During an Examination or Sworn Statement Under Oath of a Disputed Structural or Personal Property Valuation Claim Suspected of Being Inflated, Exaggerated or Made Up

(Note: This Guest Blog is by Robert Reynolds, an attorney with Merlin Law Group in the Coral Gables, Florida, office. This is the twelfth of a thirteen part series he is writing on examination under oath).

Yesterday I had a meeting with a public adjuster who was referring me a theft loss. As we discussed the claim’s facts and circumstances, I became very skeptical. According to the PA, the policyholder had some health issues and went to the hospital for a few days only to return home to find he had been burglarized. Unfortunately, a good portion of the tale did not make a whole lot of sense. The insured claimed that the thieves stole furniture and power tools, but not the cases for the power tools. This just does not add up. That is, most burglars are petty criminals or drug addicts looking to pilfer items they can fence for quick cash: jewelry, electronics, etc. What is a filch going to do with a table and chairs? Trust me, furniture is not readily pawned; nor, for that matter, is it easily and stealthily removed from a residence. As it turned out, the policyholder did not show up for the meeting, so I did not have the opportunity to ask questions. This begs the questions: what should an attorney or PA ask the potential client about a suspicious theft loss and what should they expect at the examination under oath (EUO), which will inevitably be requested by the insurance company?…

Continue Reading Typical Questions Asked During an EUO of a Suspicious Theft Loss

“I’ve never taken a deposition, what kinds of questions are they going to ask me?”

This is a question posed to me most often by policyholders when they receive that dreaded notice for an examination under oath.
Continue Reading How to Prepare for an Examination or Sworn Statement Under Oath if You are a Policyholder or Public Adjuster

(Note: This Guest Blog is by Robert Reynolds, an attorney with Merlin Law Group in the Coral Gables, Florida, office. This is the seventh of a thirteen part series he is writing on examination under oath). 

Two weeks ago the issue of a policyholder refusing to answer questions was discussed in this blog. Hand-in-hand with that topic is: What if an insured renders an inaccurate answer during an examination under oath? This analysis should begin with the policy language. Every insurance policy I have ever read includes a fraud, misrepresentation, and concealment provision. Fraud is the willful intent to deceive. Misrepresentation is the willful act of presenting knowingly incorrect information. Concealment is the willful act of hiding facts or circumstances. The one common thread to this unholy trinity is that all three acts must be willful. That is, the policyholder must be participating in these acts intentionally. To be clear, over time just about everyone’s memory tends to fade. Hurricane Wilma occurred just over 4 years ago, and I’m quite sure a policyholder misremembering some of the facts of a claim that happened over 4 years ago will not lead to denial.…

Continue Reading What is the Impact of a Wrong Answer at an Examination Under Oath? Do all Incorrect Answers Lead to Denial?

(Note: This Guest Blog is the second of a thirteen part series on examination under oath).

“I don’t want to sit for an examination under oath…” If I had a nickel for every time a client said that to me, I’d probably own my own plane. For policyholders who have never been involved in a deposition or EUO, the proposition of sitting in a room, swearing an oath to tell the truth, and being questioned by an attorney while a court reporter writes down every word can be very daunting. So this begs the question—“Is it possible to avoid an EUO?”…

Continue Reading What Happens if A Policyholder Does Not Attend an Examination Under Oath?