Superstorm Sandy Flood Statute of Limitation Trap
Superstorm Sandy has raised many coverage issues regarding flood insurance. A big looming trap for the unwary is the National Flood Insurance one year statute of limitations. The statute of limitations...
View ArticleState Farm Returns to Stone Age and Refuses Email Communication
State Farm was a topic of my speech yesterday at the First Party Claims Conference when an audience member, and then half the room, said State Farm was refusing to accept emails about claims. I am...
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Ashley Smith Sworn Into New Jersey Bar
Merlin Law Group had three attorneys pass the New Jersey Bar Exam. Kelly Kubiak, Craig Kubiak, and Ashley Smith all passed this summer's examination. Thank God the cavalry is coming because the...
View ArticleAvoiding the National Flood Statute of Limitation Trap
The great thing about public speaking and writing is the learning experience. I tell this to everybody because I find that if I keep my mind open to the audience’s comments, questions and suggestions,...
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Kelly and Craig Kubiak Sworn Into New Jersey Bar
You know you are getting older when people start asking you to perform honorary deeds rather than substantive ones. I thought about that after swearing in Kelly Kubiak and then Craig Kubiak to the New...
View ArticleIntroducing My Twin Brother Chris Merlin From San Francisco
A few of you watching The Willis Report on Fox Business News last week may have been surprised to learn that I have a twin brother, Chris Merlin, who is from San Francisco. He was asked to comment...
View ArticleHappy Thanksgiving From Merlin Law Group
Happy Thanksgiving from Chip Merlin and Merlin Law Group. This is the time of year to be thinking about the people who currently have a loss and are less fortunate.
View Article2013 Hurricane Season Officially Ends--Prognosticators Flunk
Hurricane prognosticators have hit an embarrassing low in 2013. Zero, zip and nada is what happened. They predicted just the opposite with at least 11 major storms predicted to strike. Shaun Marker...
View ArticleMerry Christmas From Merlin Law Group
Merlin Law Group would like to wish you a Christmas full of love and happiness.
View ArticleBack to Work in 2014! Claims Decisions Already Ripping Policyholders Off!
2014 is going to be a year of positives for me. We need to leave negative thoughts behind and learn how to be successful at life, claims adjustment and helping people get everything they deserve as...
View ArticleAre Insurers Roofing Allowances for Roof Vents Injuring and Killing People?
A number of restoration contractors, roofers and public adjusters have been complaining about insurance company directives requiring use of used roof vents and common roof labor to replace roof vents...
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Contents Manipulation is a Covered Construction Expense
What is less expensive and easier to repair--a damaged floor with a ten thousand pound stone table or one without such contents? That is the question I posed to Kalon deLuise when visiting him, and his...
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Christie and Causes of Loss
New Jersey was bitterly cold last week. My new northern friends and policyholder clients were wondering why I showed up for work when I could have stayed in Florida warmth. Unfortunately, New Jersey...
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Wind Loaded Garage Doors - Novel Information is Learned at the Windstorm...
Janet Thompson from Overhead Door attended my seminar at last year’s Windstorm Insurance Conference. During my session, she remarked that often overlooked building codes apply to garage door...
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Winter Claims Question: What Do Ducks on Ice in New Jersey and Chip Merlin...
Answer: Stupid ducks did not fly South for Winter and Chip Merlin flew from Kansas City to New Jersey on Monday night. Here are the ducks on ice in New Jersey: What can those in the claims industry...
View ArticleHail Damage Claims: Can You Imagine Your Best Friends Killed During a Hail...
Jean Niven and I were discussing her climbing atop a New York roof loss and then we shifted to a discussion of hail damage claims in McAllen, Texas where she is also litigating. She mentioned that she...
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Gulf Coast Property Insurance Law Update
Steve Pate and I presented our annual Gulf Coast Property Insurance Law Update at the Windstorm Conference this week. It was not the typical boring lecture spewing out case law from attorneys. Instead,...
View ArticleRoof Insurance Claims - Damaged Newer Roof Over Old or Overlaid Roof
Roof insurance claim disputes are on the rise because insurance companies are closely monitoring the scope of roof repair. Roofing contractors and public adjusters call me with novel arguments made by...
View ArticleSnow and Multiple Property Insurance Losses
Monday was a snowy day in the Northeast. I discovered this at the United Airlines ticket counter at 6 am when my flight to Newark was cancelled due to snow. It seems as if a new snowstorm blows into...
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