California Bad Faith Law and the Recognition of Bill Shernoff
The Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles holds its annual convention in Las Vegas every Labor Day weekend. I have attended for the past three years and always enjoy the Sunday morning...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Importance of Training Property Insurance Adjusters
The following Farmers Insurance adjuster training document was posted on a public adjuster forum yesterday: Adjusters should get extensive and accurate training about aspects of property damage....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Good Faith Performance Requires Prompt Payment of Undisputed Amounts of Benefits
The title to this blog probably has many insurance claims managers saying under their breath, ‘No joke, Chip. Tell me something I was not taught on the first week of the job I have been doing for my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Replacement of Storm Damaged Shingles
Roof damage claims are being bitterly fought by many insurance companies. From my perspective, claims managers and insurance company vendors seem to be training their adjusters how to minimize...
View ArticleFraudulent Superstorm Sandy Flood Expert Reports
An engineering firm has produced an alleged fraudulent report of an engineer’s opinion in a Superstorm Sandy flood lawsuit. Outcome oriented vendor firms providing outcome oriented reports is a big...
View ArticleSteve Badger versus Chip Merlin at TAPIA Next Wednesday
Steve Badger has been getting a lot of “word of mouth” discussion by roofers, public adjusters and policyholder attorneys. Next Wednesday afternoon at the TAPIA conference in Austin, I will be on a...
View ArticleTexas Insurance Lobbyists Support Bad Insurance Practices
If organized criminals in Texas wanted to get off easier and pay less for their misdeeds, they would probably hire lobbyists to make up a propaganda campaign to change laws to go easier on crooks. This...
View ArticleLobbying Spin Doctors Working for Texas Insurers against Policyholders
Yesterday’s post, Texas Insurance Lobbyists Support Bad Insurance Practices promised to show “how the insurance lobby uses ‘think tanks’ and the media – directly referencing yours truly – to manipulate...
View ArticleCosmetic Damage is Physical Damage
Property insurance policies cover physical damage to property. Cosmetic damage has traditionally been paid if the damage is greater than the deductible. Lately, some ingenious insurance company lawyers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Representing and Helping Policyholders is Good for the Soul - Reflections on...
Steve Badger was a good sport before and after our presentation at TAPIA's Fall meeting last week. Here's a picture of us after the event: I personally think it is difficult to keep saying "no" to...
View ArticleReflections on the Two Year Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy
Yesterday, I was up very early in the dark and flew from Tampa into a cool New Jersey morning in Newark – then drove down the Garden State Parkway along trees burning with red, yellow, and gorgeous...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do Not Let Your Claim Meet the Grim Reaper
This warning and advertisement says a lot: We had a case referred to us by an attorney along the Jersey Shore. The potential clients were rightfully furious that the claim was delayed and then...
View ArticlePartial Payments of Insurance Claims and Claims Delay - A Need for Higher...
Should any debtor hold on to money that is agreed owed? It seems like an absurd question, but in the insurance claims world, many insurance companies know that it is very profitable to "play the...
View ArticleAltered Engineering Reports Must Be Disclosed - Sandy Flood Judge Requires...
Yale educated Magistrate Judge Gary R. Brown issued a blockbuster discovery ruling which will have ramifications for insurance litigation far past Superstorm Sandy flood cases. He is requiring insurers...
View ArticleAre Baseless and Outcome Oriented Engineering Opinions the Normal State of...
In Altered Engineering Reports Must Be Disclosed - Sandy Flood Judge Requires Transparency, I noted Raimey v. Wright National Flood Ins., No. 14-CV-461 (E.D.NY Nov. 7, 2014), where Magistrate Judge...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Steve Burgess Speaks to FAPIA
Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Steve Burgess brings a wealth of consumer advocacy to his position. He was an excellent choice by Florida CFO Jeff Atwater. He spoke at the Florida Association of...
View ArticleAttorney Professionalism, Honest Candor and the Battering of Sandy Flood...
Attorney professional conduct, courtesy and honest candor were significant and possibly overlooked aspects in Magistrate Judge Gary Brown’s Raimey v. Wright National Flood Insurance Company Memorandum...
View ArticleHappy Thanksgiving From Merlin Law Group
Merlin Law Group would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
View ArticleTexas Public Adjusters Accused of Being Runners for Unethical Attorneys
Are some Texas public adjusters criminally and unethically running for some lawyers in Texas? This was the accusation made by an insurance company defense firm in Keeping Pace With Texas Hail Claim...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Flood Insurance Defense Costs to Exceed $100 Million Dollars and the Amount...
My insurance defense colleagues not representing Write Your Own Carriers are wondering how they missed the National Flood Insurance defense fee gravy train. I am certain it will be the topic of...
View Article