Damage, Insurer and Property Insurance - Insurance Industry Brief

CBS 60 Minutes Exposes Alleged Insurance Company Fraud: Adjusters Reveal Altered Hurricane Damage Estimates by Claims Management

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

In a shocking exposé aired last night on CBS’s 60 Minutes, allegations of widespread insurance fraud by insurance companies following Hurricane Ian were exposed.

Insurance Companies

Insurance Companies Damage Claim Property Insurance

AM Best: Wildfires Intensifying California’s Property Insurance Troubles

Insurance Journal

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Wildfires are intensifying the problems in California’s property insurance market, according to a new commentary from AM Best. Those problems include a major insurer pullback from California in the past year, followed by the L.A. wildfires, which could result in …

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Insurer Insured Insurance

Moody’s Expects L.A. Wildfires to Increase Property Insurance Costs Across State

Insurance Journal

JANUARY 23, 2025

Moody’s Ratings said in a report on Thursday that it expects the Los Angeles wildfires to increase property insurance costs across California. According to Moody’s, the state’s already noticeable insurance pricing and availability challenges are likely to intensify, with negative …

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Insurer Insured Insurance

Tornado Damage During Hurricanes: Navigating the Deductible Dilemma

Property Insurance Coverage Law

OCTOBER 15, 2024

This year, a record-tying … The post Tornado Damage During Hurricanes: Navigating the Deductible Dilemma appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog. Opinions expressed are solely his own and are not meant to express the views or opinions of the IAUA.

Deductible

Deductible Damage Property Insurance Insurer

Interior Damage Claims and the Exterior Damage Requirement—Where’s the Proof?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

A federal judge ruled last week that policyholders eventually have to “put up or shut up” when it comes to proving that certain interior damages caused by a storm must be the result of damage to the exterior of a building, allowing water to damage the interior of a building.

Damage

Damage Claim Policyholder Building

State Farm Wins Worn-Out Plumbing Case: Ensuing Water Damage Not Covered Under State Farm’s Language

Property Insurance Coverage Law

DECEMBER 1, 2024

This post gives State Farm a three-day winning hat trick following State Farm Wins Alabama Worn Out Roof Damage Case: Lesson About Hail Damage Cases, … The post State Farm Wins Worn-Out Plumbing Case: Ensuing Water Damage Not Covered Under State Farm’s Language appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Insurer Insured

Construction Financing and Factoring of Insurance Receivables—MMA Related Case Sheds Light on Factors in the Property Insurance Claim Industry

Property Insurance Coverage Law

AUGUST 18, 2024

Property damage insurance claims funding by factoring companies is a relatively recent phenomenon in the property insurance claims industry.

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Insurance Claim Claim Property Damage

What to Expect after a California Wildfire Property Damage Event

Property Insurance Coverage Law

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Will My Insurer Pay Me 100% of My Contents Claim After a Wildfire Loss? Californias Insurance Commissioner Thinks They Should Without an Inventory Experiencing the loss of your home and personal belongings in a wildfire is an unimaginable hardship.

Property Damage

Property Damage Damage Property Insurance Claim

The Regulatory Blind Spot: How Insurance Departments Fail to Detect Systemic Bad Faith Claims Practices

Property Insurance Coverage Law

OCTOBER 2, 2024

Recent investigative reporting by CBS’s 60 Minutes, noted in CBS 60 Minutes Exposes Alleged Insurance Company Fraud: Adjusters Reveal Altered Hurricane Damage Estimates by Claims Management, has exposed alleged widespread underpayments of claims and unethical claims practices in Florida’s property insurance industry.

Claim

Claim Property Insurance Damage Insurance Industry

An Estimated 290 Residences Damaged by Flooding From Lake Dammed by Alaska Glacier

Insurance Journal

AUGUST 14, 2024

Roughly 290 residences in Alaska’s capital city were damaged last week by flooding from a lake dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier, officials said. In addition to the homes and apartment and condo units, at least two businesses were damaged, Deputy …

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Insurance Insurer

Insurance Company Prevails in Hail Damage Claim Dispute—Policyholders Need to Hire Experts Right Away and Provide Access to Information

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

A recent federal court ruling in Missouri highlights the critical importance of admissible expert testimony in property insurance disputes.

Policyholder

Policyholder Insurance Companies Damage Claim

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby Should be Manageable for Insurers, Early Data Show

Insurance Journal

AUGUST 9, 2024

Reports from Gallagher Re and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation suggest that Tropical Storm Debby will not be a heavy lift for property insurers and reinsurers. “Early assessments suggest wind-related physical damage (is) not as extensive as initially feared,” …

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Damage Insurer Insured

Order and Bind Insurance Before the Loss—Commercial Policy Covers Water Damage Under Drain Backup Endorsement

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

This post highlights an agent’s binding authority under Michigan law and discusses important insurance principles concerning the “completed-loss” and “loss-in-progress” doctrines.

Commercial

Commercial Damage Policy Property Insurance

Navigating Hurricane Helene and Milton NFIP Claims: Documenting Repairs and Understanding Prior Damage Requirements

Property Insurance Coverage Law

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many Florida and southeast residents are left grappling with flood damage – some for the second or third time in recent years.

Damage

Damage Claim Policyholder Property Insurance

State Farm Wins Texas Worn-Out Roof Damage Case: Lesson About Texas Hail Damage Cases, Expert Testimony, and the Very Unique Texas Concurrent Causation Rule

Property Insurance Coverage Law

NOVEMBER 30, 2024

Yesterday’s article, State Farm Wins Alabama Worn Out Roof Damage Case: Lesson About Hail Damage Cases, Expert Testimony, and Investigation Standards, deserves a follow-up about a recent Texas federal court ruling regarding Texas hail damage to roof cases.

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Claim Insurer

CBO Says Mortgage Subsidy Cost from Flood Damage to Hit $395M by 2053

Insurance Journal

JULY 11, 2024

posing greater risks to homeowners and mortgage lenders—and since flood damage tends to lower the market value of affected homes, it’s more likely that homeowners … Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of floods in the U.S.,

Damage

Damage Risk Property Insurance Insurance

Want to Win a Hailstorm Damage Lawsuit? Hire The Right Experts and Establish a Theory of Loss Before Filing a Lawsuit

Property Insurance Coverage Law

JANUARY 7, 2025

Insurance companies denying hail damage claims are repeat players in the litigation arena. This post will provide more insight and lessons as a grand finale to Policyholders and Public Adjusters Often Need to Hire Their Own Experts, and Policyholders and Public Adjusters … The post Want to Win a Hailstorm Damage Lawsuit?

Damage

Damage Policyholder Property Insurance Insurance Companies

Brotherhood Mutual Hit With $35 Million Punitive Award on Roof Damage Claim

Property Insurance Coverage Law

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

We have battled insurance companies, co-counseled on cases, and discussed property insurance case law at a depth most … The post Brotherhood Mutual Hit With $35 Million Punitive Award on Roof Damage Claim appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Damage

Damage Claim Policyholder Property Insurance

Residential Property Damage Lawyers Beware: Court Excludes Expert’s Estimate Finding an Estimate Is Not an Adjustment

Property Insurance Coverage Law

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Hurricane claims attorneys know that the estimate of damages caused by a storm is the foundation of every favorable judgment and jury verdict.

Property Damage

Property Damage Damage Property Insurance Claim

When is a Collapse Not a Collapse? The Importance of Proving Damages for Partial Losses

Property Insurance Coverage Law

DECEMBER 17, 2024

A recent builders risk insurance dispute out of Tennessee 1 involving collapse caught my attention because of the opening facts recited by the court: How many fallen bricks does a collapse make? The Importance of Proving Damages for Partial Losses appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Risk Insurer

Hurricane Katrina Claim Leads to Significant Punitive Damages Award—Mississippi Recognizes Common Law Obligations of Good Faith

Property Insurance Coverage Law

DECEMBER 7, 2024

The Mississippi Supreme Court has affirmed a $10 million punitive damages award against USAA for its bad faith handling of a Hurricane Katrina claim, sending a clear message about insurers’ obligations to their policyholders.1

Damage

Damage Claim Policyholder Property Insurance

Miss. Supreme Court Orders USAA to Pay $15M in Hurricane Katrina Bad-Faith Claim

Insurance Journal

DECEMBER 8, 2024

When hurricanes hit coastal areas, property insurers often breathe a sigh of relief when much of the damage appears to be the result of storm surge and flooding losses that aren’t covered by most homeowners’ policies. But after Hurricane …

Claim

Claim Damage Property Insurance Policy

The Façade of Consumer Protection: How Florida’s Political Leadership Continues to Favor Insurance Companies Over Policyholders — Are Florida’s Politicians in Bed with the Insurance Industry?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

OCTOBER 23, 2024

While Jimmy Patronis and Governor DeSantis trumpet their latest emergency rule as consumer protection following the CBS 60 Minutes Expose noted in CBS 60 Minutes Exposes Alleged Insurance Company Fraud: Adjusters Reveal Altered Hurricane Damage Estimates by Claims Management, the reality reveals a different story.

Policyholder

Policyholder Insurance Companies Insurance Industry Protection

Valuables Insurance Coverage: Art Insurance Fire Claim Headed to Trial

Property Insurance Coverage Law

AUGUST 14, 2024

One of the more complex damage issues that must be addressed in all fire, smoke, and heat claims is the amount of damage to personal property in areas of a structure far away from the main fire.

Claim

Claim Personal Property Damage Insurer

Report: Climate Risks Increasing Insurance Rates and Hurting CRE Returns

Insurance Journal

OCTOBER 28, 2024

Costly reinsurance, inflation, tough regulations, and increasing weather-related claims are driving up property insurance prices—and in turn, that is impacting commercial real estate returns, valuations, and transactions, a new report shows. The Urban Land Institute and real estate investment management …

Risk

Risk Property Insurance Commercial Insurer

Florida CFO Bars Insurers From Altering Adjusters’ Reports Without Explanation

Insurance Journal

OCTOBER 9, 2024

Almost two years after a group of independent claims adjusters alleged that insurers had deceptively altered their damage estimates and low-balled policyholders, Florida’s chief financial officer has issued an emergency rule barring similar actions in Hurricane Milton claims. “Any move …

Policyholder

Policyholder Claim Damage Insurer

Heritage Insurance Under Scrutiny: Analyzing the CBS 60 Minutes Exposé and Questions of Internal Controls

Property Insurance Coverage Law

OCTOBER 1, 2024

Heritage Insurance (HRTG) lost 20% of its publicly traded value yesterday following the recent CBS 60 Minutes investigation into alleged insurance fraud in Florida, which has sent shockwaves through the insurance industry.

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Damage Insurance Industry Insurance Companies

The “Cannot Miss” 2025 Hailstorm Education Is at the Windstorm Insurance Conference in Dallas

Property Insurance Coverage Law

JANUARY 8, 2025

I studied the topics, agenda, and panelists at this years Windstorm Insurance Conference. As a past president of the organization, I am very proud to see its continued vitality and depth of education provided to those attending.I

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Damage Insurer Insured

Are We Valuing Fire Losses Accurately and Keeping Up with the Science of Fire Loss?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

AUGUST 30, 2024

appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Damage Building Insurer

What Are the Duties of An Insurance Agent to the Policyholder—A Michigan Case Example

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

The duties of an insurance agent to the policyholder will differ depending on state law. Yesterday’s post about a Michigan coverage case, Order and Bind Insurance Before the Loss—Commercial Policy Covers Water Damage Under Drain Backup Endorsement, noted that there was also an issue with insurance agent negligence.

Policyholder

Policyholder Insurance Agent Insurance Agents Agents

What Is Hazard Insurance for Homeowners and What Does It Cover?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Knowing exactly what hazard insurance is (and isn’t) can help protect you financially during a crisis. So, how does hazard insurance work exactly? Key Takeaways: Hazard insurance refers to the part of a homeowners policy that covers damage to the structure. appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Insurer Insured

Florida’s Heritage Insurance Reports 5,400 Claims, $57M in Cat Losses From Milton

Insurance Journal

OCTOBER 23, 2024

More loss and claims estimates are trickling in from carriers after Hurricane Milton caused widespread wind and flood damage in Florida this month. Tampa-based Heritage Insurance Holdings said in a preliminary statement that about two weeks after Milton made landfall …

Claim

Claim Damage Insurer Insured

What Are Consequential Damages?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Consequential damages play a significant role in both contract law and insurance claims, but they operate under different frameworks and have distinct implications depending on the context. Consequential damages in contract law are indirect, foreseeable losses that result from a breach of contract.

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Insurance Claim Claim

Civil Remedy Notices – What Are They and What Do They Require?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

AUGUST 4, 2024

Insurance policies protect you from the cost of replacing lost, damaged, or stolen items: or at least, that’s how they’re supposed to work. But what happens if your insurance company refuses to pay what you are owed? appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Damage Insurance Policy Insurance Companies

Policyholders and Public Adjusters Often Need to Hire Their Own Experts—Part Two

Property Insurance Coverage Law

JANUARY 6, 2025

In yesterdays post, Policyholders and Public Adjusters Often Need to Hire Their Own Experts, the court found that the insurance policy did not provide coverage for the claimed damages for two primary reasons.1

Policyholder

Policyholder Damage Property Insurance Insurance Policy

A Surprising Twist and Swirl in High-End Fire and Smoke Case: Alabama Court Allows Tort of Outrage Claim Against Chubb While Dismissing Bad Faith

Property Insurance Coverage Law

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Pacific Indemnity Company, a Chubb subsidiary known for insuring high-end properties and affluent clients, recently secured a partial litigation victory in a property insurance dispute involving a newly constructed luxury home in Alabama.

Claim

Claim Property Insurance Damage Insurer

What to Expect After the Los Angeles Wildfires

Property Insurance Coverage Law

JANUARY 10, 2025

Southern California faced a devastating night as the Palisades and Eaton Canyon wildfires raged out of control, forcing evacuations and leaving widespread damage in their wake.

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Damage Insurer Insured

Soccer Officials Arrested After Melee That Damaged Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Insurance Journal

JULY 19, 2024

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) AP) — Colombia’s soccer federation president and his son were among 27 people arrested during the crowd control issues that broke out at the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, a melee that may have caused …

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Insurance Insurer

Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath: Understanding the FEMA 50% Rule and Its Impact on Victims

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

As Hurricane Helene victims begin to assess the damage to their properties, they face not only the immediate challenges of recovery but also potential long-term implications due to federal regulations. One such regulation that could significantly affect rebuilding efforts is FEMA’s 50% Rule.

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Insurer Insured

Brotherhood Mutual Hit With $35 Million Punitive Award on Roof Damage Claim

Property Insurance Coverage Law

FEBRUARY 3, 2025

We have battled insurance companies, co-counseled on cases, and discussed property insurance case law at a depth most … The post Brotherhood Mutual Hit With $35 Million Punitive Award on Roof Damage Claim appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Damage

Damage Claim Policyholder Property Insurance

Where Is the National Plan for Structural Resiliency? If there is to Be Available and Affordable Insurance, Then Property Has to Be More Resilient to Damage

Property Insurance Coverage Law

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Stakeholders within the insurance industry have rightfully been calling for more leadership … The post Where Is the National Plan for Structural Resiliency? If there is to Be Available and Affordable Insurance, Then Property Has to Be More Resilient to Damage appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

Damage

Damage Property Insurance Insurance Industry Building

California Smoke Soot and Ash Claims—A Cause for Concern

Property Insurance Coverage Law

JANUARY 24, 2025

Journalist Jack Healy of the New York Times wrote an article,Their Homes Are Intact, but the Fire Damage Inside Is Unbearable. Healy accompanied wildfire victims back to their homes after the event.

Claim

Claim Property Insurance Damage Insurer

What Is Recoverable Depreciation in Home Insurance?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

If you’ve suffered property loss or damage, knowing what your insurance covers is crucial. Understanding recoverable depreciation can help policyholders get the full replacement cost for damaged or destroyed items, not just their depreciated value. What … The post What Is Recoverable Depreciation in Home Insurance?

Home Insurance

Home Insurance Policyholder Damage Property Insurance

Are Many Restoration Contracts Unenforceable Because They Lack a Specific Price and Scope of Work?

Property Insurance Coverage Law

AUGUST 22, 2024

Insurance restoration contractors have a lot on their plate. appeared first on Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog. They are not building based on new plans but repairing already-built structures.

Property Insurance

Property Insurance Damage Insurance Companies Building

CBS 60 Minutes Exposes Alleged Insurance Company Fraud: Adjusters Reveal Altered Hurricane Damage Estimates by Claims Management

AM Best: Wildfires Intensifying California’s Property Insurance Troubles

Trending Sources

Moody’s Expects L.A. Wildfires to Increase Property Insurance Costs Across State

Tornado Damage During Hurricanes: Navigating the Deductible Dilemma

Interior Damage Claims and the Exterior Damage Requirement—Where’s the Proof?

State Farm Wins Worn-Out Plumbing Case: Ensuing Water Damage Not Covered Under State Farm’s Language

Construction Financing and Factoring of Insurance Receivables—MMA Related Case Sheds Light on Factors in the Property Insurance Claim Industry

What to Expect after a California Wildfire Property Damage Event

The Regulatory Blind Spot: How Insurance Departments Fail to Detect Systemic Bad Faith Claims Practices

An Estimated 290 Residences Damaged by Flooding From Lake Dammed by Alaska Glacier

Insurance Company Prevails in Hail Damage Claim Dispute—Policyholders Need to Hire Experts Right Away and Provide Access to Information

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby Should be Manageable for Insurers, Early Data Show

Order and Bind Insurance Before the Loss—Commercial Policy Covers Water Damage Under Drain Backup Endorsement

Navigating Hurricane Helene and Milton NFIP Claims: Documenting Repairs and Understanding Prior Damage Requirements

State Farm Wins Texas Worn-Out Roof Damage Case: Lesson About Texas Hail Damage Cases, Expert Testimony, and the Very Unique Texas Concurrent Causation Rule

CBO Says Mortgage Subsidy Cost from Flood Damage to Hit $395M by 2053

Want to Win a Hailstorm Damage Lawsuit? Hire The Right Experts and Establish a Theory of Loss Before Filing a Lawsuit

Brotherhood Mutual Hit With $35 Million Punitive Award on Roof Damage Claim

Residential Property Damage Lawyers Beware: Court Excludes Expert’s Estimate Finding an Estimate Is Not an Adjustment

When is a Collapse Not a Collapse? The Importance of Proving Damages for Partial Losses

Hurricane Katrina Claim Leads to Significant Punitive Damages Award—Mississippi Recognizes Common Law Obligations of Good Faith

Miss. Supreme Court Orders USAA to Pay $15M in Hurricane Katrina Bad-Faith Claim

The Façade of Consumer Protection: How Florida’s Political Leadership Continues to Favor Insurance Companies Over Policyholders — Are Florida’s Politicians in Bed with the Insurance Industry?

Valuables Insurance Coverage: Art Insurance Fire Claim Headed to Trial

Report: Climate Risks Increasing Insurance Rates and Hurting CRE Returns

Florida CFO Bars Insurers From Altering Adjusters’ Reports Without Explanation

Heritage Insurance Under Scrutiny: Analyzing the CBS 60 Minutes Exposé and Questions of Internal Controls

The “Cannot Miss” 2025 Hailstorm Education Is at the Windstorm Insurance Conference in Dallas

Are We Valuing Fire Losses Accurately and Keeping Up with the Science of Fire Loss?

What Are the Duties of An Insurance Agent to the Policyholder—A Michigan Case Example

What Is Hazard Insurance for Homeowners and What Does It Cover?

Florida’s Heritage Insurance Reports 5,400 Claims, $57M in Cat Losses From Milton

What Are Consequential Damages?

Civil Remedy Notices – What Are They and What Do They Require?

Policyholders and Public Adjusters Often Need to Hire Their Own Experts—Part Two

A Surprising Twist and Swirl in High-End Fire and Smoke Case: Alabama Court Allows Tort of Outrage Claim Against Chubb While Dismissing Bad Faith

What to Expect After the Los Angeles Wildfires

Soccer Officials Arrested After Melee That Damaged Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath: Understanding the FEMA 50% Rule and Its Impact on Victims

Brotherhood Mutual Hit With $35 Million Punitive Award on Roof Damage Claim

Where Is the National Plan for Structural Resiliency? If there is to Be Available and Affordable Insurance, Then Property Has to Be More Resilient to Damage

California Smoke Soot and Ash Claims—A Cause for Concern

What Is Recoverable Depreciation in Home Insurance?

Are Many Restoration Contracts Unenforceable Because They Lack a Specific Price and Scope of Work?

Stay Connected