Raiders of the Lost Profits - Part Four: Pit of Snakes - Establishing Period of Restoration

Pit of Snakes - Establishing Period of Restoration

There is a difference between Period of Restoration and Period of Suspension just like there is a difference between a king snake and a king cobra.  And there are also total suspensions and partial resumptions.

Although many factors may impact the Business Income evaluation period as the claim progresses (such as valid delays, covered Ordinance or Law, delay in payment by the carrier, contractor availability, negotiated POR), the Period of Restoration is defined as the reasonable amount of time it should take to repair or replace the damaged property (including business space even if not owned by the insured or covered under the insured’s policy).

Many times, the process of determining a final Period of Restoration (POR), the adjuster should always evaluate the initial POR based on the reasonable time period and state that in his or her report to HQ.  Some consideration for adjustment time should be acknowledged separately.  If additional time should be considered or if actual suspension period should be considered, make that a separate acknowledgment so our client, as well as your partners in the Business Interruption office, can tell the difference.

Don’t fall into the snake pit!  Define exactly what you mean when you outline the Period of Restoration. 

******

Introduction: Introduction to Inspection for BI

Part One: The Secrets of Daily Loss Inspection

Part Two: Adventures in CAT Inspections

Part Three: Search for the Grail:Covered Cause of Loss vs. Actual Cause of Loss

Part Four: Pit of Snakes:  Establishing Period of Restoration

Part Five: Reporting to HQ:  Here’s What We Know So Far

Written & Contributed by:

Kandy Ray

This place does not come with a defibrillator....

Have you ever been to the fabulous Decatur Diner in West Ocean City, MD? 

Their retro style diner has quickly become a local landmark and popular destination stop for thousands of resort visitors and local residents looking for a freshly made home cooked meal. They are open from dawn to dusk serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week, all year round - really, could you ask for more? Located in Ocean City, MD you can find them off of Rt. 50 on Rt. 611, just minutes from downtown Ocean City, Ocean Pines & Berlin, MD.

This is the kind of place that brings back memories of a simpler time - where friends and neighbors gather each morning and discuss events of the day over a hot cup of coffee, things are less hectic and life is good. The retro style decor of checkerboard floors and red leather stools and the diner counter add to an atmosphere that just begs you to sit back and relax while enjoying one of their many fine meals. Co-owners, chef’s and brother’s Bill & Matt Rados have done a fabulous job of using only the finest ingredients for each dish and credit much of their restaurant’s growing success to those top quality ingredients & their outstanding personal service to each and every customer who comes through their doors.

Entrees include:

PRIME RIB (Slow roasted w/ queen & king portions!)

PORTERHOUSE PORK CHOP (House breaded and flash fried w/ gravy!)

FRESH FISH (Served pan seared or fried)

OVEN ROASTED BBQ CHICKEN (Oven roasted & served w/ Sweet Baby Ray’s!)

EGG PLANT or CHICKEN PARMESAN (Hand breaded; topped w/ marinara & provolone)

SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS (With our fresh homemade marinara sauce)

Daily Breakfast Specials Feature:

Eggs Benedict

Eggs Benedict with Crabmeat

Homemade Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs

Creamed Chipped Beef

Country Sausage Gravy & Biscuits

Fried Chicken & Waffles (Meaty Wings on a Belgian Waffle)

OMELETTES stuffed with: Cheese (Swiss, Cheddar or American), Bacon, Pork Roll, Ham, Scrapple or Sausage, Fresh Crab Meat, Surf & Turf,Chipped Beef or Sausage Gravy, Home Fry, Cream Cheese & Tomato, Western or Veggie Style,

or “Build Your Own” Omelet (Your own combination of just about anything on the menu!)

The Decatur Diner is just minutes from downtown Ocean City, 

Ocean Pines & Berlin, MD at it’s convenient new location on Rt. 611, 

less than 1 mile south of Rt. 50 in West OC.

What was on the menu for our last visit? Well it was The Pipeline of course! Piled high w/ home fries, egg, onions, sausage, cheese, & gravy. We got one with sausage gravy on it, you can also get cream chipped beef on it.

This thing does not come with a defibrillator though after indulging in it, you may want to have one close by!

Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Conference

Save the Dec. 4 and 5 for the CLM's Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Conference The CLM will be hosting its expanded Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Conference on December 4 and 5 in New York City. This perennial favorite conference brings together hundreds of participants, most of whom are industry-leading professionals, to discuss cutting-edge insurance bad faith and coverage topics. The conference planning committee is busy putting together the best conference to date. Past CLM Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage conferences included executives from the following companies: ACE Advanced Disposal AIG ALEXI Professional Services, Inc. Allstate Amerisure Arbella Argo Group US AXA Insurance Company AXIS Insurance Canal Insurance Carolina Casualty Claim Insights, Inc. CNA Fireman's Fund Homesite Group Infinity Insurance Liberty Mutual Navigators OneBeacon PLS Claims QBE RiverStone Resources Sedgwick CMS State Farm Summit Consulting Tower Hill Insurance Travelers Universal North America Zurich North America As an added bonus, the CLM Holiday Party will be held the evening of December 4 in Rockefeller Plaza. There is no cost to attend this great networking event and priority registration is given to those registered for the Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Conference. Registration will open on September 4, but mark your calendar today! CLM Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Conference December 4 and 5 New York City

171 West 71st Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10023

*This posting is for informational purposes only, as a courtesy to our reading audience. Provencher & Company has in no way been compensated for the sharing of this information. The use of or enrollment in any classes, seminars, training, etc. in no way constitutes or implies any endorsement of the provider of said programs. Provencher & Company shares no financial obligation to attendee or organizer.

Webinar Wednesday: Ten Things You Should Know About Social Media in Claims and Litigation

THIS WEEK WE RECOMMEND* THE FOLLOWING WEBINAR:

Ten Things You Should Know About 

Social Media in Claims and Litigation

The purpose of this webinar will be to introduce attendees to several things about the impact of social media on claims and litigation. We will cover where to look for social media information, how to look, ethical considerations, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure regarding social media, and spoliation. If you ever have concern that one of your claimants or plaintiffs is misrepresenting the nature and extent of their injuries, this webinar is for you.

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT

 

PRESENTED BY:

*This posting is for informational purposes only, as a courtesy to our reading audience. Provencher & Company has in no way been compensated for the sharing of this information. The use of or enrollment in any classes, seminars, training, etc. in no way constitutes or implies any endorsement of the provider of said programs. Provencher & Company shares no financial obligation to attendee or organizer.

Raiders of the Lost Profits - Part Three: Search for the Grail

He chose poorly…

Covered Cause of Loss vs. Actual Cause of Loss

Or better yet, Covered Cause of Loss vs. Actual Cause of Loss vs. Perceived Cause of Loss.  This is what our adjuster must help us decipher.  The ‘covered’ causes of loss possible for business interruption/loss of income can range from slightly different to radically different than for your property assignment. That said, the business interruption/loss of income coverage is not necessarily actuated by the ‘covered’ cause of loss.  So…documenting both the covered and actual cause of loss is essential during the property adjuster’s inspection:

• Take photos of ALL the physical damage – including that which is ‘not’ damaged and that which is ‘not’ covered property 
• Business Interruption coverage can be actuated by a ‘covered’ cause of loss to the business space even if the structure itself is not covered under the insured’s policy
• Conversely, if only BPP was damaged and there was no damage to the business space, coverage may be actuated only to the extent that of physical damage to BPP from a covered cause
• Get the contact information for the landlord, and/or a lease
• Note the use of the structure
• Note any power outage, whether it is on or off-premises and inquire if the cause of the outage is known at the time of inspection – get the name of the insured’s power supplier
• Note damage in the area.  Is damage widespread or confined to the insured’s specific area?  Was there a mandatory evacuation order in force during the interruption in business operation.  If so, inquire if a copy of the order is available
• Note the existence of any multiple entities
• For losses involving commercial or habitation rental properties, note units vacant at the time of the loss as well as any relocation activity for the tenants and make sure the unit designations reported as damaged match the insured’s unit reference
• ASK THE INSURED WHY THEY BELIEVE THE BUSINESS IS SHUT DOWN

Observation and documentation of the business activity at the time of your inspection and inquiry about the activity between the loss date and your inspection will go a long way in making the Business Interruption process easier for us at the Business Interruption office, as well as easier for our client and for the insured.

BI Unit Workflow -Interface with Prop Adjuster Part One

******

Raiders of the Lost Profit series:

Introduction: Introduction to Inspection for BI

Part One: The Secrets of Daily Loss Inspection

Part Two: Adventures in CAT Inspections

Part Three: Search for the Grail:Covered Cause of Loss vs. Actual Cause of Loss

Part Four: Pit of Snakes:  Establishing Period of Restoration

Part Five: Reporting to HQ:  Here’s What We Know So Far

Written & Contributed by:

Kandy Ray

Funeral Processions and the Right-of-Way

Have you ever been in a funeral procession and run through a red light? Better be careful where you do so or the police may surprise you with a ticket. This article highlights this issue and provides a State-by-State analysis of these laws.

A funeral procession is a convoy of friends, relatives, and family members following the hearse from the funeral home to the burial site. Through the ages it has varied from people walking and carrying the deceased, to the modern entourage of limousines and automobiles. Most states have enacted statutes governing the procedures and traffic laws governing a procession as well as the legal requirements for yielding to one. Quite often, all vehicles in the funeral will be marked with a purple funeral flag issued by the funeral home. All drivers will be told to turn their headlights on. 

The hearse will be the first vehicle in the procession followed by the spouse, children, immediate family members, and friends. In most states the lead vehicle must observe all traffic lights, but when the lead car has proceeded through an intersection, the rest of the funeral train may proceed without stopping. The procession is often accompanied by law enforcement vehicles to ensure the safety of the procession when running a red light. Cars traveling in the opposite direction of a procession may yield out of respect, if they want, but in most states, they don’t have to yield, slow or stop at all. Clearly, this is a recipe for disaster.

Click here to see a complete listing of laws by state, and to read the rest of this article published by Claims Journal. 

Liability: Dissecting a Bodily Injury Evaluation

"General Liability investigations often hinge on key elements developed by the investigator. Any one of the facts you obtain will direct your determination of liability and damages. This article addresses the key elements to include in your investigation." 

Brian Single

Sr. Claim Examiner

Provencher & Company

******

Dissecting a BI Evaluation
Determining liability is a critical element of the investigation

One of the most complex aspects of claims adjusting is that of bodily injury investigation. In this article, we are going to simplify the process and share key elements of the investigation that will ultimately drive outcomes.

Provided that coverage is in line, the immediate task at hand for new claims is to determine liability. It is important to remember that a claimant must prove both liability and damages in order for him to be legally entitled to compensation. 

Liability is crucial because comparative negligence is so often overlooked. When speaking with claims executives, they often lament the frequency at which claims are settled at either 0% or 100% with the occasional 50% sprinkled in for good measure. The reality is that roughly 3% of all claims are settled with a comparative negligence assessment. When compared to the more than 50% of all cases adjudicated by juries in which comparative negligence is assessed, a huge opportunity for organizational improvement emerges. Continue reading....

This article, in it's entirety, was originally published by Property Casualty 360  

Trial by Fire: Junk Science

As every adjuster knows, finding the cause of a fire can help pursue subrogation or aid in the criminal investigation of those deemed responsible. However, with a more thorough knowledge of the science behind fires, what most of us were taught has radically changed. The following story is an example of how old science convicted an innocent man and how the new science helped free him.

What remained of the Gavitt’s home after a fire on March 9, 1985

********

For the 26 years David Lee Gavitt sat in a Michigan prison, he told everyone who would listen that he did not set the fire that killed his wife and two baby girls. Nearly 25 years would pass before some of the nation’s top fire experts would tell him they believed him.

“David’s case was the classic example of a bad arson case,” said John Lentini, a leading fire scientist who reviewed Gavitt’s case during the effort to get his conviction overturned. “People jumped to conclusions.”

Since Gavitt’s conviction in 1986, the field of fire investigation has been turned on its head. Scientists and investigators have discovered that features long considered signs of a fire intentionally set, in fact also occur during accidents. This has prompted the re-examination of arson convictions across the country that may have been based on bad science.

To read the story by NBC.com in its entirety, click here. 

Failure to File a Proof of Loss is Fatal

If you think a proof of loss is just a piece of paper that is required by insurance companies, think again.  As the following policy holder found out, failing to complete that proof of loss can have wide-reaching effects. 

Failure to File a Proof of Loss is Fatal, and the Defense Does Not Require a Showing of Prejudice

by Dick Bennett

On June 3, Connecticut’s intermediate level appellate court held that the failure of a policyholder to file a sworn statement in proof of loss was fatal to his claim.  Palkimas v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 150 Conn.App. 655, 2014 Conn.App. LEXIS 244 (June 3, 2014) rejected the insured’s arguments that prejudice need be shown, holding that while the insurance company may well need to make a showing of prejudice in cases involving the belated submission of a proof, its burden to make such a showing never arises in cases in which the insured has never submitted such a document.

Richard Palkimas was insured under a homeowner’s policy issued by State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, and he sustained two losses.  The first occurred in September 2006, “when workers negligently used a toilet that had been blocked off resulting in a buildup of sewage, and the breaking and rupturing of a sanitary pipe, as well as the spreading of sewage and fecal matter throughout the home.”  Then in January of the following year, the policyholder discovered that “freezing temperatures caused substantial damage to [his] home, including fracturing of the plaster walls and building structure.”

The insured made claim for both events, and he hired a public adjuster to negotiate with State Farm on his behalf.  It was undisputed, however, that he never filed a sworn statement in proof of loss in connection with either claim.  The insurer ultimately denied coverage for both, contending that the policyholder’s failure to submit a proof meant that he had failed to satisfy a condition precedent to coverage under the contract of insurance. Read Entire Article

Raiders of the Lost Profits - Part Two: Introduction to Inspection for BI - Adventures in CAT Inspection

Introduction to Inspection for BI:

Adventures in CAT Inspection

The issues we deal with in every storm, with respect to Business Interruption, are Civil Authority, Off-Premises Power Outage and Spoilage, all of which sound innocuous but can get mired down in other issues such as wind vs. flood and covered cause of loss vs. actual cause of loss.

But it’s the storms with large scale devastation that sometimes finds us shouting, “CATs!  I hate CATs!”

Some of the additional issues we faced in both Katrina and Sandy were:

•Issues with insured type:  high profile attorney firms, CPA’s, plastic surgeons, bed & breakfasts, multi-location damage, multi-unit, multi-complex and multi-use habitation losses
•Other convoluting issues such as:  high profile agents, public adjusters, total loss of financial documentation
•Issues resulting from lack of communication with insured to manage expectations with respect to: Covered Cause of Loss, Period of Restoration, Extra Expense, Time Deductibles, and Coinsurance
•And finally, issues resulting from inadequate inspection and reporting

Yes, there are a lot of reasons to hate CATs, but BI doesn’t have to be one of them!!  And that begins with inspection of the loss.  Slightly different than inspection for daily claims, inspection for BI after a catastrophe is simultaneously focused on both physical and non-physical damage, actual causes of what might be multiple factors that shut down (either fully or partially) a business and what actuates coverage.

To help you complete your mission and move on to other important missions, we have developed a simple worksheet that can provide the basis for your reporting on Business Interruption and a tool we at the Business Interruption office can use to pick up the claim complete our part of the claim mission.

******

Business Interruption Checklist: CAT Inspection

****** 

Raiders of the Lost Profit series:

Introduction: Introduction to Inspection for BI

Part One: The Secrets of Daily Loss Inspection

Part Two: Adventures in CAT Inspections

Part Three: Search for the Grail:Covered Cause of Loss vs. Actual Cause of Loss

Part Four: Pit of Snakes:  Establishing Period of Restoration

Part Five: Reporting to HQ:  Here’s What We Know So Far

Written & Contributed by:

Kandy Ray

Leading-edge "Certificates of Insurance Bill" signed in Connecticut

It's a start. Certificates of Insurance are one of the most misleading documents in the insurance industry. As the attached article reflects, some states are addressing these pesky items and enforcing change. I hope that the trend catches on!

********

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recently signed into law H.B.5248 that prohibits the inappropriate use and issuance of certificates of insurance.

The Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut Inc., an industry association which has been an active supporter of H.B.5248, applauded the bill’s signing. The association said insurance producers in Connecticut have often been pressed by third parties to issue certificates of insurance that seem to expand or amend the policy or make representations about the policy’s fitness for specific contracts, or issue non-certificate advisory documents attempting to make similar statements.......

The article goes on to say: “PIACT applauds Gov. Malloy for his leadership in recognizing the importance of this law,” said Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut President Peter Frascarelli. “It allows diligent and responsible professional, independent insurance agents to refuse to issue inaccurate certificates of insurance without being put in an awkward position in which they may be perceived as not helping out their clients.” 

To read the article by Insurance Journal in its entirety and to learn more about this trailblazing bill, click here. 

Contributed by:

Brian Single

Sr. Claim Examiner

Elements to Consider for Good Faith Analysis of Settlement Demand

Illinois Court Outlines Elements to Consider for Good Faith Analysis of Settlement Demand Cozen O'Connor presents the latest edition of the Global Insurance - Bad Faith Alert titled "Illinois Court Outlines Elements to Consider for Good Faith Analysis of Settlement Demand" by Kevin Kamraczewski and Megan E. Whitehill.  To settle or not to settle: that is the question for liability insurers. If you are pondering whether you must accept a plaintiff’s settlement offer, read on. A recent Illinois case, Huang v. Brenson, 7 N.E.3d 729 (Ill. App. Ct. 2014), may shed some light. Plaintiff John Z. Huang represented Yongping Zhou in a deportation suit. Mid-suit, Zhou terminated the representation and retained another attorney. Throughout the course of the litigation, Zhou hired several more attorneys and ultimately succeeded in vacating his domestic violence conviction after spending two years in an Immigration and Naturalization Service detention center. Zhou then sued Huang for legal malpractice. The full article presented by Cozen O'Conner can be found here. Kevin Kamraczewski Member Global Insurance Department (312) 382-3156 kkamraczewski@cozen.com Megan E. Whitehill Associate Litigation Section (212) 453-3721 mwhitehill@cozen.com

Save The Date: LA DOI 2014 Conference on Insurance Fraud & Vehicle Theft

SAVE THE DATE:

2014 Conference on Insurance Fraud & Vehicle Theft

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Baton Rouge Marriott

5500 Hilton Avenue

Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Raiders of the Lost Profits - Part One: Secrets of Daily Loss Inspection

Introduction to Inspection for BI:  

Secrets of Daily Loss Inspection

Official mission documents arrive at your office via the W5 connection, loaded with code books and rolled up maps.  Being a cautious guy or gal, you peruse all the secret documents and determine that you will take the assignment.

Arriving at the marketplace, your first observation is that there is activity, people buying and selling in all the stalls but the one you’ve been sent to check out.  You approach the building and find the proprietor sweeping mud out of the front door.  Time for the rubber boots.

Wading through the water, the proprietor leads you to the back of the building to show you a hole in the roof you could throw a camel through.  Prepared, as always, you (yes, Our Hero) begin your inspection, which includes, of course, recording everything you can observe that might have an impact on the business that is normally conducted in that establishment.

******

To assist you with the inspection of daily losses, we at the Business Interruption office have devised a list of some of the things that you should be observing and of which note should be taken in the course of your inspection. The Checklist for Daily Inspection is attached to this correspondence. Remember, whether the proprietor is covered for Business Income or not, you should always observe and make note of the information on the list because you (of course, Our Hero) are out first opportunity to obtain the initial information. Note that we have included a second page on the Checklist for listing units for rental property.

Business Interruption Checklist: Daily Inspection 

******

Raiders of the Lost Profit series:

Introduction: Introduction to Inspection for BI

Part One: The Secrets of Daily Loss Inspection

Part Two: Adventures in CAT Inspections

Part Three: Search for the Grail:Covered Cause of Loss vs. Actual Cause of Loss

Part Four: Pit of Snakes:  Establishing Period of Restoration

Part Five: Reporting to HQ:  Here’s What We Know So Far

Written & Contributed by:

Kandy Ray

******

Social Media Thieves

Wow! Everyone is using social media. Isn’t it great? 

Well apparently some less honorable folks have found a way to better time a robbery – when you’ve just told everyone on your social media website that you off for 3 days in Lake Wherever.

The statistics in this article reflect that summer time in Canada, especially Friday evenings, are the best times to break into a residence.

Be careful with what you post to the public!

Thieves Use Social Media to Plan Summer Home Burglaries

Data from Aviva Canada shows that residential burglary claims increase dramatically over the summer months. Compared to February – which has the lowest frequency of burglaries – July, August and September show an increase of 24 percent, 36 percent and 18 percent respectively. Read Entire Article 

Court Case: An Insurance Claim for Feng Shui

Attached is another interesting court case received by Cozen O’Connor.  

The case is about an insured who wanted to hire a Feng Shui Consultant after repairs were made. She had originally hired this consultant when her business first opened. According to her affidavits, the feng shui consultant was retained “to come in and change crystals and perform additional cures to help to restore the location to its original condition,” to “restore energy balance,” and to determine “placement of furniture and dealing with forces of Qi.”  

The courts determined the cost of restoring “energy balance” is not a direct “physical” loss and therefore not recoverable under the insurance policy. Read the entire article here.

Contributed by:

Jim Abbott

Got Damage? What Every Insured Should Know

If your property is damaged by a hurricane, tornado, hailstorm or similar disaster, here is what you should do to assure quick handling of your insurance claim: 

1. Assess the damage to the best of your ability and be prepared to give an accurate description of the amount and type of damage. Make sure you state whether the premises were rendered inhabitable as a result of the damages. This will allow your company to send out an adjuster with the appropriate level of experience, based on the level of damage.

2. Notify your insurance carrier or agent as soon as possible. The insurance contract requires notification as soon as possible after a loss. Be sure to leave a telephone number where you can be contacted and a complete address of the location so the company can get an adjuster to the scene quickly. Be sure to stay in touch with your adjuster and respond to calls promptly.Catastrophes can generate hundreds of claims, so communication and cooperation is vital for a quick resolution to your claim. 

3. If debris (such as a fallen tree or downed power line) prevents access to the covered property, or if such debris could increase your damage, tell your agent when you report the loss. 

4. Make whatever temporary repairs are necessary to prevent further damage, theft, or vandalism. Repairs of this kind could include boarding up broken windows and covering holes in the roof with temporary materials. Making temporary repairs is required by the insurance company, and is good advice regardless (your insurance will usually cover the reasonable cost of temporary 
repairs). DO NOT make permanent repairs to your damaged property unless the adjuster has reviewed your claim and given you permission to restore your property. 

5. Photograph damaged areas prior to making temporary repairs if possible. Doing so will strengthen your claim and help with the presentation of your loss. 

6. If you can, get one or two detailed estimates for permanent repairs from a reliable contractor, and give these estimates to the adjuster. Beware of “fly-by-night” operators who often follow a storm into town. Check with the Better Business Bureau before doing business with any vendor you don’t know. Keep in mind that public adjusters are illegal in some states. 

7. Refrain from signing any contract for restoration or repairs prior to discussing it with your company adjuster. Your adjuster can play a key role in helping you avoid price gouging after a catastrophe, but he/she won’t be able to negotiate a reasonable price for services if you’ve already signed a contract. 

8. Prepare an inventory of all damaged or destroyed property for the adjuster. Be sure to keep a copy for your records, and be sure NOT to discard ANY items before the adjuster is given a reasonable amount of time to inspect them.

9. Collect canceled checks, invoices, receipts or other documents that will help the adjuster place a proper value on damaged or destroyed property. Keep ALL receipts and invoices for EVERY expense you incur after the loss, including items such as tarps, boards, cleaning supplies, etc. 

10. It is always a good idea to read through your policy and review coverage and exclusions prior to a claim so you will know what to expect. Have a list of your property prior to a loss: You could have a lot of seemingly insignificant items and supplies, but those items add up quickly! 

Warning 

Unlicensed or unscrupulous persons may pose as adjusters or, being an adjuster, may pose a threat to consumers. Public adjusters, in particular, may pose a problem since they don’t work for any company or company-adjusting firm. Unlicensed public adjusters have not demonstrated their competency to adjust claims nor have they posted the required surety bond. You are encouraged to report any such activity to local authorities. Please caution any clients that, if they contract with a public adjuster, they are authorizing the claim check to be made payable to both themselves or a mortgagee and the adjuster.

Reprint from:
Natalie Dominguez with AmWINS Brokerage of Georgia.