Federal Judge Holds Up “Earth Movement” Insurance Policy Exclusion
On March 16, 2018, an Illinois federal judge ruled that an “earth movement” exclusion in a commercial building’s insurance policy allowed Acuity Mutual Insurance Company to avoid paying the repair costs for damages to its Insureds’ building. What was this insurance case about? Back in August 2013, SSV and Temperature Service performed excavation around their…
Read MoreJudge Sides with Insurance Company in Dispute Over Grace Period
A Pennsylvania federal judge ruled on March 9, 2018 that Cincinnati Insurance Company didn’t have to pay out more than $100,000 to its policyholder Wescott Electric Co. regarding a multi-million-dollar theft. U.S. District Judge Gene Pratter pointed out that Wescott should have been aware of the discontinuation of grace periods for claims reporting in their…
Read MoreKey Insurance Decisions to Keep an Eye on This Spring
Over the next few months, insurance experts and policyholders should pay attention to some key decisions expected by the courts. Several rulings set to come out over the next few months include decisions on insurance bad faith, coverage for data breaches, interpretation of computer fraud provisions, and settling a dispute over covering asbestos-related injuries. Some…
Read MoreThe Role of the Public Adjuster in the Claims Process
There are primarily three different types of adjusters. There are independent adjusters who work for the insurance company. They’re not employed by the insurance company, but they work only for them, not for the policy holder. There’s in-house adjusters, who’re actually employed by the insurance companies. Then the third type are public adjusters, and public…
Read MoreAssignment of Claim after a Loss: What Homeowners Should Know
Let’s start with the basics. If you, as a homeowner, sustain property damage or losses because of a covered event (like a fire, for example), you will need your home repaired. You choose a contractor or restoration company to do the work – but the check from the insurance company has not come through yet,…
Read MoreReasons to Use a Commercial Property Appraiser
Utilizing the services of an experienced local appraiser is very important when you are purchasing commercial real estate. An appraiser’s job is to perform a market analysis on the property to arrive at its appraised value. This appraisal value reflects the property’s condition and the current market – all of which can help you make…
Read MoreThe 2017 California Devastation and the Insurance Claim Fight
California suffered the most devastating series of wildfires in its history during 2017. The losses are sobering in terms of human life and property loss. Regarding the latter, home and business owners who have incurred losses may be up for some challenges when it comes to obtaining a satisfactory insurance claim result. As of mid-December,…
Read MoreFire Insurance Claims – What to Do Before and After Your Loss
In order to ensure you are adequately protected in the wake of significant fire damage to your home or property, it is essential first and foremost to buy and maintain property insurance. Make sure that your policy provides protection for your various assets and that the coverage amounts are sufficient. Secondly, be sure to keep…
Read MoreWhat Do I Do if My Claim Has Been Denied?
If your claim has been denied, the first thing you need to do is talk to a lawyer. Call us. We’d be happy to take a look at it. Your claim can be denied for a variety of reasons, and there’s no way to know if the reason that’s been given is a legal one,…
Read MoreWhy You Have to Give an Examination Under Oath (EUO)
Insureds, or policyholders, get letters generally from an insurance company requesting that an examination under oath be taken. An insured has to appear for the examination under oath. There’s a cooperation clause contained within almost every policy of insurance that requires an insured, as part of his obligations under the policy, to cooperate in the…
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