When businesses think about protecting themselves from risk, they often focus on property damage, natural disasters, or customer lawsuits. However, one of the most damaging and often overlooked threats comes from within: employee theft. No matter the size of your business, a dishonest employee can cause massive financial harm—and many business owners find out too …
Merlin Law Group, P.A.
Merlin Law Group is a national insurance claim litigation firm that handles commercial property insurance claims, residential property insurance claims and bad faith claims. Our dedicated team of insurance attorneys are committed to resolving your property insurance claims.
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http://www.merlinlawgroup.com/
Latest from Merlin Law Group, P.A. - Page 2
Partial Denials Start Statute of Limitations Time Clock in National Flood Claims
By Chip Merlin
When handling National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims, public adjusters and policyholders must be alert to critical warning signs. One of the most important phrases to recognize is: “We denied a portion of your claim.” Those few words, even if buried in a lengthy letter, should ring loud alarm bells. Under NFIP rules, a partial ……
Amy Bach and United Policyholders: A Lasting Legacy of Advocacy and Action for Insurance Consumers
By Chip Merlin
Few voices for policyholder interests and their rights have remained as consistent, credible, and compassionate as Amy Bach and her team at United Policyholders. I spent yesterday afternoon in Sonoma, California, speaking with Amy, a number of her current and former professional staff members, volunteers who have worked the Maui and Los Angeles wildfires, and ……
Keep Track of Your Insurance Policies—Make Insurance Checkups
By Chip Merlin
Most people don’t think much about their insurance policies after they buy them. A bill shows up, they pay it, and life moves on. Insurance becomes almost invisible—until something happens. A catchy TV ad might remind them to shop around for a better rate, but otherwise, the details of their coverage stay buried in paperwork ……
Is It Proper for Field Adjusters to Only Look for What the Insured Shows as Damage?
By Chip Merlin
Imagine this: your Florida home has just been torn apart by a hurricane. You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and trying to show the insurance adjuster the gaping hole in the roof. Maybe you forget to mention the water-soaked baseboards or the sagging ceiling across the house. Maybe you don’t even notice the cracked foundation because you’re focused ……
Florida’s DOAH Arbitration Disaster: How the Legislature Gave Citizens a License to Steamroll Policyholders
By Chip Merlin
In 2023, the Florida Legislature made a catastrophic mistake that is now hurting thousands of Floridians. They handed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation — our state-run insurer of last resort — the ability to force policyholders into administrative arbitration at the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) instead of letting disputes be decided by a jury of ……
The New “Notice” Trap: Better Ring a Bell for Every Coverage You Might Claim
By Chip Merlin
Sometimes, decisions come along that make me wonder if judges are reading the same insurance policies and insurance laws the rest of us are. The recent Florida Clark opinion 1 is one of them. According to this sparkling gem of judicial thought, it turns out that it’s not enough to tell your insurance company, “Hey, my house ……
Claims Made with No Payment Is Also a Florida Insurance Crisis
By Chip Merlin
A new report, 14 Florida Insurers Closed Over Half of Homeowner Damage Claims with Zero Payment in 2024, 1 has revealed that 14 Florida insurers closed over half of homeowner damage claims without making any payment in 2024. For those of us who closely follow Florida’s insurance market, this headline is alarming but, unfortunately, not ……
A Basic Understanding of Antitrust Law for Claims Adjusters
By Chip Merlin
If you are a claims adjuster, you probably hear about “antitrust laws” once in a blue moon. I suspect that the only time the topic may come up is at an industry seminar or trade conference. Someone usually reads a quick warning at the beginning of the event telling everyone to avoid certain topics, and ……