Steven Coombs is someone I would affectionally call a master insurance coverage nerd. He recently wrote an International Risk Management Institute n/k/a IRMI article, General Requirements versus General Conditions. He stated the following: Both general requirements and general conditions are indirect costs of construction but are essential to the overall execution of a construction project. …
Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
THE POLICYHOLDER'S ADVOCATE®
Blog Authors
Latest from Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
Keeping Up with New Appraisal Procedures and Law? Don’t Miss the IAUA Conference February 19-20
Thoughts On Unethical Claims Adjusters After a Public Question Is Posed on LinkedIn
Nebraska is famous for many things—Cornhuskers football, Warren Buffett, and now, apparently, unethical insurance adjusters. Who knew? Tristan Miles is a public adjuster in Nebraska. She asked me the following question on LinkedIn: I would love to hear your thoughts on unethical adjusters in Nebraska and solutions for us? My first thought is that the ……
From Exclusions to Coverage: Court Says No to Insurer’s Overly Broad Use of Exclusions
In a recent case from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Cincinnati Insurance Company v. Ropicky, 1 the court held that insurers may not deny legitimate claims based on policy exclusions that the insurer has broadly applied. The court emphasized that when policy language includes exceptions that restore coverage, insurers may not broadly deny coverage and ……
Boatowners Beware! Buy a Marine Policy Rather Than Relying Upon a Homeowners Policy For Coverage
Some people accuse me of collecting boats the way others collect coffee mugs—except instead of cluttering up my kitchen cabinets, they’re taking up space in marinas, driveways, and any patch of water I can find. With six sailboats and a motorboat, I consider myself an enthusiast, though my insurance agent probably sees me as a ……
Should You Accept Your Insurer’s Initial Wildfire Payout?
Recent wildfires in Southern California are putting new California insurance laws to the test. Insurers’ conduct and behavior vary wildly, even for people who hold similar policies with the same companies. For policyholders who have suffered total losses of their homes, many are being offered differing amounts of their Dwelling benefits. For example, a homeowner ……
Beware of a One-Year Deadline to File a Lawsuit—Always Hire a Public Adjuster If Your Insurer Makes You Adjust Your Own Claim
A recent federal court decision favoring Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in a pipe burst claim1 left me thinking about two lessons. First, this case strongly reminds policyholders to be aware of time limits in their insurance policies and take action as soon as they believe their claim is not being handled fairly. This is especially ……
Thoughts From a Policyholder Attorney of 40 Years About the 2025 Windstorm Conference
I formally started a policyholder law firm 40 years ago today. I mentioned that during my presentation yesterday at the Windstorm Conference while explaining how my perspective has developed. It seems like yesterday, but the world of property insurance claims has changed significantly since 1985. The 2025 Windstorm conference had more of a Texas flare ……
Managed Repair—Steve Badger Is About to Take a Significant Knockout on this Topic
Remember when Ali would predict the round when his opponent would lose? Badger is gonna take a hard one-two today when it comes to his promotion of managed repair provisions. I made the following comments about these types of provisions in Breaking News: Citizens Managed Repair Consent Form Violates Policy Language: The legislature needs to protect ……