YETMO -a myopic view of law and insurance

02/27/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1QMdQzwmqJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

"This increase in insurance can't continue. It's unsustainable," one Texas homeowner said in response to skyrocketing home insurance rates.

01/26/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DHFNTJSTw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The US Housing Market is getting hit by a collapse in the property insurance market in early 2025, with several regions around America facing an exodus of in...

12/09/2024

With holiday lights being put up and out, Christmas trees not getting properly watered, and heaters being set to close to flammable objects, fire are bound to occur. Praying everyone stays safe this winter.

If you find yourself, neighbors, families or friends in a fire, smoke or water situation, please reach out to me. I am a Public Insurance Adjuster. Believe it or not, the insurance company brings out and/or recommends their water and fire restoration technicians who are more likely to handle the claim that benefits the insurance company. I would rather help people get properly restored than to see four weeks down the road getting hired and explaining how furniture should have been trashed rather than stored and “cleaned.” Storage and “cleaning” takes money from the personal property coverage limit leaving you with reduced, little, or no monies to buy replacement items. Four weeks later, there will be no additional removal of damaged material, such as drywall or cabinetry.

I am IICRC Fire & Smoke, as well as Odor certified. I have insurance adjusting and public adjusting licenses. I have a 33-yr. trial paralegal background and am a Senior Claim Law Associate.

Email me or call: [email protected] or 713-565-2067.

Sharon Justice Black
Lady Justice Consulting Group, tipping the scales in your favor!

08/17/2024

Texas Fair Plan (TFP) is a quasi-government agency, like TWIA, which provides the insurance of last resort. The statutes have made these policies ACV policies, not replacement. Think long and hard about that. Your damages get depreciated perhaps up to 50%. You have to pay your large deductible, leaving the majority of the damages on your shoulders to pay.

You only get a TFP policy if your house is in disrepair and at least two other carriers decline you coverage. It is time to get busy fixing your or your family members’ houses. The homeowners policies are not “maintenance” policies. Make this a priority and get busy. Oh yeah, remember to vote smart, so you can have more money to get things done. Just sayin’.

This summary is for informational purposes only and may be subject to change; it is not intended to replace the TFPA Underwriting Manual.

08/17/2024

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/steven-badger-467b0322_a-well-respected-policyholder-attorney-sent-activity-7229815902626586624-HsZe?utm_source=screenshot_social_share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=copy_link

A well-respected policyholder attorney sent me a policy endorsement yesterday that she had just read in a potential new matter she was reviewing. She… | 180 comments on LinkedIn

07/20/2024

Steven Badger, insurance defense attorney:

As everyone knows, my early morning routine includes reading Chip Merlin's excellent daily blog. Not only because he often mentions me (lol), but primarily because it is probably the best source of information in the industry on hot topics involving the first-party property insurance industry.
Although I wasnt mentioned in today's blog (but I was anonymously quoted), it was one of his recent best. Chip just finished a three-part series on supplementing, including the growing industry of "supplementing companies." He addresses all the issues arising in the supplementing process.
I wont rehash everything Chip discusses, as I agree with most everything he stated, but I will add just this....
--Legitimate supplements submitted by the real brick-and-mortar contractor who did the work should absolutely be considered. If the contractor timely gave notice of the need for a supplement, the work had to be done pursuant to code and manufacturer requirements, the work actually was done, and the work was covered by the policy, then the supplement should be paid. And I have no problem with the contractor calling the insurance company and explaining the supplement (which is not UPPA).
--Insurance companies have no obligation to negotiate a supplement with a third-party company a thousand miles away who has never been to the loss site, who wrote a new Xactimate estimate after the work was done adding additional line items for the first time, who calls the insurance company and lies about being the actual contractor who did the work, and who takes a percentage of the supplement amount (which is UPPA).
I encourage everyone to read Chip's entire three part series on supplements. No doubt Chip and I will spend some time on the issue at Bob Norton's IAUA Certification Course in Badgerland (Park City) next week. A lot of appraisal demands are being filed based strictly on disputes involving supplements.

07/17/2024

Three $1 million donations were made by the Sarofim Foundation, H-E-B and the CenterPoint Energy Foundation to kickstart the recovery efforts.

07/12/2024

Some young chick chastised someone complaining that neighbor’s Sweet Gum tree did significant damage to a hurricane proof boat cover. She said people died so no one should be complaining. I knew she was you by the fact her comment had no punctuation, like she was sending a text. Don’t worry, I took her to task with this response.

Wow. Clearly, you are not a property owner.

Each person who went through this storm is suffering their own stress. Stress kills people, too. I am a Public Adjuster, person who handles insurance claims for policyholders.

What you need to understand is events like this disrupt lives. Sometimes these storms displace the entire family. Also, people may be worrying about their own damage AND elderly parents, disabled children, pets.

In addition, there is a huge financial burden for those in financial straits and/or on fixed incomes. Deductibles can easily be $3,000 to $30,000. It is actually criminal in Texas to not pay your deductible. Roofers and contractors offer to waive the deductible, but you are committing a crime by not paying it and you and the contractor/roofer are committing insurance fraud.

To top it all off, you have to fight insurance to pay the correct amount … then fight your mortgage company to release the money for repairs.

So, before you act like people should be ashamed of themselves for complaining because other people died, you need to show grace and understanding. There are worse things than death!

07/09/2024

You should not be expected to sign any contracts until you are ready to rebuild. It is a Class B Misdemeanor for anyone other than the insured, a licensed Public Adjuster, or an attorney to “handle” your insurance claim. Assignment of Benefits, related to homeowners claims, are illegal in Texas.