Omega Insurance Appraisals

03/26/2026

We are pleased to announce the winner of our recent drone giveaway.

Congratulations to Jeff Whittington! We appreciate your support in the appraisal community and hope you enjoy your new drone!

Thank you to everyone who entered. Your participation is valued, and we look forward to future opportunities to engage with our community.

03/20/2026

We are pleased to announce that Omega Insurance Appraisals will be attending and sponsoring the Iowa Claims Conference, taking place March 23–25, 2026.
As a trusted provider of insurance appraisal and umpire services, our team is looking forward to connecting with industry professionals, sharing insights, and continuing to support fair and accurate claims resolution.

We invite you to visit our booth to meet with our experienced appraisers, learn more about our services, and discuss how Omega Insurance Appraisals can support your organization. While visiting our booth, be sure to ask one of our appraisers for a QR code to enter our conference giveaway.
The winner will be drawn during the event, so don’t miss your opportunity to participate.

We look forward to engaging with peers across the industry and building meaningful connections throughout the conference.

Toby J. Johnson

03/17/2026

Is the appraisal process a tool, or a weapon?

The appraisal clause was created to help resolve disputes over the amount of loss. But in today’s environment, many in the industry believe it is sometimes used as leverage rather than as the neutral process it was intended to be.

Join John C. Robison, James Dombrowski, Steve Shannon, and Toby J. Johnson at the Iowa Claims Conference as they discuss why the appraisal process should not be weaponized and what it means to preserve the integrity of the process.

“The Deweaponization of the Appraisal Process: Cutting the Infamous Green Wire.”

📅 March 25, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 Embassy Suites by Hilton, Downtown Des Moines, Iowa

If you work in claims, appraisal, adjusting, consulting, or dispute resolution, this will be an important conversation you will not want to miss.

03/15/2026

When Toby J. Johnson was retained to serve as an appraiser in a homeowners association dispute in Ohio, the parties had reached an impasse regarding the amount of loss for a 44 building property. Mr. Johnson and the OA (other appraiser) had worked together on prior matters, and that existing professional relationship, along with mutual respect, helped create an efficient and productive appraisal process.

As a result, the dispute was fully resolved in just 96 days, without the need for an umpire to decide disagreements between the two appraisers. Their professionalism and commitment to accuracy allowed the matter to be resolved after issuance of the appraisal award, while also avoiding costly and unnecessary litigation for the parties.

This is a textbook example of why it is so important to engage a qualified industry expert and true professional as your appraiser. Even large, complex, and seven figure disputes can be resolved efficiently and amicably when the parties select professionals who are committed to telling the truth, focused on the facts, and unwavering in their pursuit of accuracy.

02/14/2026

Recently Toby J. Johnson worked a large commercial appraisal where he and the other appraiser had valued the loss approximately $3 million apart on alleged hail damage to a commercial roofing system.

As expected on a matter of this size, both appraisers retained meteorologists to support their weather conclusions, and the other appraiser had his meteorologist present for the umpire inspection. The two meteorologists were largely aligned, with limited differences in interpretation and slight variations in their conclusions. The other appraiser’s meteorologist provided testimony to the umpire in a professional, clear, and well supported manner.

What stood out most was when the panel moved to the roof for field inspection and hail damage evaluation, including destructive testing, the meteorologist joined the roof inspection and observed the testing and analysis in real time.

We appreciate that level of commitment and engagement. Meteorologists often analyze storm behavior from data, radar, and modeling, so seeing one actively participate in field level roof observations and destructive testing demonstrated real professional commitment to expanding practical understanding of how hail damage presents in real world conditions.

When the meeting concluded, the two appraisers were still amicable and professional, despite their differences in scope and interpretation of the damage.

This is another example that high value disputes can be resolved without becoming contentious or adversarial. Collaboration, professionalism, and integrity in appraisal will always drive better results.

01/29/2026

Congratulations, Paul, on successfully earning your Certified Property Loss Appraisal (CPLA) designation through the The Property Loss Appraisal Network P L A N

Paul is a seasoned adjuster and building consultant, and this milestone is a strong signal of what comes next. He has “sharpened his pencil”, expanded his toolkit, and stepped into the appraisal arena, where clear scope, defensible valuation, and professional dispute resolution matter.

A sincere thank you as well to John Robison for the instruction, guidance, and professionalism throughout the course. Having a strong instructor makes a real difference, and John is the kind of leader who elevates the standard for everyone in the room.

Well done, Paul. Looking forward to seeing you put this to work.

01/28/2026

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler

This is going to be one heck of a great conference.

Join us March 9th - March 11th to earn the PLAN Appraiser Certification, or;

Join us March 11th - March 13th to earn the PLAN Umpire Certification, or;

If you think you've got what it takes, join us for the entire week and earn both certifications together.

The line up of guest speakers and panelists are second to none!

The food is always top tier and being catered by one of NOLA's Top Three Caterers of Authentic Cajun Cuisine.

And who doesn't want to be in New Orleans on a Friday the 13th.

So sign up today and join us as we cut through all of the Hoodoo & Voodoo of Appraisal.

If it is time for your three year re-certification contact us for the recertification code.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/plan-appraiser-umpire-certification-course-new-orleans-la-tickets-1826276725849?aff=oddtdtcreator

Contact us for Hotel and Group Discounts!

844-344-PLAN (7526)
[email protected]
www.theplanonline.org
Veteran Discounts available

01/22/2026

Harris County, Texas
Court Appointed Appraisal Umpire

A $2M plus dispute.
Five buildings.
Three professionals.
One unanimous, three-party award.

Start to finish, completed in under 90 days.

This outcome did not happen by chance. It happened because the appraisal process was respected. The appraisers initially disagreed on the amount of loss, but both stayed disciplined, professional, and committed to the same outcome, getting it right.

Professionalism matters.
Preparation matters.
Process matters.

As an appraisal umpire, the job is straightforward and non-negotiable. Maintain neutrality, clarity, and disciplined project management. Set expectations early, maintain an even and fair playing field, keep the panel focused on evidence and methodology, and move the file forward without gamesmanship.

When the umpire stays impartial, organized, and committed to respecting the sanctity of appraisal, the process can do what it is supposed to do, resolve complex disputes efficiently, and produce an award the parties can trust.

01/21/2026

The trusted Euro model is north of the GFS with the main access of heaviest snow with a more amplified trough and eventual more northern track of the surface low.

The Euro shows up to 2 feet of snowfall across northern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas into central/aouthern Missouri and the Ozark Plateau in northern Arkansas. With this solution, Tulsa, Kansas City and Louisville would get clobbered.

Vast model discrepancy still exists between the GFS and Euro models.

Stay tuned for updates!

12/01/2025

https://www.tninsurancelitigation.com/2025/11/tennessee-federal-court-enforces-appraisal-award-full-roof-replacement-required-after-wind-loss-to-small-section-of-roofing/

In Nashville Communications, Inc. v. Auto-Owners Insurance Company, the Middle District of Tennessee addressed a dispute many commercial policyholders

11/15/2025

Another Tennessee Court got it right!

Federal Court reaffirms: once coverage is acknowledged for any part of a loss, determining the scope, (means, and methods of repair) falls squarely within the appraisal panel’s authority under Tennessee law.

Nashville Communications, Inc. v. Auto-Owners Insurance Company, No. 3:2024cv01020 - Document 47 (M.D. Tenn. 2025)