Articles by William Rabb

Fla. Plaintiff’s Attorney Disbarred, Public Adjuster May Lose License

Florida officials have taken strong action against two of the insurance industry’s most-detested adversaries, disbarring a notorious plaintiffs’ attorney who filed thousands of frivolous claims lawsuits, and moving to revoke the license of a public adjuster that obstructed insurers in …

Policyholders, Agents Say United Leaving Ian Claims in Limbo

The Florida Legislature’s insurance rescue bill, approved last week, won’t take effect soon enough to help policyholders and insurance agents who’ve had no response from beleaguered United Property & Casualty Co. on Hurricane Ian claims. The lack of information has …

Ky. Supreme Court Overturns Jury Verdict in Bad-Faith Claim

Cincinnati Insurance Co. dodged a $4.6 million judgment last week when the Kentucky Supreme Court found that a trial judge should have preempted a jury and granted a directed verdict in a bad-faith claim. If the injured third-party plaintiff failed …

Independent Adjusters Charge Florida Insurers With Doctoring Damage Estimates

Do some Florida property insurance companies hire independent adjusters to inspect property claims, then routinely alter their inspection reports to reduce estimated losses? Yes, and it’s a widespread and fraudulent practice, according to three adjusters who spoke Tuesday at a …

Pickleball Explosion in Florida Creating New Hits and Misses for Insurers, Agents

If the insurance industry hasn’t noticed, the sport known as pickleball is exploding across the country, especially in Florida, where more than 15 indoor clubs, replete with air conditioning, cafes, locker rooms, video training and other amenities are planned or …

Fla. Courts Upholding Appraisal Clauses that Bar Assignment of Benefit Cases

A Florida appeals court has upheld the dismissal of no fewer than 16 auto glass assignment-of-benefits lawsuits against Progressive Insurance companies, perhaps putting an exclamation point on the enforceability of appraisal clauses and policy language that bars claims litigation. The …

Two Farmers Indicted in Kentucky Crop Insurance Fraud

Two Kentucky farmers and a relative have been indicted for falsifying crop damage and exaggerating the size of their fields in order to reap crop insurance benefits. A federal grand jury last week charged Randall Taulbee and James McDonald, of …

Researchers Say Misleading FEMA Flood Maps Understate Risk

Researchers at North Carolina State University have added their voices to the growing number of people who say that federal flood maps are inadequate and misleading, causing thousands of homeowners to avoid needed flood insurance. “In fact, only about 4% …

Fla. Cat Fund May Borrow Billions Even Without Another Hurricane

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund is well equipped to handle losses from Hurricane Ian, which are now estimated to cost the fund about $10 billion, but it could mean the fund will have borrow billions next year – at steep …

Florida CFO Calls for Ban on Assignments of Benefits, Limits on Public Adjusters

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Florida’s chief financial officer has taken a hard line on insurance claims litigation, calling for an outright ban on assignments-of-benefits agreements. At a press conference in Cape Coral, a city hit hard by the …