Articles by William Rabb

Fla. Regulator Approves Roof Endorsements that Could Bar Non-Storm Claims

Despite the Florida Legislature taking major steps to rein in the cost of roof claims and litigation, at least two insurers have come out with broad roof endorsements that seek to bar claims for wear and tear, poor workmanship and …

Fla. Judge Slams SFR for Misrepresentations in Appraisals

SFR Services, a Florida restoration firm made famous by its volume of claims litigation and its charges that United Property & Casualty Insurance Co. had instructed desk adjusters to alter their estimates, now finds itself in some legal trouble of …

As Lawyers Warned, Fla. Courts Flooded with Suits Before Tort-Reform Bill Signed

Just as the plaintiffs’ law firm of Morgan & Morgan warned, the number of Florida lawsuits filed across the state has shattered previous records, topping 280,122 in April, the Florida Bar reported. That’s more than double the previous record set …

Some Fla. Insurers Stop Altering Adjuster Reports, but Claims Still Not Paid

Even before the Florida Legislature adopted the Insurer Accountability Act of 2023, requiring insurers to stop altering independent adjusters’ damage estimates without providing transparency, a number of Florida property insurers and adjuster firms stopped the practice on their own, said …

Fla. Appellant Claims ‘No-Work’ Light Duty is an Ex-Mod Ruse

Most people will be familiar with the posters at workplaces noting the number of days since a lost-time work injury. Well, there’s a dirty little secret behind that, one that helps employers avoid higher experience modifications on their workers’ compensation …

Fla. Legislature Sends Bill Banning Windshield AOB to Governor

The Florida House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would prohibit assignments of benefits for windshield repairs, sending it to the governor for his signature. Senate Bill 1002, passed by a vote of 103 to 16, also …

Fla. Courts Say Plaintiffs Can’t Collect Interest for Late Claim Payments

Two back-to-back federal court decisions may have dealt a lethal blow to recent proposed class actions that sought interest on property insurers’ late claims payments. But the rulings have left some insureds and their attorneys feeling that they’re seeing another …

Jury Finds Deutsche Bank Liable in International Ponzi Scheme Suit

A south Florida jury has found Deutsche Bank liable for failing to flag a Ponzi scheme that allegedly forced several Cayman Island companies into bankruptcy and liquidation. The Germany-based global banking firm, which faces another lawsuit over the scheme and …

Vape Companies Suing Kinsale After Battery Coverage ‘Quietly’ Excluded

Four companies that sell vaping devices have filed a federal lawsuit against Kinsale Insurance Co., claiming the insurer dropped coverage for batteries but failed to fully inform the policyholders before denying a claim. If it goes to trial and appeal, …

Roofing Company Owners Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion

The owners of a Fort Myers roofing company, one that has been the subject of a number of complaints from consumers and which has filed multiple assignment-of-benefits lawsuits against property insurers, have pleaded guilty to more than $1 million in …