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Texas Farmers Assess Harvey Damage to Grain Bins, Cotton Crops

Texas farmers are assessing damage caused by Hurricane Harvey after it slammed into the coast, knocking over grain storage tanks and damaging cotton crops. At least 100 cotton storage modules – capable of holding 13 to 15 bales – blew …

California Flood Protection Means More Room for Rivers

After more than a century of building levees higher to hold back its rivers, California took another step Friday toward a flood-control policy that aims to give raging rivers more room to spread out instead. The plan, adopted by the …

The Claim File Documentation Balancing Act

With so many eyes on claims files, it’s no wonder documentation is a touchy subject for adjusters. Claims files are reviewed by auditors, supervisors, bad faith attorneys and others passing judgment often months or years after the fact, according to …

Proposed Revision of New York PPD Guidelines Met With Skepticism

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board will soon release updated permanent impairment guidelines as part of its 2017 workers’ comp reform plans, prompting a workers’ advocacy group to release a survey suggesting many workers believe their benefits are already …

Insurers Ready Adjusters for Harvey Cat Losses

Teams of insurance adjusters were mobilized Friday in Texas cities closest to Hurricane Harvey’s expected path of destruction. Hurricane Harvey made landfall late Friday evening as a category 4 hurricane. According to AIR Worldwide, “the eye of the storm crossed …

Public Adjuster Charged With Insurance Fraud, Serves As Warning During Hurricane

As a potentially devastating category 3 hurricane nears the coast of Texas, another public insurance adjuster has been charged with insurance fraud. Elvira Chandler was charged by a Travis County, Texas, grand jury this week with filing fraudulent insurance claims …

CoreLogic: Hurricane Harvey Storm Surge Could Impact 200,000 Texas Homes

Hurricane Harvey has the potential to impact 232,721 homes along the Texas coast, according to CoreLogic, a global property information, analytics and data provider. Reconstruction costs could hit $39.6 billion if all of the homes sustain storm damage as a …

Many Opioid Addicts Hoping for Recovery Relapse, Turn to Insurance Fraud

The Reflections treatment center looked like just the place for Michelle Holley’s youngest daughter to kick heroin. Instead, as with dozens of other Florida substance abuse treatment facilities, the owner was more interested in defrauding insurance companies by keeping addicts …

Honolulu Postpones Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Requirement

The Honolulu City Council has postponed action on a bill to require the installation of sprinkler systems in older high-rise buildings about a month after a blaze killed three residents of a 36-story structure that did not have the safety …

How Weasel Words Weaken Your Writing

While it is proper to admit not being sure of a fact, some claims people get carried away with the use of “weasel words,” sprinkling them liberally throughout letters to claimants, attorneys, physicians and commissioners. As I review writing samples …

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