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A state audit released in January could spark a fierce legislative battle this spring and raises additional concerns about the viability of both Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Cat Fund). State auditors found that Citizens’ policyholders who hire public adjusters wind up getting more money for their claims than those…

It’s hard to keep track of new legislation that affects home building and remodeling across the 50 states. Too often homeowners and re-modelers get going on a project that requires a local permit and suddenly discover they have to lay out additional money to meet building codes. I know people who have had to rip…

Representatives of Florida’s insurance industry and public adjusters — who represent policyholders in claims disputes — fiercely debated how to speed up repairs after hurricanes on Wednesday.

As of this fall, more than 2,000 homeowners were still trying to get claims paid from Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Delays keep people out of their homes longer and can make the damage worse. The gathering — focused on how to improve the so-called appraisal process — is the third on claims delays organized by Insurance Consumer Advocate Sean Shaw, who plans to make recommendations to state lawmakers before the annual legislative session in March.

A Florida online insurance agency found to have sold homeowners policies using unlicensed personnel will pay a $100,000 fine. The agency will also contact every customer affected and offer to rewrite their policies, under terms of a settlement reached with state officials. In March, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s Department of Financial Services took legal…

One of Florida’s young property insurance companies, Magnolia Insurance Co., has been stripped of its financial rating by rating firm Demotech, Inc. Demotech assigned its Financial Stability Rating of A, Exceptional to Magnolia in October, based on what it said was extended discussion with the insurer’s management and the promise that a business plan with…

Dealing with flood, fire or other serious damage to a home can be an extremely stressful experience, as owners attempt to secure precious belongings, protect their home against further damage and document their loss for insurance purposes. Words of advice come from nearly every angle, as everyone from friends, family and neighbors to insurance company…

A Miami condominium association is suing its insurer, QBE Insurance Corp., and its Florida general managing agent, for more than $500 million in damages, claiming bad faith and deception in handling hurricane claims. Daniel S. Rosenbaum, the managing partner of Katzman Garfinkel Rosenbaum, LLP, in West Palm Beach, said his firm obtained a judgment against…

First Judicial District Court I also find in favor of the Plaintiffs with respect to malicious abuse of process. I find that Allstate has used the judicial process in New Mexico and with these Plaintiffs, the jury trial process and judicial proceedings, for each of the Plaintiffs with the primary motive to accomplish an illegitimate…

In a 9-0 decision, the Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that so-called “all-risk” home insurance policies may cover wind damage from hurricanes, even in situations where the loss is later exacerbated by water from storm surge. The state high court decision found that language in a policy may exclude storm damage when it is caused…

I had my roof checked by two roofing companies because our home is 16 years old and I wanted to find out the condition of my roof, we had a store in May the roof leaked, I had state Farm out and they denied a roof problem, in otherwords they would not cover the roof.…