The Florida House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee is holding a “Panel Discussion on Homeowner’s Property Insurance Cost Drivers.” I will participate as a panelist. I am writing this post hoping a few of the Committee members or their staff may have the opportunity to read it during this legislative session. The job of a legislator is not …
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Unseen Smoke and Visual Ash Dangers from Wildfires
By Chip Merlin
John Putnam wrote an article warning about the dangers of smoke following wildfires, titled, Wildfire Smoke Claims: A Hidden Postwildfire Catastrophe. I made similar warnings in Wildfires Leave Dangerous Health Risks In Surviving Buildings. Putnam’s article gets right to the point: Where there is fire, there is smoke! Why is it most people see the ……
The California Fair Plan: A Guarantee Against Bankruptcy Amidst Los Angeles Wildfires
By Chip Merlin
I was recently asked on a FoxNews interview whether policyholders with California’s Fair Plan will be paid if it runs out of money. The wildfires in Los Angeles have caused widespread devastation, leading to concerns among policyholders and others about whether the California FAIR Plan can fulfill its obligations. Misleading reports have fueled fears that ……
The Community Necessity to Make Structures More Insurable and Resilient to Loss
By Chip Merlin
A recent news article written by Ron Hurtibise, “Should Asphalt Shingle Roofs be Phased Out in Florida?” caught my attention because it would have a significant impact on Florida’s roofing industry and upon the vast majority of Florida homeowners. The article noted that Florida’s Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky has suggested that the state should consider ……
California Fire Insurance Claim Information—United Policyholders to the Rescue!
By Chip Merlin
United Policyholders offers the best advice to policyholders about how to recover from the recent wildfires. Merlin Law Group California attorney Dan Veroff, who was a former staff attorney for United Policyholders (UP), advised policyholders suffering from a California wildfire to attend events by United Policyholders in “There’s a Wildfire Burning – What Do I ……
When Can Public Adjusters Start Soliciting California Wildfire Claims?
Over the past few days, I’ve been on the phone around the clock with insureds and public adjusters about what to expect as a result of the most devasting wildfires Southern California has ever seen. The Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed over 10,000 structures combined, and many people are still being evacuated from their neighborhoods ……
Wildfire Devastation—What Next?
By Chip Merlin
Can you imagine all your possessions, those little mementos, photographs, and your home burned to ash? The cherished reminders of a life well-lived—family heirlooms, the art your children proudly brought home, the smell of holiday meals that once filled the air—all gone in a sudden, unrelenting blaze. The Los Angeles wildfires have not only scorched ……
What to Expect After the Los Angeles Wildfires
Southern California faced a devastating night as the Palisades and Eaton Canyon wildfires raged out of control, forcing evacuations and leaving widespread damage in their wake. I woke up Wednesday to the sound of whipping winds and dark skies of smoke, knowing that it would be impossible for the fires to be put out with ……
Delay, Deny, Defend Professor Offers Suggestions for Meaningful Insurance Claims Reform
By Chip Merlin
Jay Feinman, author of Delay, Deny, Defend, discusses the pervasive frustration Americans feel toward insurance companies, driven by claims of unjust practices, including delays, denials, and complicated claim procedures, in an article, Americans’ Rage at Insurers Goes Beyond Health Coverage – The Author of ‘Delay, Deny, Defend’ Points to 3 Reforms that Could Help. 1 ……
The “Cannot Miss” 2025 Hailstorm Education Is at the Windstorm Insurance Conference in Dallas
By Chip Merlin
I studied the topics, agenda, and panelists at this year’s Windstorm Insurance Conference. As a past president of the organization, I am very proud to see its continued vitality and depth of education provided to those attending. I noted one presentation on the agenda: Everything is Bigger in Texas, but Was the Hail Damaging and When ……