The insurance industry in Florida is poised for punishment – be it civil or criminal – as a result of the improper handling of countless Hurricane Ian claims.  Ian caused $115 billion in damage, the second-largest insured loss on record after Hurricane Katrina, according to a report from reinsurer Swiss Re.  Hurricane Ian had the most insurance claims of any hurricane in American History.  What’s more, 4,700 complaints (and counting) have been filed against insurers post-Hurricane Ian.  

What precipitated these complaints?  Some policyholders had their valid property damage claims cut by more than 80%, according to a blistering report by The Washington Post.  These homeowners say that they had received only a small portion of what was covered under their policy.  Other property owners reported seeing altered and manipulated estimates.  In the report, it was uncovered that desk adjusters or supervisors were gutting or rejecting reports of what they saw was credible damage.  There are allegations insurance companies falsely updated claims to reduce payments. 

All of this follows the decision by Governor Ron DeSantis to take away the right of policyholders to recover their attorney’s fees when they are forced to litigate their claims.  This is the case even in claims where the insurance company deliberately withheld benefits, and loses at trial. Florida lawmakers most notably repealed the one-way attorney’s fee provision that has long governed property insurance lawsuits within the state. This provision gave insureds the necessary leverage to fairly engage in disputes with their insurers.

Previously, the insurance company would be held responsible for paying attorney fees if the company wrongfully denied your claim. Under this new law, insurers will no longer be ordered to pay attorney fees even if they improperly denied the claim.

You Need a Property Damage Lawyer to Fight for Your Rights to Coverage

At Corless Law Group we relentlessly fight for the rights of property owners and successfully resolve storm damage insurance claims.  Increased scrutiny and oversight of insurance companies who engage in these duplicitous practices, which harm insurance consumers, is the right path forward.  Insurers who don’t properly handle policyholders’ claims should be slapped with civil or criminal penalties. 

An insurer slashing a valid claim estimate without a factual basis is potential fraud.  Denying, delaying or underpaying a valid claim is bad faith and if the insurance company engaged in this type of prohibited behavior on a consistent basis, it may be grounds for punitive damages and monetary fines.  Additionally, criminal charges could be filed against insurance companies’ officials.

Insurance companies are to blame for the property insurance crisis in Florida due to their failure to expeditiously pay valid claims.  The American Policyholder Association, a nonprofit insurance industry watchdog group, said in a statement that it has found “compelling evidence of what appears to be multiple instances of systematic criminal fraud perpetrated to cheat policyholders out of fair insurance claims.”

It is inappropriate and untenable for Florida lawmakers to continue to protect the insurance industry.  In 2022, Florida Republicans passed laws that insulate property insurers at the expense of homeowners.  If you give insurance companies enough rope, will they hang themselves?  That seems to be the case here as numerous complaints allege that insurance companies or their adjusters doctored claims to underpay property owners who experienced hurricane-related damage. 

Can Insurers Be Held Accountable? 

A bill (SPB 7052) titled “Insurer Accountability” is intended to impose penalties on any insurance companies committing fraud.  It would also prohibit altering insurance adjuster reports.  The bill aims to crack down on fraud and comes with large fine amounts to insurers. 

Accountability is a nice word but does it have teeth?  This bill would increase information-reporting requirements and increase maximum fines for violations by 250% generally and 500% for violations during state emergencies.  Insurance and adjuster licenses can also be suspended or revoked.

For policyholders who experience property damage or property loss stemming from a storm, the nationally recognized litigation law firm of Corless Law Group can assist you in achieving full and fair compensation.  Our clients include individual property owners, business owners, Community Managed Associations, Homeowners Associations, and Licensed Community Association Managers.  We represent residential and commercial property owners throughout the state of Florida.  

It is important to consider how a law firm has handled other cases that are similarly situated to yours, and the type of results their lawyers can deliver.  Corless Law Group has the experience, knowledge, and record-setting results you need to repair or replace damage to your home, business or property.  Call 813-258-4998 for a free consultation.   

Our Florida wind damage law firm has successfully litigated and resolved property damage claims related to wind caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail, and heavy rain events.  We are passionate about protecting property owners’ rights as wind may cause significant damage or total destruction, including blown-off roofs, damage from falling trees, water intrusion, broken doors/windows/screens, and other losses.  We work with a team of experts, including professional engineers, roofers, and contractors to ensure properties are repaired correctly and completely.  

An attorney from Corless Law Group can meet with you to discuss your legal options and the details of your wind damage claim, at no cost.  Put our 25+ years of experience to work for you.  To arrange a free consultation regarding your property damage case, call 813-258-4998.

Conveniently located in Tampa, Florida our wind damage law firm represents and counsels policyholder clients throughout the Sunshine State.  If you have suffered damage to your property and are not sure what your policy includes, our wind damage attorney can review your insurance policy and advise you of your next best steps for receiving full and fair compensation. 

Additionally, in cases where an insurance company does not act ethically when investigating and resolving your wind damage claim, we can file a bad faith action and successfully seek punitive damages on your behalf.  

Our Florida wind damage claims law firm knows how to analyze policy language and handle any disputes regarding coverage or exclusions.  When it comes to wind damage claims, acting quickly is vital in order to document the damages and help you get the full amount you need to repair or rebuild your property after a storm. 

In a case styled Sea Island South Condominium IV, Inc. v. Weston Insurance Company, currently set for a jury trial in Pinellas County, Florida, Weston Insurance Company representatives admitted to using adjusters with virtually no experience in handling hurricanes.  On its website, Weston Insurance Company describes itself as being “a focused windstorm specialist.” You would assume an insurer who claims to “specialize” in windstorm events, like hurricanes, would use claim adjusters with at least some degree of hurricane experience. 

Upon receipt of the claim, Weston Insurance Company sent out Patricia Childers a few weeks after the storm.  Ms. Childers testified that before Hurricane Irma, she had never previously adjusted a hurricane loss.  In fact, Ms. Childers was licensed in Michigan but had obtained a temporary, six-month license to adjust losses in Florida.  Unfortunately for insureds, any claim adjuster licensed in one state can apply to Florida for a temporary license, which lasts for only six months, regardless of their experience in dealing with hurricane claims.  Ms. Childers lacked any experience as a general contractor or as an engineer and was instead an experienced workers’ compensation adjuster.

Ms. Childers inspected the property in Clearwater Beach, Florida, in October 2017, and after taking a few photos, she immediately discovered that the loss was well outside her areas of expertise and experience.  “It was beyond my expertise,” she testified, “and I would feel better if my supervisor [Troy Winslow] just took it over.”  After sharing her concerns with Mr. Winslow about her inability to adjust the loss, he decided to take over the file. 

But, for reasons that remain unclear, Weston Insurance Company waited more than seven months until June 2018 before tasking Mr. Winslow to go back to the property to adjust the loss.  Unfortunately for the insured and the insurer, his six month temporary license had expired by the time he went back out.  Spoiler alert:  That’s very bad. 

Under Florida law, no person may be, act as, or advertise or hold himself or herself out to be an insurance adjuster unless the department currently licenses him or her. See Section 626.112(1)(a), Florida Statutes.  Any person who knowingly transacts insurance or otherwise engages in insurance activities in Florida without a license in violation of Florida law commits a felony of the third degree.

This case is set for trial by Ted Corless and Mary Catherine Lamoureux of Team CBTG against Weston Insurance Company for December 14, 2020, in Pinellas County, Florida.  Suppose you are an insured of Weston Insurance Company and had a clam adjusted by Troy Winslow during the timeframe described above. In that case, we’d like to hear from you, as Weston Insurance Company may have been using Mr. Winslow and other unlicensed adjusters in Florida for other claims. Call 813-258-4998 or email us at service@corlessbarfield.com.

EYE OF THE STORM.  Washington is thousands of miles away from Florida but even the governor of the Evergreen State understands the precipitous times Floridians are living in when it comes to hurricanes. How do you maximize recovery after a hurricane or other type of severe storm to ensure your family, property, and business is taken care of?  Policyholders have a right to receive the full benefits under their insurance policy. 

Hurricanes cause tremendous damage to residential and commercial properties. Property owners face resistance by insurance companies that are determined to deny or delay claims as well as minimize payments.  Corless Barfield Trial Group’s goal is to provide quality legal services for Florida homeowners, business owners, Board of Directors for Community Managed Associations, Homeowners Associations, and other kinds of multi-unit dwellings that have experienced property damage due to a storm. 

LEGAL EAGLES.  Our attorneys successfully handle property damage claims, and they are happy to speak with you for free and answer your questions.  Contact us now at 813-258-4998. Do not wait to retain an aggressive, strategically-focused attorney to represent you and your rights.

Our compassionate and knowledgeable Florida property damage attorneys have helped residents secure the full and fair compensation they need to fix their homes and get their lives back on track after hurricanes and other devastating storms.  The attorneys at the firm of Corless Barfield Trial Group can help you solve your hurricane or storm property damage crisis. 

SUNSHINE STATE SOLUTIONS. Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, and countless times our residents have seen their homes, businesses, and properties ravaged by these forceful storms. Our Tampa-based law firm prides itself on the ability to provide clients throughout the state of Florida with unsurpassed legal representation and responsiveness.  

Insurance companies make a profit for their investors when they receive more in premiums than they pay out in claims. Insurers have an incentive to pay as little as possible to Florida policyholders when they file claims for property damage. 

MONEYBALL. You’ve got to be a baller lawyer in this industry to aggressively and triumphantly fight insurance companies on behalf of policyholder clients.  Our Florida property insurance claims lawyers have extensive experience helping clients demand full and fair compensation for hurricane and severe storm damage.

“Yes, a dark time passed over this land, but now there is something like light,” observed award-winning author Dave Eggers after Hurricane Katrina.  Corless Barfield Trial Group seeks to be that light for clients in times of darkness. Corless Barfield Trial Group has handled hundreds of property damage cases and collected hundreds of millions of dollars for policyholders. 

Contact us today at 813-258-4998 for a free consultation from one of our experienced hurricane and storm damage attorneys. 

The cause of the Sept. 2 fire, which killed 34 people, is now the subject of an intensive investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other federal and county agencies.  A preliminary investigation has suggested serious safety deficiencies aboard the vessel.

Fire damage to your home, boat or business can be sudden and devastating.  If you have suffered smoke or fire damage and your insurance company seeks to deny, delay or underpay your valid claim, we encourage you to contact the experienced insurance lawyers at Corless Barfield Trial Group at 813-258-4998. 

Fire damage is a hot topic in the news.  A jury in Oakland, Calif., recently found one man not guilty of 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2016 fire at Oakland’s Ghost Ship warehouse but could not reach a verdict for the building’s leaseholder.  It was one of the deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history, killing 36 people. 

The Ghost Ship fire tore through a late-night party in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood that had been transformed into a ramshackle artist collective known as Ghost Ship.  The jury’s verdict begs the question, what is the duty owed to the public to protect from a fire?

Whether your home or business was completely destroyed by a fire or only partially damaged, your insurance company will attempt to delay, deny or underpay your property damage claim.

Homeowners and business owners should bring in a policyholder attorney to help prove the worth of their fire claims and protect their rights. Insurance companies rarely contemplate the hidden effects of a fire in your home or business when they consider your compensation package and initial settlement offer.

Besides the structural damage, fires can also damage heating and cooling systems, plumbing, and concrete or steel building materials.  Additionally, there is the costly damage caused by smoke, soot, and the water used to fight the fire. 

The Florida-based attorneys at Corless Barfield Trial Group will investigate your case, and consult with our team of insurance and engineering experts, to determine the full value of your claim.

We will fight for you in court to obtain the money that you deserve from the insurance company to which you have dutifully paid your insurance premiums.

The policyholder attorneys at Corless Barfield Trial Group have years of experience working with homeowners and business owners throughout Florida who have been treated unfairly by their insurance companies, and we would be happy to help you.  Contact us at 813-258-4998 for a free consultation.

An experienced Florida hurricane lawyer can help resolve your insurance coverage claim.  Property owners, property managers, HOAs, Community Management Associations, and Licensed Community Association Managers don’t have to fight insurers alone for compensation stemming from storm damage.

The nationally recognized law firm of Corless Barfield Trial Group has built a tradition of success and a strong reputation for favorable results to ensure property damage claim interests are protected.  We are able to provide the resources needed to navigate the insurance claims process for Florida clients. Contact Corless Barfield Trial Group today at 813-258-4998 for a free consultation regarding your insurance policy for property damage caused by any of the following:

✓ Hurricanes

✓ Tropical Storms

✓ Flooding

✓ Winds

✓ Hail

✓ Impact Damage

✓ Lightning

Did you suffer property damage in a storm?  Is your insurance company offering you less than you need to repair the damage, or are they denying your claim entirely?

Our law firm provides skilled and knowledgeable attorney representation to homeowners, businesses, and condominium owners and associations throughout Florida who have suffered property damage due to hurricanes or tropical storms.  

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your property is to know your rights. Insurance companies in Florida use a number of different tactics to deny and delay payment for storm-related damage.  What are the pitfalls you should look for? Insurance companies attempt to dispute coverage for storm damage claims because …

1. damage was allegedly pre-existing 
2. damage was caused by flood or wind not covered under the policy 
3. failure to mitigate
4. damage was not reported immediately.

Insurers may sometimes provide only a portion of the coverage you need for your property damage and fail to acknowledge the severity of the actual damage with its associated costs for repair or replacement. As a result, if your residence or business has suffered storm damage, it is best to have an attorney representing your rights and interests. 

Corless Barfield handles hundreds of cases for insureds who are in need of advice or representation against insurance companies after storm damage. We’re ready to investigate your claim, gather evidence to support your position, and help you achieve the best possible outcome at trial.

As dedicated trial lawyers who have more than 20 years of experience with hurricane and property damage insurance claims, the attorneys at Corless Barfield Trial Group are ready to fight for your rights. Receive a case evaluation on your hurricane or property damage claim from the attorneys at Corless Barfield by calling 813-258-4998.