How to Insure Against Disaster
August 24, 2010, by Matt Brownell
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the news that the levees had broken was followed by another devastating revelation:
Most of the residents of the affected area were not adequately insured against the hurricane devastation. According
to Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon, only 40% of Hurricane Katrina and Rita’s victims had flood
insurance; today, that number still stands at 30% in the affected areas. ...
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Hurricane Forecasters Increase Odds On U.S. Landfall
June 2, 2010, by NU Online News Service
The team of hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University, led by William Gray,
increased their early season forecast for storms, echoing recent predictions by others,
saying there is more than a 70 percent chance of a hurricane making landfall in the
United States. ... Read the entire article
Calif. Proposes Agent/Broker Regs To Alleviate Under-Insurance
April 9, 2010, by Partricia-Anne Tom, Insurance Journal
To alleviate concerns about homeowner under-insurance, the California Department of
Insurance has informed Insurance Journal that it has scheduled a hearing for May 17
in Los Angeles to discuss proposed regulations governing standards and training for
estimating replacement value on homeowners' insurance. ...
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Chinese Drywall Maker Owes 7 Families $2.6 M, Judge Rules
April 8, 2010, by Daniel Hays, National Underwriter Property and Casualty Insurance News
A federal judge in New Orleans has awarded $2.6 million in damages and repair costs to
seven Virginia families that sued the manufacturer of Chinese drywall material. ...
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Hazard Insurance Recovery: A Regulatory Overiew
By Ron Reitz
Although there are several regulatory aspects of the hazard insurance industry of which
servicers should be considerate, the biggest change is that regulators in various
states are starting to enforce their public adjusting licensing statutes. ...
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Understanding The Effect Of Loss Ratios On Premiums
By Ron Reitz
The area of lender-placed insurance presents many opportunities to either save money or
incur unnecessary costs. Are you making the right decisions?
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Secrets of public insurance adjusters: What they know about insurance companies that you don't.
By Amy Danise, Insure.com
You're at a disadvantage when you have major house damage or a total loss of your home.
You face a home insurance claims process that could easily stretch out for more than a year,
require reams of paperwork and leave you mentally and physically exhausted. ...
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Why Public Adjusters Are Not Enemies of Independent Agents
By Ron Reitz
Here's why working with a public adjuster can be good for an independent insurance
agency and for its customers...
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Why Aren’t San Diego’s 2007 Fire Survivors Back in Their Homes Yet?
Out of the more than 1,700 San Diego City and County homes that were lost in 2007, we have
found that only about 55% of the homeowners have obtained building permits and started their
rebuild process. Many of those have not yet finished...
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Home Inventory Could Pay Off Big in Case of Loss.
Most people do not fully understand the value of having a completed home inventory.
If you ever suffer a loss to your property, whether it is from a pipe breaking, a fire, or even
a theft, you will be required to furnish a complete inventory of all damaged property to your
insurance company...
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State Farm to pay $6.8M in Katrina case
CHICAGO (Reuters)—State Farm said Thursday it will pay $6.8 million to resolve a class action
lawsuit accusing it of under-compensating more than 12,000 Florida policyholders for damage
from hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.
Justice Has Been Conducting Criminal Probe of Katrina Claims, Court Records Show
GULFPORT, Miss. August 10 (BestWire) — The U.S. Justice Department has disclosed, via a
filing in a civil lawsuit, that it has been considering a criminal probe of State Farm and...
Home Insurers' Secret Tactics Cheat Fire Victims, Hike Profits...
Public claims adjuster can level the playing field for you.
Say your house has just been badly damaged by an earthquake, fire, or other calamity.
You can't remember the last time you looked at your home insurance policy. Do you know what
you're entitled to?
In Tough Hands At Allstate
It's fighting accusations that its methods deny policyholders legitimate benefits.
Superior Court Upholds California Department of Insurance Protections for Homeowners
SACRAMENTO - California Department of Insurance (CDI) protections for homeowners filing
claims has been upheld by the California Superior Court.
Insurance Clause Protects REO
In recent years losses on Real Estate Properties have increased dramatically.
A Reminder of Hazardous Insurance Claims
Services of mortgage loans have many responsibilities to the mortgage holder or investor.