Advocacy

Several months ago I called a plumber to my home. The supply line behind the master bathroom toilet was leaking and needed immediate attention.

This plumbing firm was well known to me. Its’ technicians had previously installed a tankless gas water heater (that has worked flawlessly for 10 years) and even replumbed an entire residence I rented to tenants.  You may remember my July 2014 blog about this plumbers excellent work repairing a leak beneath my garage slab.  Read the blog I wrote here.  And, see pictures on my Facebook page here.

In fact, after posting the blog and pictures I was contacted by local insurance agents asking for the plumbers’ name, which I gladly provided. They wanted to recommend the firm to their clients. Or, more wisely perhaps, just put the firms name on a list of plumbers and water remediators to give to clients in need of assistance.

Anyway, after my trusted plumber plugged this most recent leak, which had been going on for some time creating a moisture problem behind the walls and on the floor in an adjoining bedroom, it was obvious a complete dry out was needed.  So… I did exactly what I advise everyone else to do when they have a moisture problem… I called Rytech.

[Read more…]

A handful of trial lawyers serving in Florida’s Senate blocked any reform of Assignment of Benefits (AOB) this year.  In fact,  fearing it would pass, they didn’t even allow debate on a compromise House version overwhelmingly adopted each of the last two years—this year 82-20. [Read more…]

In 2015 I reported on the arrest of Jorge Fausto Espinosa Sr., arguably one of the most criminal public adjusters in Florida history.  Now I’m happy to share recent reports of his 20-year sentencing.

Unfortunately, these reports only scratch the surface of the decades of havoc this scumbag wrought. [Read more…]

Insurance 101 teaches about “Moral Hazards” –when mismanaged insurance systems incentivize individuals, often entire segments of society, to behave in irresponsible or criminal ways.

You’ve read what “some” attorneys, public adjusters, water extractors, plumbers and roofers are doing with AOB.  It’s the result of a moral hazard–bad public policy enabling and incentivizing bad behavior. [Read more…]

Like many catastrophe prone states, Florida can suffer from an abundance of public adjusters before, and immediately following, any disaster.  In California it’s wildfires and earthquakes.  Here it’s hurricanes. [Read more…]

Every once in a long while I’ll write about Flood insurance–subsequent, usually, to either a flood of great proportion or another government attempt to fund an existing or potential deficit.  This time, Harvey in Texas and Irma rapidly approaching from the Atlantic, provide impetus on both fronts. [Read more…]

There’s been much ado between public adjusters and insurers of late.  PA’s don’t like managed repair programs (MRP’s).  Insurance companies do like them–a lot–especially in Florida.

Sparring was ignited by an op-ed from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) that was highly critical of MRP’s and which, in typical PA fashion, also bad-mouthed insurers. [Read more…]

Most of us know what happened to AOB reform bills during this year’s regular session.  Meaningful, helpful, changes were approved in the house.  However, fearing the senate might follow suit, two trial lawyers—Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami) and Sen. Gary Farmer (D-Ft. Lauderdale) teamed to shut down the companion bill by Senator Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange) and Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples).  No senate vote.  Not even a debate.

Oh well! [Read more…]

Someone’s been brewing the stew.  Since lawmakers came to town nearly 70 articles and/or editorials favorable to reforming Assignment of Benefits (AOB) have appeared in the mainstream.  Recently, others have popped up including radio ads, YouTube video’s and more.

And, they all blame the abuse on 3^rd party vendors and their trial attorneys. [Read more…]

While studying for his law degree Californian Kenneth Gottlieb (not to be confused with former Representative and current Circuit Judge Ken Gottlieb of Florida) often bragged to fellow students that he would put his diploma to a somewhat unusual purpose.  He would avoid the typical, reputedly lucrative fields: medical malpractice, contract law, Real Estate or administrative law.  He’d focus instead on the most profitable specialty of all.

His career, indeed his life plan, would be to commit insurance fraud–as diabolically and as often as he possibly could.

Shamelessly he opined to all who would listen that he could so abundantly profit stealing from insurers, and do so quickly enough, that the wealth he would amass before being apprehended would far exceed the meager penalties doled out for insurance fraud. [Read more…]