Archives for 2015

More and more, it seems, the enumerable and often disparate dots of Assignment of Benefits (AOB) are being connected. Both the commentary and the data calls from Insurance Consumer Advocate Sha’Ron James and Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty beg acknowledgement of a major cost driver and a growing willingness to attack it head on. (See NOTE #1 below). [Read more…] about Assignment of Benefits…Lots & Lots of Dots!

Despite Governor Scott’s inaugural pledge that “…we WILL NOT ALLOW a small group of predatory lawyers to stalk the business community in search of deep pockets…”, it appears that’s exactly what’s happening. (See NOTE #1 below) [Read more…] about Assignment of Benefits…the predators!

Before I let you in on an important development in the fight against Assignment of Benefits (AOB), let’s set the stage by reviewing how we got to this point.

What is this point? I call it the “Tipping Point”. The point where someone on the other side admits that our side is right. [Read more…] about AOB… the “Tipping Point” is here!

It’s December 30, 2009 somewhere in Miami, Florida–the day before New Year’s Eve. Carolina Espinosa, the 31 year old wife of 56 year old Fausto Espinosa, drives the couples’ Rolls Royce to the home of Jose Gonzalez. The three are concocting a plan to commit arson as a small part of their elaborate and immensely diabolical property insurance fraud ring–one this married public adjuster couple operated for close to a decade. [Read more…] about Assignment of Benefits…Conspiracies Abound!

Since the courts have punted AOB reform to lawmakers, we now know who, and to some extent how, to give consumers needed reforms.  That doesn’t mean that the executive branch isn’t needed to assist. Indeed…it doesn’t mean that its’ inaction or decision making, so far, isn’t partially responsible for the continuing consumer abuse. [Read more…] about Assignment of Benefits–the fight!

In case it’s not apparent, and even if it’s not welcomed, agents are on the front line of the Assignment of Benefits (AOB) fight. They (you) are who consumers turn to for advice after a loss. You are the ones who often have the opportunity, sometimes even the obligation, to assist with recovery efforts, particularly when it comes to avoiding fraud and/or unethical practices by remediators. [Read more…] about Assignment of Benefits…The Agent Connection!

As bad as things are with AOB, including yet another bad decision from the 1st DCA affirming that courts are powerless to protect consumers, it now appears the scam has launched into the stratosphere!  (See NOTE #1 below).

An explosion of abuse, and aggression from the abusers, has mushroomed property litigation to a point “..unthinkable a year ago”. [Read more…] about Assignment of Benefits…an explosion!!

My plan for this report to be another on the AOB “blame game” was just preempted by the most recent in a series of hurtful court decisions. [Read more…] about AOB…Best Laid Plans!

This is the report I promised in my last report. My last report was about roofers and homeowners playing the Assignment of Benefits (AOB) “blame game”. Like that report, this one, including the end notes, is replete with information that may take some time to digest. Lots of links to documents, video’s and so forth. I apologize for that but, it’s necessary, I believe, to show my sources (when I can) and to provide a foundation for the conclusions and opinions herein. [Read more…] about AOB…The Blame Game II

Chatting recently with a Tallahassee realtor friend of mine I learned that homeowners in several upscale neighborhoods were getting new roofs. “For Free!” she said, excited about their good fortune and, I assumed, how it might help the Real Estate market, particularly the sale of older homes. [Read more…] about AOB…The Blame Game!