Archives for January 2021

Just like when AOB abuse was rampant, the same abusers (The Parade of Horribles) are lining up again–this time to defeat desperately needed legislation that will stabilize Florida’s  property market.

The parade has always been there, of course, with attorneys at the fore, guarding their treasure chests and characterizing their lawsuits as the result of insurers that “don’t pay their claims.”

Remember sinkholes and Sinkhole Alley?  A new law passes (over their objection) and miraculously, no more sinkholes, no more alley.  AOB, same thing.

[Read more…] about Let the Games Begin…

Ron Hurtibise with the Sun Sentinel penned an article titled “Insurers using RICO Act to strike back against alleged fraud.”

By examining insurers use of the Federal Racketeering, Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act, Hurtibise highlighted an oft neglected layer in Florida’s horrible property market. Water mitigation firms are unregulated—the only players in Florida’s substantial pyramid of fraud to be so blessed and, as a consequence, so likely to behave badly.    (See NOTE #1 below)

[Read more…] about Should We or Should We Not…

Lawmakers just concluded round one of committee hearings examining Florida’s abysmal property insurance market. (See NOTE#1 below).

It’s the necessary predicate to relief for millions of premium payers coughing up chunks of hard earned dollars for their homeowners’ coverage–all while under the substantial thumb of a pandemic and partial or complete shutdowns of their businesses and livelihoods.

[Read more…] about Spiraling Out of Control—ROUND ONE!

NOTE: Johnson Strategies has published articles and opinions regarding Public Adjusters acting as “disinterested” parties under the appraisal provision in most property policies.  Foundation was provided by two actions from State Farm one of which has been certified to Florida’s Supreme Court.  Please read Public Adjusters as Appraisers—How interested are the disinterested?  Another case, slightly different, has been filed on the same subject: State Farm vs. Jon Parrish; Case No. 2D19-130, 2^nd DCA, 1/6/2021.

We reached out to JS Contributor Barry Zalma for an analysis of this newest case and for his opinion on Public Adjusters acting as Appraisers. He brings a decidedly more academic and detailed legal approach to this important issue, but…reaches the same conclusion.  Feel free to distribute this article to others by clicking the appropriate icon below. [Read more…] about GUEST COLUMNIST—Barry Zalma, ESQ, CFE

For those who just joined you can review “Collapse of an Evil Empire” starting with PART I then  subsequent PARTS II thru VIII.

For now you need to know that Scot Strems is still fighting as hard as he can. Recall the recommendation by referee, Judge Dawn Denaro of the 11^th Circuit Court that, instead of permanent disbarment sought by the Florida Bar, Strems should serve only a two-year suspension followed by one-year of supervised probation. (See Note #1 below)

[Read more…] about Collapse of an Evil Empire! PART IX—Thumbs UP, Thumbs DOWN?

Tallahassee–Sans personal tragedies this inaugural 2021 posting comes on the heels of the worst year most of us can remember.  Ask anybody what they’d like to tell 2020 and the predominant response would be “Good Riddance!”  No need to belabor. [Read more…] about Goodbye Cruel Year