Merlin Law Group

Kentucky public adjusters can inspect your roof and write the estimate. They cannot negotiate the number with your insurer. A judge upheld HB 568 on October 28. Chip Merlin asks who that protects: hubs.ly/Q04CV43n0

There’s nothing spookier than a property insurance claim that turns into a horror story. If your claim is denied, delayed, or underpaid, contact Merlin Law Group at (877) 449-4700 to discuss your options. Happy Halloween from #ThePolicyholdersAdvocate®! 👻

California's SB 876 is signed. Insurers must offer extended replacement cost of at least 50% above the dwelling limit, and 50% more coverage for additional living expenses. Must offer. Not must provide. Operative January 1, 2028. hubs.ly/Q04CPTpW0

Fire on April 9. $5,000 the next day. The first dwelling and contents payment 89 days later. An Iowa appellate court saw no problem. Who owns the number on your claim, and when does the undisputed part get paid? hubs.ly/Q04CCt5s0

A State Farm claims quality report, unsealed in a pending Oklahoma case, tracks roof replacement ratios, estimate sizes and claims closed without payment. What it does not track is whether the policyholder got everything owed. Read more here: hubs.ly/Q04C0G3x0

A former auto insurance agent says loyal customers get milked. Maybe. But his post also pushes a comparison site, and it blurs who actually sets your rates. One confession is not a census. hubs.ly/Q04BrcDD0

Insurers can lobby against public adjusters. They can’t outlaw excellence. Liberty Ritchie recaps NYPAA’s annual meeting: appraisal, water losses, ethics and mastery. hubs.ly/Q04Bk6kN0

A patch can hide what wind did to a low-slope roof. After Hurricane Isaias, roof testing expert Steven Thomas explains what a proper inspection should check before anyone settles on repairs. hubs.ly/Q04zZpcp0

Miguel Martinez used to defend insurers and worked directly with their adjusters. Now he represents policyholders from our New York office. Here is what he learned and why he switched sides: hubs.ly/Q04zD6wx0

Two senators asked State Farm about bonuses tied to claim outcomes, denial rates, and AI in claims handling. Chip Merlin on what the answers could reveal. hubs.ly/Q04zyV3w0

Two questions on today’s blog: Who deserves credit for California’s wildfire smoke laws? And what evidence supports excluding specific storm damage? Chip corrects the first record: hubs.ly/Q04zm7tx0 Liberty examines the second: hubs.ly/Q04zm7Br0

Wind and flood. One property. Which policy language matters? Merlin Law Group’s Dan Ballard examines anti-concurrent causation clauses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Read his analysis: bit.ly/4y77aWe

Can an insurer remove labor, permitting, access, painting, and other repair costs from ACV because those items are not themselves physically damaged? That question is now part of the Breakwater appeal before the Eleventh Circuit. bit.ly/3W2RExa

Where did State Farm’s “Industry Best” roof replacement benchmark come from? Chip Merlin examines Accenture’s filing and the unanswered questions about the supporting evidence. Accenture disputes wrongdoing. bit.ly/4hY86Hy

Does wildfire ALE coverage automatically end two years after the loss? No. January 7, 2027, is a milestone for many Palisades and Eaton claims, but California law may provide additional time. Dan Veroff explains: hubs.ly/Q04yLwNy0

State Farm’s bid to dismiss Oklahoma’s enforcement case was denied. In a separate lawsuit, confidentiality was removed from 11 disputed documents. That proves no allegation. It does mean the search for evidence continues. hubs.ly/Q04yy--Y0

Could your business retrieve its policy, financial records, inventory, photographs, and vendor contacts within one hour, from somewhere other than its building? Etienne Font explains why businesses should test that now. hubs.ly/Q04ysFx90

Wildfire smoke damage should not come down to whether an adjuster can see or smell it. Merlin Law Group attorney Dan Veroff told @Law360: “This moves us well past the era where an adjuster comes in, and sniffs, and smells and looks around…”

Is January 7, 2027 really the filing deadline for every Palisades and Eaton wildfire claim? It is an important date, but California’s tolling rules make the actual answer claim-specific. Read Chip's suggestions: hubs.ly/Q04ym3mw0 hubs.ly/Q04ym3d30

Hail dents were documented. That was not enough. The policyholder needed evidence showing how the damage affected the valley metal’s function over time. Chip Merlin explains why “functional damage” must be proven, not merely asserted. hubs.ly/Q04ydCb50