Insurance Adjuster Suspension Leads To Licensing Concerns

Florida is known for home damage caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters. In these cases, an insurance adjuster will come out and assess the damage to determine the value. They will see if the insurance company should pay up, and if so, how much.

There is always controversy in the insurance field. Some adjusters delay inspections or place an incorrect value on the damage.

In Florida, an insurance adjuster is facing two years of license suspension for delaying and disrupting property inspections. His suspension is raising questions about the need for licensing for other housing-related professions, such as appraisers.

The insurance adjuster, who owns Indemnity Public Adjusters in Fort Lauderdale, has been an issue for several insurance companies in recent years. He repeatedly harassed other insurance adjusters and engineers and blocked their access to properties. In extreme cases, he even threatened them with violence. When working with insurers such as Tower Hill Insurance, Citizens’ Property Insurance Corp., QBE Specialty Insurance, and Lloyd’s of London, his actions would result in claims being delayed for many months or denied altogether.

The adjuster often demanded that other insurance company adjusters produce proof of insurance, including workers’ compensation coverage. This was unnecessary and seen as a tactic to delay claim resolution. The adjuster, however, claims that he asked for that information in order to protect the homeowner. He did not want adjusters to sue the owners if they suffered an injury from falling off a roof. The man’s lawyer seconded this, stating that the homeowners “benefitted in every case his client was involved in.”

In January, the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings ordered that an adjuster’s license be suspended for 24 months, with the man also paying a $5,000 fine. Florida’s Department of Financial Services, however, wanted to revoke the man’s license altogether. The Department of Financial Services must accept the judge’s order before it is final.

However, the Department of Financial Services has another issue. Because the work of an appraiser falls into the definition of public adjuster, an appraiser should be subject to state laws as well as the adjuster’s code of ethics.

That has raised alarms for Windstorm Insurance Network, which provides education courses for appraisers. The network is seeking clarity on the issue, as appraisers are worried that they are not compliant. Plus, if appraisers suddenly have to be licensed as adjusters, that could create a shortage of people available for insurance disputes.

Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Insurance Adjusters Licensing Lawyer

Those who work with homes, such as insurance adjusters and real estate brokers, have to be properly licensed. Should appraisers be as well?

There is often a lot of confusion about licensing requirements and expectations. A Tampa insurance adjusters licensing lawyer from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. can assess your case and guide you through the process. Schedule a consultation today by calling (813) 968-6633 or filling out the online form.

Source:

insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2023/03/09/711490.htm