Although we are over 5 years past Hurricane Sandy, flood insurance coverage issues are still being litigated. I previously wrote about a decision out of the U.S. District Court of the District of New Jersey, Migliaro v. Fidelity National Indemnity Insurance Company.1… Continue Reading
Hurricane Harvey flooding impacted Texas property owners (i) with sufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, (ii) with insufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, and (iii) without flood insurance. This three-part series outlines the differences in the rights of these property owners and the different avenues to recovery. My previous post was Hurricane Harvey … Continue Reading
2017 brought with it three major hurricanes causing widespread flooding to thousands of homeowners and business owners. Those policyholders with a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) might consider invoking the flood policy’s appraisal provision.… Continue Reading
The Hurricane Harvey floods in Texas impacted property owners (i) with sufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, (ii) with insufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, and (iii) without flood insurance all together. The different avenues of recovery and the rights of the different property owners are important issues to understand.… Continue Reading
Currently, policies of insurance for flood, even if purchased through your insurance agent or normal insurance company, are Federal Flood Insurance Policies issued through the National Flood Insurance Program, if your community is participating in the NFIP. Because the program is federally subsidized, homeowners on floodplains are able to purchase the polices at rates much … Continue Reading
Hurricane Harvey flood insurance deadlines are extended for one year. This is fantastic news and everybody should congratulate the National Flood Program for the extension.… Continue Reading
FEMA has announced a fourth extension on the deadline to submit a flood Proof of Loss for Louisiana policyholders affected by the 2016 Mid-Summer Storms, commencing on August 9, 2016, and ending August 31, 2016. Policyholders now have until Friday, September 1, 2017, to submit a Proof of Loss form.… Continue Reading
Many homeowners don’t realize that a standard homeowner policy does not cover flood damage. That is why it is so important to purchase additional insurance for floods. Federally subsidized flood insurance is available, providing limited coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program: up to $250,000 for single family dwellings plus $100,000 for personal property, including … Continue Reading
On September 30, 2017, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will expire unless a bill to continue the program is passed through both the House and Senate.… Continue Reading
On March 28, 2017, the Assistant Administrator for Federal Insurance, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, issued a memorandum to Write Your Own (WYO) Company Principal Coordinators, NFIP Direct, and Independent Adjusters, titled “WYO Company Acceptance of Electronic Signatures” (W-17008).… Continue Reading
A recent case out of the District of New Jersey addressed language in the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (“SFIP”) that permits the insured to bring suit within one year after “the date of the written denial of all or part of a claim.”… Continue Reading
On February 3rd FEMA Assistant Administrator David Maurstad issued WYO Bulletin W-17002, granting an additional 90-day extension for Louisiana policyholders to submit a complete, signed, and sworn proof of loss for their flood claims caused by the mid-summer storms commencing on August 9, through August 31, 2016.… Continue Reading
On January 10, 2017, Matthew Pappalardo, former director of HiRise Engineering of Uniondale, New York, pled guilty to the unauthorized practice of engineering as a result of fraudulently changed engineering reports for Superstorm Sandy flood victims.… Continue Reading
At the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) Fall Conference last week, I was speaking with a public adjuster about the impeding 60-day deadline for his clients to submit their signed, sworn, proofs of loss for Hurricane Matthew flood claims. For public adjusters who have not handled many flood claims in the past, this … Continue Reading
If you’re a property owner in New York City, you already know the high cost of insurance in the city. If you have a mortgage on your property, you also know that property owners in a high flood-risk zone are required to purchase flood insurance. In October, FEMA announced it will revise its flood maps … Continue Reading
It is the general understanding when one brings a lawsuit on a flood claim under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that the only recovery available to the policyholder is actual damages. The policyholder is not entitled to attorney fees or bad faith (extra-contractual) damages, which might be recoverable in other first-party property damage cases. … Continue Reading
Louisiana and Florida have suffered severe flood disasters. A second disaster may occur if the Federal Government does not extend the 60-day time limit for filing flood insurance claim forms and a National Flood Insurance Proof of Loss.… Continue Reading
As a result of the devastation from the severe storms affecting Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas, FEMA is making an effort to ensure accurate and prompt settlement of NFIP policyholders’ claims.… Continue Reading
On March 7, 2016 through March 19, 2016, severe winter storms affected Louisiana and Mississippi. For those policyholders with flood losses, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires a policyholder to send the insurer a complete, signed and sworn-to-proof of loss within 60 days after the date of loss.… Continue Reading
If your property suffered flood damage from Winter Storm Jonas on January 22, 2016 through January 31, 2016, and you will be submitting a claim to submit to your flood insurance carrier, this blog is for you.… Continue Reading
After a weekend filled with shoveling snow and sledding with my family, I spent Sunday evening responding to some emails and reading news coverage of the blizzard that dumped at least a foot of snow in every county of New Jersey (many areas, like my home, got close to 30 inches). What was unusual about … Continue Reading
South Carolina policyholders affected by the October 2015 severe storms in North Charleston, South Carolina, should be aware of two recent bulletins issued by FEMA.… Continue Reading
On May 29, 2015, District Judge John W. DeGravelles of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, issued his Ruling and Order prohibiting a Write Your Own flood insurance carrier from denying payment for unrepaired prior damages on subsequent flood loss.1… Continue Reading
The NFL season is finally upon us. I hope you took time this weekend to watch some football. If you watched the Kansas City Chiefs beat up on the Houston Texans, you saw not only a great game but also one that made history. Sarah Thomas, the first full-time female referee made her regular season … Continue Reading