It is a homeowner’s nightmare. Extensive damage occurs to your home. You call your homeowner’s insurance to make a claim to get it fixed. The insurance company hires a contractor who does substandard work. If you sue, can the insurance company point to some requirement in the contract of insurance they claim you didn’t follow to get out of paying for the substandard work their contractor did? According to Florida’s Read More

You’ve paid your homeowners insurance provider on time, in full, for years. When you experience what is obviously (to you) a covered loss, you rightfully expect that your insurance company will be there for you. Many insurance claims are settled for policyholders in a satisfactory way, but it doesn’t always work out for other policyholders. If you and your insurance company don’t see eye-to-eye on the merits of a Read More

Recently, a colleague of ours in the industry published a blog post regarding burdens of proof in an all risks policy scenario in Florida. His blog post can be found here and here. We think that the author’s analysis in that post is flawed. It is important to first understand what an all risks policy is. An all risks policy covers fortuitous loss or damage to property other than that resulting form willful misconduct Read More

It seems like every week, there is a new case discussing post loss obligations of an insured when presenting a claim and what the effects are by (1) failing to comply or (2) partial compliance. Last week was no different (and there was a twist!). In Enrique Arguello, et. al. v. People’s Trust, the Insured suffered a loss as a result of a plumbing leak. Shortly after reporting of the loss, the Insurer requested a Read More

For a lot of people, purchasing a house is the most significant financial commitment they will ever make. The homebuying process is often grueling and full of obstacles that can test anyone’s patience. Why do people do it? It’s simple — the feeling one gets from standing in the living room of their forever home for the first time is truly priceless. To get to that point, though, you have to navigate a fairly involved Read More

Our office has previously discussed whether a public adjuster can appear at your Examination Under Oath (EUO). We have also discussed the parties that need to be produced for an EUO. But what if an Insured fails to appear at an EUO? As we have always stressed, compliance with post loss obligations is very important before an insurance company will pay your claim. But courts have endeavored to create some bright line Read More

When presenting an insurance claim for your home or business, it is important to remember the need to present evidence regarding your loss. Evidence can be in the form of photos, statements, documents, video, etc. Without the right evidence, your insurance claim may be denied and attorneys may have a tough time opposing a summary judgment motion in your case. In a recent case, Yoani Fernandez, et. al. v. Citizens, Read More

In the interests of full transparency, we should note that the state of Florida does NOT require homebuyers or sellers to retain the services of a real estate attorney before closing on a house. Plenty of other states do, however, and for more than a few good reasons. Even though you can get away with closing on your dream home by relying on a realtor and title insurance provider, there are several compelling reasons Read More

A trademark is, arguably, the most widely used type of intellectual property for entrepreneurs and business owners. For this reason it is important to understand what can — and cannot — be trademarked in the U.S. This blog will cover the key details so you can have a solid strategy for protecting your company’s intellectual property.  What is a Trademark?  First, let’s cover what a trademark is. The U.S. Patent and Read More

Everyone’s estate plan is unique. What works for you might not work for your siblings, parents, or grandparents. Regardless, there are a few documents that a sizable portion of all estate plans contain. One of these popular documents is known as a “trust” and, contrary to popular belief, not just the wealthy and famous can make use of trusts. We’ll lay out the reasons why a trust can be useful for you and your Read More