‘Great tool’ or ‘get-out-of-jail free card’? Two takes on one way to handle home damage
by Michael Locklear, Fox San Antonio
This article was originally published on Fox San Antonio.
SAN ANTONIO – A little-known part of many home insurance policies can be considered a feature or a weapon, depending on who you ask.
Shannon Loyd, who represents homeowners, says insurance companies are using the process called appraisal to force a homeowner’s hand and avoid trial.… Read more
Restore the Value of Property Insurance
This article was originally published on the Austin American-Statesman
A new Texas Senate bill advances Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda by seeking to prevent “hailstorm lawsuit abuse.” Senate Bill 10, which pits trial lawyers against insurance companies, overlooks a major cause of hailstorm lawsuit abuse — one that easily can be fixed.… Read more
Courts Gutting Real Value of Property Insurance
This article was originally published on the San Antonio Express News.
Texas Senate bill advances Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda by seeking to prevent “hailstorm lawsuit abuse.” By pitting trial lawyers against insurance companies, Senate Bill 10 ignores the most alarming perpetrator of hailstorm lawsuit abuse: the courts themselves.… Read more
Court Decisions are Gutting Consumer Protections for Insurance Policyholders
This article was originally published on the Houston Chronicle.
Texas law is supposed to protect policyholders from the unequal bargaining power of insurance companies. Traditionally, insurers who failed to settle property insurance claims fairly and promptly were subject to penalties for bad faith, delays, attorney fees and interest.… Read more
Testimony to TDI Against Arbitration in Policies
Breach of an Appraisal Clause
Casenote: Farmers Group Ins., Inc. v. Poteet, Fort Worth, 2014
This is an appeal from a jury verdict in January 2011 ultimately arising from a claim in November 2002 for the discharge of black smoke and soot from an HVAC system.… Read more
A Policyholder’s Guide to the Insurance Claims Process
This article is for anyone who owns property covered by insurance, including renters who insure their personal property. When a loss occurs and your property is damaged, approaching the claims process in an informed and organized manner will increase your chances of the claim being resolved quickly and to your satisfaction.… Read more
Is Texas at War with Hail Damage Insurance Claims?
Did you know that hail damage insurance claims have become such a big deal in Texas that the department of insurance held a symposium titled “War on Hail”?
Over 2 million hail damage claims were processed from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec.… Read more
