Our pledge is to provide competent, creative and honest legal counsel, service, and advocacy to policyholders and claimants.

Joined March 2012
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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…”
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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
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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
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What should remain confidential in State Farm’s Oklahoma hail litigation? Two hearings are set for Sept. 28. A separate motion seeks to disqualify the State’s counsel. Chip Merlin examines the evidence, arguments and unanswered questions: hubs.ly/Q04y8nK-0
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We covered a lot of ground this summer—from conferences and workshops to meeting with California wildfire survivors. Across the country, our attorneys showed up to educate, listen and advocate for policyholders. We're grateful for everyone who spent time with us. On to fall. 🍂
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$52,482 or roughly $742,000? The appraisal panel’s written findings appeared to point in different directions. The appellate court said the award amount itself supplied the answer. Should finality ever substitute for clarity? Chip Merlin examines the case: hubs.ly/Q04xsXk-0
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Twenty-five years later, we remember September 11, 2001. We honor the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders and recovery workers whose courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten. #September11 #NeverForget
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