But first some background.  Steve Scott is a Gainesville, Florida attorney I have known for a number of years, which goes back to our first meeting when he called me to help him with a fire loss in his home. Following the successful adjustment and settlement of his claim, Steve and I became friends and that relationship has evolved over the years to the point that I get calls or emails from Steve on issues he has or claims his clients need help on. He’s a smart guy, has some strong opinions and will get your brain going! So I thoroughly enjoy our discussions.  What started our most recent conversation and debate was an email I received from Steve asking my opinion on a Florida Third District Court of appeals case Dynamic Public Adjusters vs. Henry Rodriguez  he had just read. This case came out in late November and was a turkey that was served cold to one side as you will read.
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A rising problem that we in the public adjusting profession have been dealing with for years seems to finally have caught the attention of Florida officials. That is, the practice of insurance adjusting without a license by roofers and restoration contractors who sometimes are also unlicensed. A recent article, Illegal for roofers to act as insurance adjusters, experts warn perfectly illustrates the growing problem that takes advantage of homeowners who are in a stressful situation trying to repair their property and get a fair settlement. Hats off to Nancy Dominquez of The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters who states, “when you have individuals or companies trying to convince homeowners that their contracting or roofing license permits them to handle insurance claims, that's incorrect. Not only is it incorrect, it's against the law.”

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I’m sad to report that an insurance industry veteran Tom OConnor passed away. Tom was President of the OConnor Company an independent claims adjusting firm. Tom was an experienced and highly respected I/A.

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I want to thank Florida Public Adjuster Michael Platts for penning this excellent commentary. 

By Michael W. Platts

So, the hotly contested election in Florida is over. What’s next? How will the results impact the policyholders in our State? This is a key issue for a number of reasons; including the importance of affordable insurance costs, the role it plays in the recovery of the real estate market and the economy of our State as a whole.

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The end of an election cycle always presents a new opportunity for positive change. I pray that all the elected candidates remember who they are working for and try to work together to help both the property insurance policyholders and great State of Florida. The words of a great President come to mind: Let us not seek the Republican answer, or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.  – John F. Kennedy

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Anyone who follows property insurance matters and especially reported court cases has no doubt picked up on a recurring theme of some courts in various jurisdictions and their decisions about the appraisal clause. Specifically the court’s interpretation of what can and cannot be undertaken by an appraisal panel has been under review and reformed. That is a good thing! These court decisions may have a significant impact on property policy disputes regarding the amount of the loss and damages from a coved loss and the process of the appraisal panels work in determining those criteria. 
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As Public Adjusters, helping homeowners and businesses with their insurance claims is our business. But our firm has always believed in giving back to the local communities we serve. Congratulations to Public Adjuster, Michael Platts who recently presented copies of the Of The Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights to Mr. Perez, Social Studies teachers and Mr. Hart, Principal of Monroe Middle School. Thanks to Mike’s efforts, every 8th grader will now have a personal copy for their upcoming Constitutional Studies class. We’re proud of you Mike!

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I was very sorry to read in the South Florida Business Journal about the untimely passing of Attorney Gary Poliakoff.  Gary Poliakoff was a giant in the field of shared community and condominium living. Along with his partner Allen Becker, they founded Becker & Poliakoff headquartered in Ft Lauderdale Florida that over the years has become a legal juggernaut. The name Becker & Poliakoff has become a brand in and of itself and is synonymous with any issues involving communal property living. 
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