December 30, 2019 2:34 pmPublished by Diane SwerlingLeave your thoughts
If you’re an attorney representing a client in an insurance claim, you want to secure a favorable outcome. Whether you’re negotiating settlements for cases, or mediating with insurance companies, it’s critical that you understand issues related to insurance companies and how they handle cases. For many attorneys, however, questions remain: What does the insurance company… View More
December 23, 2019 2:39 pmPublished by Swerling Milton WinnickLeave your thoughts
The holidays are a time when family members exchange thoughtful gifts. In the case of family keepsakes – jewelry, watches, etc. – these gifts require careful management on your insurance policy. Update your policies accordingly! Think about a family example: they have beautiful pearl earrings that family members have handed down through the generations. The… View More
December 17, 2019 2:43 pmPublished by Swerling Milton WinnickLeave your thoughts
Protect your property – that’s the fundamental reason for purchasing insurance. To do so effectively, you need the right coverage. And the only way to truly ensure that you have the right coverage is to understand every provision within your insurance policy. One area policyholders often struggle to grasp is the “Loss of Use” coverage…. View More
December 10, 2019 2:45 pmPublished by Tony ScarpelliniLeave your thoughts
In a recent post, we offered some lessons for homeowners who suffer “burnt out of sight” (BOS) property losses . This helpful information sparked a great response from our readers, many of whom had more specific questions about “what to do” when facing a BOS situation. In this post, we will answer the main questions posed… View More
December 3, 2019 12:57 pmPublished by Swerling Milton WinnickLeave your thoughts
SMW recently had a client referral – all the way from across the country. An attorney, who is an old friend (going back to SMW patriarch Bruce Swerling’s college days!), had a claim that presented some interesting lessons for homeowners who suffer “burnt out of sight” (BOS) property losses. In this case, the insureds experienced… View More
November 27, 2019 1:09 pmPublished by Swerling Milton WinnickLeave your thoughts
Here at SMW, we love turkey, and we love Thanksgiving. And though oven roasting is an endorsed technique, we are not without affection for the savory, oil-filled repast that you can get from deep-frying your holiday turkey. It’s delicious! It’s also, however, incredibly dangerous. Do you doubt us? We have seen the damage first-hand –… View More
November 25, 2019 1:10 pmPublished by Swerling Milton WinnickLeave your thoughts
We recently handled a property loss at a large condominium complex. The building suffered a huge fire, and all unit owners had to move out. The structure was uninhabitable and there was no building left to maintain or common area lights to keep on. But: the association still had to pay property taxes. It also… View More
November 19, 2019 1:19 pmPublished by Bryan HoltzmanLeave your thoughts
Imagine that a major fire ravages a large condominium complex, damaging 70 of the 400 total units. The property manager (wisely) calls in a public adjuster, and gathers all the condo owners together to discuss the repairs and related insurance claims process. There’s a good chance that few, if any, of the condo owners will… View More
November 14, 2019 1:26 pmPublished by Swerling Milton WinnickLeave your thoughts
Specifics. Details. Invoices and receipts from years past. Document everything! These are the top-line lessons to learn if you’re dealing with an insurance claim related to a property that is “burnt out of sight” (BOS) – that is, with the building and personal property completely destroyed by fire (see picture). I was recently reminded of… View More
November 12, 2019 2:23 pmPublished by Swerling Milton WinnickLeave your thoughts
Any decent-sized community association – whether it’s a condo complex, co-op, or other homeowners’ group – depends on an experienced property manager to function. This need is never more acute than after a major property loss, when the property manager becomes the go-to person for coordinating post-event response. The property manager suddenly must oversee insurance… View More
