Tag Archive: 2019

SMW’s Diane Swerling Joined MCLE Seminar on Settling Cases Involving Insurance Companies

December 30, 2019 2:34 pm Published by 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

Gifting vs. Loaning: Know The Difference Between a “Gift” and a “Loan” When it Comes to Your Insurance Coverage

December 23, 2019 2:39 pm Published by 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

Understand Your ‘Loss of Use’ Coverage

December 17, 2019 2:43 pm Published by 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

What to Do When Your House or Building Burns to the Ground

December 10, 2019 2:45 pm Published by 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

Homeowners Beware: Don’t Let Your Thanksgiving Turkey Fry Turn into a Fireball of Property Destruction!

November 27, 2019 1:09 pm Published by 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

Condo Owners: Get Reimbursed For Your Maintenance Fees

November 25, 2019 1:10 pm Published by 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

Condo Owners: Do You Understand Your Per Unit Deductible?

November 19, 2019 1:19 pm Published by 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

L.A. Wildfires and Burnt Out of Sight Homes: Important Lessons Learned

November 14, 2019 1:26 pm Published by 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

What Community Association Boards and Managers Need to Know When Dealing with a Loss

November 12, 2019 2:23 pm Published by 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