Case Studies
J.S. Held Acquires Shechter & Everett to Expand Forensic Accounting Capabilities for Family Law Disputes in Florida
Read MoreJ.S. Held’s Joe Gulick received a call from a past client seeking an appraiser for a court-mandated insurance appraisal of the roof of a litigated manufacturing facility. The carrier denied coverage as the date of loss was outside the policy period. During litigation, the courts requested an appraisal of the damages without regard to the date of loss. The insured’s public adjuster submitted a proof of loss exceeding $3 million.
J.S. Held’s Joe Gulick worked with counsel to establish an appropriate appraisal protocol to provide the court with a useful award. It was noted that the date of loss was “open” and not reviewed by the panel. Joe worked with the insured’s appraiser and the umpire regarding the damage assessment and value. After a site inspection, it was found that not all surfaces were damaged. Joe estimated that approximately $900,000 in damages were related to hail damage. All three parties agreed and signed the award for the court’s use.
After the award, Joe utilized J.S. Held’s Forensic Meteorology group, which pinpointed the exact date of loss when hail fell, determining it was large enough to cause the damage noted on site. J.S. Held’s Kaj O’Mara wrote a report that was instrumental in pinpointing the date of loss. This appraisal limited exposure by approximately $2.1 million, and the J.S. Held expert team will also ensure that the courts have the proper weather data to assist in their coverage ruling.
> Appraisals
We provide independent appraisal services for commercial and residential property and infrastructure damage, delivering objective insight across a wide range of insurance claims and disputes. J.S. Held experts are retained as independent appraisers and umpires in complex property damage disputes.
> Forensic Meteorology
Meteorology consulting, forensic weather investigations, and weather risk assessments for property damage insurance claims, personal injury and accident investigations, and risk management. From multi-million-dollar insurance disputes to injury/wrongful death lawsuits, our Certified Consulting Meteorologists (CCMs) have testified in depositions as well as trials in state and federal courts.
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