On Sept. 1, 2017, Texas Insurance Code Section 542A — known as the “Hail Bill” — took effect. Primarily prompted by abuses relating to hailstorm litigation, the new law applies to all first-party property insurance claims...more
May 2015 was a month of record rain for Texas. Meteorologists reported that in May alone, 37.3 trillion gallons of water fell in Texas — enough to cover the entire state with 8 inches of water. The nonstop barrage has caused...more
A case recently considered by Texas' Thirteenth Court of Appeals illustrates a fact pattern becoming all too familiar in Texas first-party property insurance claims. The story goes something like this....more
The typical property insurance claim begins with notification of a loss from the insured or its broker. Thereafter, the carrier sends out an adjuster to investigate the loss and determine whether, and to what extent, coverage...more
Appraisal has long been utilized as a tool for resolution of disputes over the amount of loss at issue in property insurance claims. Appraisal was once an amicable, prompt and independent process to resolve claims when...more