Insurance defense attorney slams Florida’s ‘egregious’ homeowners insurance system

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — As householders throughout the state of Florida proceed fighting skyrocketing insurance coverage charges, even a person who makes his dwelling defending property insurance coverage firms says the system is damaged.

Lawyer Michael Monteverde’s perspective is critical. He’s an insurance coverage protection legal professional, within the trenches day by day, and concedes that even householders with reliable roof claims are dropping.

He’s talking out in opposition to his monetary curiosity.

“If we might repair this method and I by no means obtained one other case in this sort of work, I’d be comfortable,” Monteverde mentioned. “What we see every day, in lots of cases, is so loopy and so egregious.”

Monteverde says the circumstances began 4 years in the past. Contractors, on behalf of Florida householders, suing insurance coverage firms for roof harm.

In line with Monteverde, roughly 50% of the claims that land on his desk aren’t reliable, that means insurance coverage inspectors discovered no roof harm tied to the acknowledged climate occasion.

However half the circumstances are legit, the place the home-owner should restore or change their roof.

The dispute is over value. Monteverde says that’s the place contractors, who’ve obtained management of the claims course of from householders, enter the image.

“They’re sitting within the center, hijacking these claims,” Monteverde mentioned. “‘We’re going to ask you for triple the speed for what it really prices and in case you don’t pay us triple the speed, we’re going to sue you.’”

He did, nevertheless, level out that it’s “not in each case, not each contractor, not even all contractors in each case.”

At that time, insurance coverage firms have a look at their general danger. Many instances, Monteverde says they decide it’s safer to settle. Going to courtroom and dropping means they may very well be on the hook for outrageous legal professional charges.

“What finally ends up occurring is the insurance coverage firm not solely then has to pay attorneys like myself however they finally, and lots of instances, are on the hook to pay the legal professional’s charges for the opposite facet as nicely,” Monteverde defined.

In 25 days, lawmakers will convene in Tallahassee for a particular session on the householders insurance coverage disaster. Time is of the essence as a result of hurricane season begins simply 10 days after that.

8 On Your Aspect Investigator Mahsa Saeidi is trying to communicate with Tampa Bay householders who’ve simply misplaced their property insurance coverage protection. If it’s occurred to you and also you’d wish to share your story, e mail Mahsa at MSaeidi@WFLA.com.