Can you think about the glee on the face of the investigator for Florida’s Department of Financial Services as he walked in with the large information that Chip Merlin has no Florida Bar License? It most likely went down one thing like this:
“Hey boss, you know that attorney who criticizes us and whom the insurance companies hate because he exposes them as well, Chip Merlin? Well, he has no Florida Bar license! Yep, I looked it up, and this guy is an imposter!”
In the file of “truth is stranger than fiction,” the Chief of the Bureau of Investigation for the Division of Insurance Agent & Agency Services filed a Bar criticism that yours really doesn’t have a Florida license to apply regulation. There was a couple of motive I wrote yesterday’s submit: “Are Florida’s Department of Financial Service Investigators Competent or Simply Refusing to Investigate Alleged Insurance Company Corruption?”.
My private expertise with most civil servants working in Departments of Insurance or as insurance coverage regulators is that they’re hardworking and sincere individuals who wish to do an ideal job defending the general public. Many have stunning experience, and I discover myself studying from them. In many situations, the state doesn’t have the funds for allotted to allow them to sustain with the calls for of their jobs. Except for high management, many are profession folks and never within the circle of going backwards and forwards from the insurance coverage business.
So, what’s up with Florida’s insurance coverage investigators? I’ve been a member of the Florida Bar in good standing since 1983. This was a part of our response to the Florida Bar:
“…each inside authorized circles and within the public sector, it’s clear that he has not been out to confuse anybody or conceal his actual identification from anybody. Not solely has he typically included each ‘William F.’ and ‘Chip’ in the identical occasion, he additionally habitually consists of each his agency title and his picture, so no concealment might be fathomed, and no confusion claimed in good religion. [See attached Exhibits.] It is difficult to search out one other member of The Florida Bar who has been extra overtly public about his identification than Mr. Merlin. The incontrovertible fact that this circumstance has not been an issue for anybody for almost 4 a long time ought to converse loudly.
Currently, by all searches, we’ve been capable of finding just one dwelling “Chip Merlin” within the United States, and that’s William F. Merlin, Jr. William F. Merlin, Jr. was named for his father, a Coast Guard Officer. His mother and father didn’t wish to confuse folks, so that they took the recommendation of his grandfather and adopted the moniker ‘Chip’ after certainly one of his favourite cartoons within the Sunday comics. Long earlier than regulation college, and aside from the style by which he executes formal paperwork, he’s been recognized to the world as ‘Chip Merlin.’
Arguably, what’s extra complicated in regards to the reporting citizen’s dilemma is the dilemma itself. His direct supervisor, James ‘Jimmy’ Patronis, not too long ago met with Mr. Merlin on the Friday earlier than Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida. Jimmy Patronis constantly addressed Mr. Merlin as ‘Chip’ all through the assembly as they mentioned Mr. Merlin’s Florida regulation apply. Had the reporting citizen taken two seconds to ask his supervisor, merely Googled ‘Chip Merlin,’ or taken any effort by any means earlier than reporting his confusion to The Florida Bar, all would have been clarified. What is most complicated is that the reporting citizen recognized himself as knowledgeable investigator.
The criticism was clearly dismissed. I’ve no unwell will about this matter. I do have issues.
Part of my presentation concerning the Champlain Towers made at this week’s Windstorm Conference was the lesson that each one of us will make errors which often present a “last chance” to appropriate earlier than a tragedy happens. My honest hope is that insurance coverage regulators and investigators can appropriate no matter errors have been made concerning the allegations I famous in yesterday’s submit. My hope is they’re educated, motivated, and supplied ample assets in order that the allegations can actually be investigated after which critically examined. If true, the allegations recommend that Hurricane Ian policyholders are having insurance coverage advantages stolen from them. Failing to take motion to forestall such conduct can be a tragedy.
Thought For The Day
A coach is somebody who can provide correction with out inflicting resentment.
—John Wooden