Those concerned in insurance coverage value determinations as appraisers or umpires can buy John Voelpel’s new guide, The Appraisal Process: Resolution of Disputed Insurance Claims. John has taught the Windstorm Insurance Networks sold-out appraisal programs for over twenty years.
Voelpel is as skilled as anyone concerning appraisal. His private notes about appraisal are a part of why the guide was an interesting learn for me. For occasion, he famous:
I lately flew again dwelling after touring out of state to umpire an Appraisal. During my journey, I had a dialog with a fellow passenger. During our dialog, we finally requested about one another’s occupations. After I defined I spent most of my time performing as an umpire within the Appraisal course of and what that entailed, my co-passenger requested whether or not the insured events have been too grasping or if the insurance coverage corporations have been making an attempt to reap the benefits of them, resulting in an Appraisal. My reply was a powerful “neither.” I then defined the explanation most claims went to Appraisal was that the strains of communication have been terminated prematurely. Both sides failed to try to revive communication in order that the opposite facet might perceive their considerations. As a outcome, one of many events demanded Appraisal.
Are the proceedings to an appraisal confidential? The coverage doesn’t say something about it, however many appraisers and umpires imagine they need to be so. Voelpel has this view, which has held up in court docket:
I imagine so strongly that deliberations are confidential to the Appraisal panel that on two events I’ve retained counsel to file a movement with the Court to forestall testimony on this challenge. Both occasions the movement was granted. I’ve additionally consulted with quite a few Judges and Retired Judges on this challenge. All of them agree that deliberations are confidential to the Appraisal panel.
I’ll see if I can get the orders on that challenge for readers of this weblog.
The guide chapters cowl many sensible points that come up within the appraisal course of:
Chapter 1 What Is Appraisal?
Chapter 2 The History Of Appraisal
Chapter 3 Appraisal Provisions
Chapter 4 Is The Matter “Right” For Appraisal
Chapter 5 Is The Matter “Ripe” For Appraisal
Chapter 6 Invoking The Appraisal Process
Chapter 7 Memorandum Of Appraisal
Chapter 8 Choosing The Appraiser
Chapter 9 Choosing The Umpire
Chapter 10 Role Of The Appraiser
Chapter 11 Role Of The Umpire
Chapter 12 Preparing Documents
Chapter 13 Exchange Of Documents
Chapter 14 Involvement Of The Parties
Chapter 15 Determining Where The Appraisers Differ
Chapter 16 Umpire Meeting
Chapter 17 Deliberations
Chapter 18 The Award
Chapter 19 Overturning The Award
Chapter 20 Closing Reports And Confidentiality
Chapter 21 Subpoenas, Depositions, And Court Testimony
Chapter 22 Billing For Services
The Appendix has an inventory of kinds and letters which are of sensible worth to appraisers and umpires.
For these constructing a library of property insurance coverage regulation and adjustment sources, you can purchase The Appraisal Process: Resolution of Disputed Insurance Claims by John A. Voelpel III. I additionally personal and sometimes discuss with Jonathan Wilkofsky’s treatise, The Law and Procedure of Insurance Appraisal (third Edition).
Thought For The Day
Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise every time you may. Point out to them how the nominal winner is usually an actual loser—in charges, bills, and waste of time.
—Abraham Lincoln