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Insurance Claims |
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The biggest mistake most policyholders make after a loss or disaster occurs is they rely on their insurance company to conduct a full, unbiased and thorough investigation of the claim. During the claims process, insurance companies hold a big advantage over their policyholders. Well funded insurance companies, armed with a battery of legal and forensic experts, investigate claims with an eye towards avoiding payment. Insurance companies make money by accepting premiums and denying claims. |
Typically, the policyholder does not understand the claim process or their duties in case of loss. Policyholders are not experienced with handling emergency situations and are unable to balance issues such as preserving and protecting the damaged property with repairing and getting back into business or back into the home. Moving too fast or too slow is fatal to the ultimate resolution of the claim. Without knowledge of the policy, coverage, exclusions and interpretations, the insured may feel helpless when confronted with the insurance company's settlement offer or outright declination of coverage. Often, the insured recovers far less than what the policy provides.
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| Where does the policyholder turn for help? |
Most turn to their insurance agent. Many agent's do not believe they owe you anything more than to do as you direct. They do not consider advising you, counseling you or looking out for your interests as part of their job. Furthermore, insurance agents have entered into agreements or have long standing relationships with insurance companies creating a conflict between providing the consumer with the best possible service and earning the highest commission. Agents often resolve the conflict to the detriment of the policyholder.
CDG attorneys know the claims process and how to confront large insurance companies. We are well-versed and have extensive experience interpreting insurance policies and litigating insurance claims. For more than 27 years the focus of our practice has been representing insureds all over the world who have suffered catastrophic losses. We counsel our clients in controlling and handling the loss to allow them to focus their attention on their business or family. We have the full compliment of experts necessary to establish coverage for our client's claims. We assist them in recovering the full benefits available under the insurance policy for which they paid premiums. We understand how the loss needs to be handled in order for the insurance company to pay the claim. It is an art and a sophisticated practice. We know how to do it. Childress Duffy Goldblatt can serve as your “Insurance Against Insurance" |
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| CDG has been involved in the following representative losses: |
• Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Wilma for commercial property owners, homeowners associations and high net worth individuals.
• Hurricane Katrina for commercial property owners.
• Floods in Illinois
• Sinkholes and blasting in Florida.
• Building explosion in California of a manufacturing facility for an International Company.
• Fire loss in Texas for a National Manufacturing Company.
• Second largest fire loss in Chicago of a manufacturing facility for a National Company.
• Water damage to a multi-use high rise in Florida for a National Developer.
• Power failure to a Corporation, thereby preventing production and causing loss.
• Water Loss in Minnesota for a large Developer of condominiums and town homes.
• In Minnesota millions recovered for explosion and fire at a pork processing plant.
• In Arkansas for fire loss and damage to retail office space.
• For a company located in Arkansas millions are recovered and continuing coverage for failure to defend and indemnify owners of technical schools in various locations around the country.
• In Colorado in excess of 1 million dollars in an appraisal against a first party carrier on a matter involving water intrusion of a luxury home.
• In Florida in excess of 1 million dollars on a homeowner’s policy involving mold and water damage after the company’s initial payment of less than $40,000.
• In Florida a multi-million dollar settlement against the homeowner’s carrier and several contractors on water intrusion and mold contamination as well as injury as a result of mold exposure .
• In Illinois over 1.5 million for a medical office contaminated by repeated water damage and mold infestation despite wide spread exclusions in the policy.
• In Illinois in excess of 1 million from Broker for failure to obtain appropriate coverage in a property damage matter.
• In Nevada in excess of $1 million for water damage and mold from property insurance carrier concerning a single family home.
• In Wisconsin summary judgment granted based on Valued Policy Statute recovering in excess of $700,000 policy limit for water damaged to summer home. |
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| Unique electronic evidence base |
We have a database of contracts and documents from the insurance industry which is unsurpassed. We have a unique library of insurance policies, claim handling procedures, underwriting evidence and depositions from industry claim handlers, experts and executives. This valuable collection of insurance information gives us an advantage and allows us to quickly handle our clients’ claims to resolution. |
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| National Reputation |
| We are well known throughout the United States and are routinely called upon to handle losses while they are occurring, wherever they occur. We are hands on and understand that time is of the essence. We often work with the officers of a company and their in-house counsel before a loss ever occurs to ensure the company is correctly positioned for a potential event. Many of our lawyers are CPAs and MBAs, so they are well versed in the intricacies of corporate asset protection and shareholder value. |
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| Why use Childress Duffy Goldblatt as counsel? |
Knowledge, experience, contacts and resources. It is our goal to obtain a recovery for our clients quickly; some of our lawyers worked for the insurance industry, so we have an insider’s understanding of the way the industry views and handles their claims. Handling First Party cases on behalf of insureds is a rarity for most attorneys, but not for CDG. We only represent the insured. Our experience in representing the insured levels the playing field. Our professionals are experts in resolving coverage issues, managing the claim process and are willing to litigate a case on behalf our clients. Our experience and insight is unparalleled.
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