OPPAGA Publishes Public Adjuster Report

The Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (“OPPAGA”) published its report on public adjuster representation in Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) claims today, January 15, 2010.

Under the provisions of House Bill 1495, which was signed into law during 2009, OPPAGA must submit a report on public adjusters to state executive and legislative leadership by February 1, 2010. The report must include a review of relevant Citizens claims and statistics involving public adjusters, public adjuster claims submission practices and applicable Florida laws and rules.

The Report, entitled “Public Adjuster Representation in Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Claims Extends the Time to Reach a Settlement and Also Increases Payments to Citizens’ Policyholders,” can be viewed by clicking here.

Report Summary

• The number of licensed public adjusters in Florida has grown significantly in the last six years, and the incidence of complaints, regulatory actions and allegations of fraud involving public adjusters is generally low. Florida’s public adjuster laws are comparable to and in some cases more restrictive than those of other similar states.
• The OPPAGA analysis of Citizens’ claims data found that cases involving public adjusters took longer to reach a settlement but included higher payments for claims filed in 2008 and 2009. Public adjusters represented policyholders in 26 percent of non-catastrophe and 39 percent of catastrophe claims filed during this period.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.

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