Insurance/Legal Matters in Restoration

Beware! Your Category 3 Water Jobs Are Likely Uninsured

Give this article to your insurance agent and tell them that you work at Category 3 water job sites

November 1, 2013

Every IICRC-certified water damage restoration contractor knows Category 3 water is classified as Category 3 because it is grossly contaminated with fungi, bacteria or other pollutants.

Unprepared Restoration Contractor is Dealt Devastating Blow at Trial

Litigating restoration cases can be a minefield for the inexperienced

Edward H. Cross Esq., "The Restoration Lawyer"

November 1, 2013

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On September 4, 2013, the mock trial of Moore v. Heatman went forward at “Cross-Examination: The Live Courtroom Experience” at The Experience Convention in Las Vegas, with the Honorable Judge James Dread (played by Jim Holland) presiding.

The “Contract Wars”

Bad contracts lead to collections nightmares.

October 1, 2013

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One gloomy morning in 2010, major water damage inundated an upscale Los Angeles residence owned by an unscrupulous and wealthy entrepreneur. He contacted a prominent restoration contractor and signed a generic Work Authorization which did not specify the scope of work or the price.

A Two-Step Solution to Managing the Risk of Subcontractors

As I look back on 10 years worth of loss records on the restoration firms we insure, more than 90% of the reported claims involve a subcontractor

David J. Dybdahl

September 3, 2013

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Hiring subcontractors in the restoration business is a way of life. Very few owners of restoration firms appreciate how risky subcontractors can be or how easily this risk can be reduced.

Toxic Mold Litigation: 2013 Update (Part II)

Science is, oddly enough, not always an exact science. And science changes over time

Edward H. Cross Esq., "The Restoration Lawyer" Julie B. Isen Esq.

September 3, 2013

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In Part II, we’ll examine how a jury will react to mold claims in a court of law as well as how to handle such a situation if going to court is unavoidable.

Toxic Mold Litigation: 2013 Update (Part I)

Mold lawsuits remain plentiful and large recoveries still occur, although they have not wielded the devastation to the restoration industry that many had feared

Edward H. Cross Esq., "The Restoration Lawyer" Julie B. Isen Esq.

August 7, 2013

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Customer calls you to dry the structure and fix the leak. While you’re working, you happen to miss some water that has found its way down to the baseboard. Whoops.

cross stock photo man breaking piggy bank

Making Mortgage Companies Work With You (And Beating the Money Out of Them if They Don’t)

No matter your relationship with the homeowner, the adjuster or the insurance company, your relationship with the mortgage company is likely to be a competition of adverse interests

Edward H. Cross Esq., "The Restoration Lawyer" Julie B. Isen Esq.

July 8, 2013

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No matter your relationship with the homeowner, the adjuster or the insurance company, your relationship with the mortgage company is likely to be a competition of adverse interests, but try to keep it from becoming personally hostile.

Roofing: A New Opportunity for Professional Restorers?

The demand for self performed roofing is being driven by basically two factors

David J. Dybdahl

July 8, 2013

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Looking for a new source of revenue in your restoration business? Consider going into the self-performed roofing business.

Bailees Insurance: What Every Restoration Firm Needs to Know

There appears to be a serious need for some help within the restoration community in this line of insurance coverage

David J. Dybdahl

May 14, 2013

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We have been answering a lot of questions about bailees insurance lately.

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50 Months for Fraudulent Overbilling: Breaking Down the Michael Griggs Case

The case filed against Griggs and other DRI employees in 2008 included 60 counts.

Edward H. Cross Esq., "The Restoration Lawyer"

May 14, 2013

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Guilty by suspicion. No, it’s not just a Robert DeNiro movie from 1991. In fact, when it involves your business and the insurance industry, it can lead to a whole lot of trouble.