Filing Number: 791931
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| Filing Accepted: 11/13/2024 |
| Last/Business Name
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MCDANIELS
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First Name |
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MICHAEL NATHAN |
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| Street Address
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136 DUMONT PL |
| City, State Zip
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ST. JOHNS,
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32259
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| Email Address
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MCDANIELS.MONICA@GMAIL.COM [WIFE] |
| Complainant Type:
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Insured |
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| Last/Business Name* |
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MCDANIELS |
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First Name |
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MICHAEL NATHAN |
| Policy # * |
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7004314002 |
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Claim #* |
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01000112286 |
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Attorney is Applicable
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| Last Name* |
KRAPF
First Name *
GRANT
Initial
W
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| Street Address* |
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2790 SUNSET POINT RD |
| City, State Zip* |
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CLEARWATER
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FL
33759
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| Email Address * |
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GRANT@KRAPFLEGAL.COM |
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| Insurer Type
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 Authorized Insurer
 Unauthorized Insurer
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| Insurer Name |
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| Insurer Name* |
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FRONTLINE INSURANCE UNLIMITED COMPANY
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| Insurer Name* |
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| Street Address* |
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NAIC Company Code 10074 |
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| Name of individual responsible for violation (if any):*
REY MOJICA, CHAD COX, AND ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL FROM, OR AGENT OF, FIRST PROTECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY D/B/A FRONTLINE INSURANCE, WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE CLAIM.
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| Type of Insurance
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Residential Property & Casualty
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| Reason for Notice
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Claim Delay
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Unfair Trade Practice
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Other
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Misrepresenting the terms of the insurance policy
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Other
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Not treating the Insured with good faith claims conduct
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Other
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Looking for ways to deny full recovery to the Insured
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Other
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Looking for ways to delay full recovery to the Insured
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Other
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Failing to properly investigate the Insured's loss
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Other
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Failing to provide the Insured with the full benefits awarded under the contract of insurance in a t
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Other
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Not training, supervising, or managing adjusters properly so that prompt and full payments are made
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Other
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Not adjusting claims and evaluating loss properly
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Other
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Shifting the burden of insuring the loss to the Insured
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Other
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Intentionally misstating the terms, conditions, and benefits of the insurance policy to the insured
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Other
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Failing to implement proper standards for the adjustment and investigation of claims
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Statutory provision(s) which the insurer allegedly violated.
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| 624.155(1)(b)(1) |
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Not attempting in good faith to settle claims when, under all the circumstances, it could and should have done so, had it acted fairly and honestly toward its insured and with due regard for her or his interests.
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| 624.155(1)(b)(3) |
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Except as to liability coverages, failing to promptly settle claims, when the obligation to settle a claim has become reasonably clear, under one portion of the insurance policy coverage in order to influence settlements under other portions of the insurance policy coverage.
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| 626.9541(1)(i)(2) |
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A material misrepresentation made to an insured or any other person having an interest in the proceeds payable under such contract or policy, for the purpose and with the intent of effecting settlement of such claims, loss, or damage under such contract or policy on less favorable terms than those provided in, and contemplated by, such contract or policy.
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| 626.9541(1)(i)(3)(a) |
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Failing to adopt and implement standards for the proper investigation of claims.
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| 626.9541(1)(i)(3)(c) |
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Failing to acknowledge and act promptly upon communications with respect to claims.
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| 626.9541(1)(i)(4) |
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Failing to pay undisputed amounts of partial or full benefits owed under first-party property insurance policies within 60 days after an insurer receives notice of a residential property insurance claim, determines the amounts of partial or full benefits, and agrees to coverage, unless payment of the undisputed benefits is prevented by factors beyond the control of the insurer as defined in s. 627.70131(5).
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Specific policy language that is relevant to the violation.
Enter all words or phrases (one at a time) that should be used to filter.
627.70131 (1)(a) - Upon an insurer's receiving a communication with respect to a claim, the insurer shall, within 7 calendar days, review and acknowledge receipt of such communication unless payment is made within that period of time or unless the failure to acknowledge is caused by factors beyond the control of the insurer. If the acknowledgment is not in writing, a notification indicating acknowledgment shall be made in the insurer's claim file and dated. A communication made to or by a representative of an insurer with respect to a claim shall constitute communication to or by the insurer.
627.70131(2) Such acknowledgment must be responsive to the communication. If the communication constitutes a notification of a claim, unless the acknowledgment reasonably advises the claimant that the claim appears not to be covered by the insurer, the acknowledgment must provide necessary claim forms, and instructions, including an appropriate telephone number.
627.70131(7)(a)Within 60 days after an insurer receives notice of an initial, reopened, or supplemental property insurance claim from a policyholder, the insurer shall pay or deny such claim or a portion of the claim unless the failure to pay is caused by factors beyond the control of the insurer. The insurer shall provide a reasonable explanation in writing to the policyholder of the basis in the insurance policy, in relation to the facts or applicable law, for the payment, denial, or partial denial of a claim. If the insurer's claim payment is less than specified in any insurer's detailed estimate of the amount of the loss, the insurer must provide a reasonable explanation in writing of the difference to the policyholder. Any payment of an initial or supplemental claim or portion of such claim made 60 days after the insurer receives notice of the claim, or made after the expiration of any additional timeframe provided to pay or deny a claim or a portion of a claim made pursuant to an order of the office finding factors beyond the control of the insurer, whichever is later, bears interest at the rate set forth in s. 55.03. Interest begins to accrue from the date the insurer receives notice of the claim. The provisions of this subsection may not be waived, voided, or nullified by the terms of the insurance policy. If there is a right to prejudgment interest, the insured must select whether to receive prejudgment interest or interest under this subsection. Interest is payable when the claim or portion of the claim is paid. Failure to comply with this subsection constitutes a violation of this code. However, failure to comply with this subsection does not form the sole basis for a private cause of action.
Reference to specific policy language: The violations alleged are statutorily based and do not rely on any specific policy language. "It is an accepted principle of law that when parties contract upon a matter which is the subject of statutory regulation, the parties are presumed to have entered into their agreement with reference to such statute, which becomes a part of the contract, unless the contract discloses a contrary intention." Westside EKG Assocs. v. Found. Health, 932 So. 2d 214, 216 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005), aff'd, 944 So. 2d 188 (Fla. 2006).
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Facts and circumstances giving rise to the violation.
Enter all words or phrases (one at a time) that should be used to filter.
First Protective Insurance Company d/b/a Frontline Insurance (the "Insurer") has committed the following in handling the Insured's claim: 1) failure to act in due diligence and good faith to resolve claims; 2) placing the financial interest of Insurer before that of the policyholder and the Insured; 3) looking for ways to deny benefit payments and otherwise "low ball" or "stone wall" claims; 4) not adjusting the claims promptly and fairly; 5) not attempting in good faith to settle claims; 6) conducting inadequate investigations; 7) failing to employ policies and procedures to conduct adequate investigations; 8) shifting the burden of investigating the loss onto the Insured; 9) failing to render a claims determination within sixty (60) days; 10) failing to pay interest on a claim that is older than sixty (60) days; 11) failing to acknowledge and act promptly upon communications with respect to claims; 12) failing to respond to or acknowledge correspondence within statutory time period; and 13) misrepresenting the terms of the insurance policy
On or about July 4, 2023, while the subject policy was in full force and effect, the Insured's suffered a loss caused by wind and hail. The areas impacted include but are not limited to the roofing system, exterior surfaces, and interior rooms. The Insured timely submitted a claim to the Insurer for hail and wind damage and the ensuing damage therefrom. Given the scope and nature of the damage, the Insured retained a public adjuster. After assessing the damage and the true scope of repairs, the public adjuster prepared an estimate identifying $92,322.93 in covered damage to the dwelling. The foregoing estimate, photographs, and a letter of representation from the public adjuster were sent to the Insurer who thereafter assigned claim number 01000112286 to the loss and sent a field adjuster to inspect the property on May 13, 2024. Given the delay in a coverage determination and the drastic nature of the damage, the Insured further retained engineering services who prepared a report confirming the scope of damage to the dwelling.
It was not until September 11, 2024, one hundred twenty-seven (127) days after the Insured reported their loss, that the Insurer notified the Insured that it was extending partial coverage for the loss. However, the Insurer wrongfully determined that it would only require $35,509.38 to restore the insured property to its pre-loss condition, resulting in only $28,795.79 being issued to the Insured. The Insurer's lowball estimate is that of a classic under scope and under value of the claim. The Insurer misrepresented the loss and issued a wrongful partial denial. The Insurer denied coverage for the gutters, garage door, and pool screen based on the rationale that the damage sustained was a result of " age-related wear and tear, mechanical damage and deterioration." Although the Insurer and Insured are in dispute about how the roof was damaged, the Insurer knows or should know that when independent perils converge and no single cause can be considered the sole or proximate cause, it is appropriate to apply the concurring cause doctrine. Sebo v. Am. Home Assurance Co., 208 So. 3d 694, 697 (Fla. 2016). The concurring cause doctrine states that coverage may exist where an insured risk constitutes a concurrent cause of the loss even when it is not the prime or efficient cause. Id. at 698. A covered peril that meets with an uncovered peril may still provide for coverage under a policy when the covered peril triggered the events that eventually led to the loss. Id. at 697.
Upon receiving notice of the loss, the Insurer had the duty to provide the full benefits under the policy. This includes providing the Insured with a proper investigation and the funds necessary to return the home to its pre-loss condition. There may be further wrongful conduct which has not been made known to the Insured at this moment. Certain conduct or actions may be discovered throughout discovery or cannot be verified without a review of the Insurer's claim file and standards and procedures for the adjustment and investigation of claims.
In addition to wrongfully under-evaluating the damage to the Insured's property, the Insurer further delayed and frustrated the Insured's ability to have the claim adjusted promptly and begin restoring the home by waiting more than sixty (60) days after receiving notice of the Insured claim to issue a payment or a claims determination. Under Fla. Stat. 627.70131(7)(a), "[w]ithin 60 days after an insurer receives notice of an initial, reopened, or supplemental property insurance claim from a policyholder, the insurer shall pay or deny such claim or a portion of the claim unless the failure to pay is caused by factors beyond the control of the insurer which reasonably prevent such payment." There were no factors outside of the Insurer's control. As the Insurer has failed to make a timely determination, it has violated this code. As such, in addition to the requirements below to cure this CRN, any payment made to the Insured must contain interest for the damage as a result of the loss from the date the Insurer received first notice of the loss.
Additionally, Insurer shifted the burden and cost of investigating and insuring the loss onto the Insured. During their investigation, the insurer's adjuster did not use a moisture meter, despite the presence of interior water damage. A moisture meter can be purchased online from Amazon for around $40 before tax. The Insurer could purchase a moisture meter and assess thousands of properties with one meter. Instead, the Insurer would rather place its financial interests over those of the Insured by failing to provide the adjuster with the necessary tools to correctly inspect the loss. As a result of the inadequate investigation and surrounding circumstances it is apparent that the Insurer significantly underestimated the scope of the loss to the Insured's property. The Insurer and its adjuster have colluded to misrepresent the true scope of damages to the insured property and the true replacement costs of the damages.
In addition, on July 8, 2024, the Insured, through the public adjuster, asked the Insurer to confirm receipt of communication that was sent on June 28, 2024. This shows that Insurer has failed to acknowledge the receipt of communications within seven (7) days in violation of Florida Statute 627.70131(1)(a). Upon an Insurer's receiving a communication with respect to a claim, the Insurer shall, within 7 calendar days, review and acknowledge receipt of such communication unless payment is made within that period of time or unless the failure to acknowledge is caused by factors beyond the control of the Insurer which reasonably prevents such acknowledgement.
In short, the Insurer is not acting with due regard for the Insured's interests or safety. In Florida the work of adjusting insurance claims engages the public trust. The Insurer has breached this trust and its duty to the Insured. The Insurer and its agents conducted cursory and inadequate investigations and wrongfully undervalued the amount required to restore the insured property to its pre-loss condition. Moreover, the Insurer has engaged in bad faith practices designed to delay claims and prevent the Insured from recovering what is rightfully owed under the subject policy of insurance. The Insurer's actions and inactions have continued to frustrate and delay the resolution of the Insured claim.
The Insurer's actions amount to but are not limited to the following:
1. Claim delay
2. Not treating the Insured with good faith claims conduct
3. Looking for way to reduce recovery to the Insured
4. Looking for ways to deny recovery to the Insured
5. Not adjusting claims and evaluating loss properly, promptly and fairly to provide full and prompt indemnity to the Insured
6. Not training, supervising or managing adjusters properly so that prompt and full payments are made, but rather placing the company's interests before the Insured's interests
7. Placing the financial interest of the Insurer over that of the health and safety of the Insured
8. Shifting the burden of investigating onto the Insured
9. Conducting inadequate investigations
10. Failing to render a written claims determination to the Insured within 60 days pursuant to Florida Statute 627.70131
11. Failing to pay interest on a claim that is older than sixty (60) days
12. Making material misrepresentations
Therefore, to cure the defects outlined in this civil remedy notice, the Insurer must:
(1). Admit full coverage for the Insured's loss.
(2). Tender full benefits owed to the Insured under the insurance contract.
A copy of this form submitted to the FDFS has been sent via e-mail to the following parties providing them notice of the filing of the civil remedy notice. Please e-mail any response to this civil remedy notice to badfaith@krapflegal.com.
Via E-mail:
First Protective Insurance Company d/b/a Frontline Insurance
P.O. Box 958405
Lake Mary, FL 32795-8405
info@flhi.com
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The submitter hereby states that this notice is given in order to perfect the rights of the
person(s) damaged to pursue civil remedies authorized by Section 624.155, Florida Statutes.
Before submitting a Notice using this system, please verify that all text has been entered
correctly and completely. Once the Notice has been submitted, the text cannot be changed
or deleted.
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DFS-10-363
Rev. 10/14/2008
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