Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violations
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Filing Number:     796430
Filing Accepted:  12/11/2024
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Complainant
Last/Business Name *  
NOEL LANCE BOWEN AND CHELSEA BOWEN   First Name  
Street Address * 20257 RAVENS END DRIVE
City, State Zip * TAMPA, FL 33647
Email Address * NLBDESIGN@YAHOO.COM
Complainant Type: * Insured
Insured
Last/Business Name*   NOEL LANCE BOWEN AND CHELSEA BOWEN   First Name  
Policy # * AGH0235684 Claim #* CHO-00180395
Attorney
Attorney is Applicable
Last Name* BLACKMAN First Name * MAX Initial
Street Address* 925 FEDERAL HWY
City, State Zip* BOCA RATON , FL 33432
Email Address * MBLACKMAN@KPATTORNEY.COM
Violation
Insurer Type *   Authorized Insurer Unauthorized Insurer
 
Insurer Name*   AMERICAN INTEGRITY INSURANCE COMPANY OF FLORIDA
NAIC Company Code 12841
 
Name of individual responsible for violation (if any):* YESMIN MONAYAR
Type of Insurance * Residential Property & Casualty   
Reason for Notice *
Claim Delay
Unfair Trade Practice
* Statutory provision(s) which the insurer allegedly violated.
 
624.155(1)(b)(1) 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.
624.155(1)(b)(3) 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.
626.9541(1)(i)(3)(a) Failing to adopt and implement standards for the proper investigation of claims.
626.9541(1)(i)(3)(b) Misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions relating to coverages at issue.
626.9541(1)(i)(3)(c) Failing to acknowledge and act promptly upon communications with respect to claims.
626.9541(1)(i)(3)(f) Failing to promptly provide a reasonable explanation in writing to the insured of the basis in the insurance policy, in relation to the facts or applicable law, for denial of a claim or for the offer of a compromise settlement.
* Specific policy language that is relevant to the violation.
Enter all words or phrases (one at a time) that should be used to filter.

Loss settlement provision
 
* Facts and circumstances giving rise to the violation.
Enter all words or phrases (one at a time) that should be used to filter.

The carrier was put on notice of the insured’s Hurricane Milton claim. The carrier initially attempted to low-ball the claim. Subsequently, the insured prepared a loss package in the amount of $105,060.20 needed to restore the property back to its pre-loss condition. Whereas, the carrier wrongfully represented the damages to the insured’s property to be below the policy deductible. Additionally, the carrier did not appropriately address the need for the replacement of the insured’s roof, allegedly relying on the wrongful findings of a representative who it is believed was instructed to look for any signs of damage that could be attributed to any causes of loss excluded under the policy and to disregard any evidence of wind damage to the roof for the purpose of wrongfully low-balling the claim as a whole. The insured has complied with all of the carrier’s requests to date and the carrier has still failed to treat this claim with good faith. This intentional delay with the claim has led to direct prejudice of the insured. About sixty-five days have passed since the original date of loss. The carrier has still refused to pay the fully covered amount owed under the policy. The carrier is aware of damage sustained by the insured’s property and has not taken any meaningful ensuing action. It is clear that the carrier is not treating the insureds with good faith claims conduct; failing to pay a claim clearly owed; not adjusting the claim and evaluating the loss properly, promptly and fairly to provide full and prompt indemnity to the insureds; failing to implement proper standards for the adjustment and investigation of claims by its adjusters and placing the company’s interests before the insureds’ interests; refusing to pay the full amount owed to the insureds despite the fact that the carrier has been on notice of the damages and looking for ways to delay full recovery or any recovery to the insureds, when a reasonable carrier in a similar position would have tendered a full payment in accordance with both the policy language and statutory requirements. The carrier’s actions are in violation of Florida Statutes §§ 624.155(1)(b)(1), 624.155(1)(b)(3), 626.9541(1)(i)(3)(a); 626.9541(1)(i)(3)(b), 626.9541(1)(i)(3)(c) and 626.9541(1)(i)(3)(f), as well as Section I- Perils Insured Against, subsection 1, providing coverage for direct loss to property unless the damage was caused solely by an excluded or excepted cause of loss; and the loss payment provision under Section I- Conditions requiring payment of a claim within 90 days. All the aforementioned are part of what appears to be an ongoing pattern and practice of behavior of the carrier that it demonstrates a wanton and reckless disregard for the insureds’ rights and a pattern and practice of bad faith claims practices to its insureds across the state of Florida. Therefore, to cure the defects outlined in this Civil Remedy Notice, the carrier must: 1.) Pay the complete covered loss in the amount of $105,060.20, less any prior payments and less any applicable policy deductible; and 2.) Pay the statutory interest on the amount of unpaid damages from the date of loss to the date payment is finally made. A copy of this letter and filed form submitted to the FDFS has been sent to the carrier. Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned or Chabeli Montas at (561)-892-9826 if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Max Blackman Attorney at Law
Comments
User Id Date Added Comment
swozniak@aii.com 01-07-2025 January 7, 2025 Via Electronic Submission Florida Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Civil Remedy Section Larson Building 200 E. Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-0322 Max Blackman, Esq. 925 South Federal Hwy. Boca Raton, Florida 33432 MBlackman@KPAttorney.com Re: DFS File No: 796430 Complainant: Noel Lance Bowen and Chelsea Brown Insured: Noel Lance Bowen and Chelsea Brown Policy No: AGH0235684 Insurer: American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida Claim No: CHO-00180395 To Whom It May Concern: We are in receipt of the Civil Remedy Notice (“CRN”) filed by Max Blackman, Esq. on behalf of the above referenced Complainant and matter. The Florida Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) accepted the CRN on December 11, 2024 and assigned it DFS File No. of 796430. The CRN contains a list of purported violations which are alleged to have been committed by American Integrity. In fact, none of the listed violations/allegations have occurred and/or are irrelevant to the alleged violations and American Integrity categorically denies any violations of §624.155 and §626.9541, Fla. Stat., as well as any and all other statutes/regulations/codes/rules contained in the CRN. In addition, American Integrity denies any and all allegations of any kind and/or any inferences therefrom referenced and/or contained in the CRN. American Integrity believes this response adequately addresses the allegations and violations contained within the CRN. Additionally, American Integrity is in receipt of the CRN withdrawal filed by Max Blackman, Esq. on December 11, 2024. American Integrity, without waiving any arguments regarding same, contends that it has at all times performs its obligations under the Florida Insurance Code and Administrative Code in a prompt and diligent manner with due regard for the interest of its Insureds. Sincerely, Michael S. Sperounes Michael S. Sperounes, Esq. Senior Vice President of Litigation American Integrity Insurance Group cc: Max Blackman, Esq. via email at: MBlackman@KPAttorney.com ¬¬¬¬¬CRN Response If this document contains an excerpt from an American Integrity Insurance Policy (“the Policy”) it is provided here for informational purposes only. This excerpt is not the official version of the Policy. The official version of the Policy is the policy issued to the Insureds on the policy effective date. In the event there is inconsistency between this document and the Policy, the Policy shall serve as the official version. Any person who knowingly and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive any insurer files a statement of claim or an application containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information is guilty of a felony of the third degree. F.S. 817.234
ebrooksherproperty@kpattorney.com 12-11-2024 This filed Civil Remedy Notice is hereby withdrawn due to a filing error.
Acknowledgement
* 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.

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DFS-10-363
Rev. 10/14/2008