Articles by Jim Sams

Sams is editor of ClaimsJournal.com, the online resource and daily newsletter for property/casualty insurance claims professionals. ClaimsJournal is a member of the Wells Media Group. Sams can be reached at jsams@wellsmedia.com

Lloyd’s Owes $3M in Prejudgment Interest for Late Payment of D&O Claim

Lloyd’s of London underwriters must pay more than $3 million in pre-judgment interest in addition to the $10 million the syndicate has already paid in damages for the wrongful acts of the former directors of a bank that was declared …

Technology Delivering New Data Sources for Claims Investigations

The driver of the 2021 Toyota Sienna said he crashed because another car bumped the rear of his vehicle while passing on the right, causing him to lose control. It was the wrong car for lying about the cause of …

Public Adjuster Cited in Texas, Louisiana Took Cash Advances on Commissions

A public adjusting firm that was cited by regulators in both Texas and Louisiana for allegedly pocketing insurer payouts has also received cash advances from financing companies over the past several months, documents obtained by the Claims Journal show. At …

New Jersey High Court Backs Insurer’s New York Exclusion in Home Depot Injury Case

Clearly, Admiral Insurance Co. did not want to assume any risk in the New York City area. The insurance policy Admiral issued to Richfield Window Coverings excluded coverage “in any way connected with” operations or activities in the nine counties …

Public Adjusting Firm Accused of Pocketing Insurer Payouts in Texas, Louisiana

The Texas Department of Insurance says a public adjusting firm that was sanctioned last month by Louisiana regulators has pocketed more than $300,000 in insurer payouts intended for Texas property owners. TDI is asking the Texas State Office of Administrative …

Auto Claimants Waiting Longer for Collision Repairs

Auto claimants are waiting longer for collision repairs — 4.5 days longer this spring compared to the same period last year, according to a report released by Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Enterprise extrapolated repair times by tracking the average length of collision-replacement …

Another State Supreme Court Rules No Coverage for COVID-19 Shutdown

The South Carolina Supreme Court on August 10 became the fourth state high court in the nation to rule that the virus that causes COVID-19 cannot cause a direct physical damage or loss covered by a commercial property insurance policy. …

Auto Claimants Waiting Longer for Collision Repairs

Auto claimants are waiting longer for collision repairs — 4.5 days longer this spring compared to the same period last year, according to a report released Friday by Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Enterprise extrapolated repair times by tracking the average length of …

Electric Vehicle Sales Rise Sharply, Signaling Changes for Auto Claims

US consumers are rapidly adapting to electric vehicles, a shift away from the internal combustion engine that may change auto insurance claim characteristics. CCC Intelligent Solutions said in new report that electric vehicles made up 4.6% of new light-vehicle registrations …

Appeals Court First to Rule in Favor of Coverage for COVID Shutdown

The attorney who filed the first U.S. lawsuit seeking insurance coverage for a business shut down because of coronavirus won the first policyholder victory in a state or federal appellate court that interpreted the meaning of “direct physical loss or …