I lately had the chance to work with FOX 13 Information Chief Investigator/Political Editor Craig Patrick on a narrative he was doing on the owners insurance coverage disaster right here in Florida. I used to be admittedly guarded when first approached about an interview with my shoppers, Chrissy and Stephen Spaziani. I’d lately been retained by Chrissy and Stephen to help them with their battle towards TypTap Insurance coverage Firm. Like every policyholder advocate value their salt, I took the time to do my homework on Craig earlier than agreeing to my shoppers’ participation. I reached out to Doug Quinn of the American Policyholder Affiliation, and Doug reassured me that Craig would produce a good and factual expose for his viewers.

I met Craig at my shoppers’ property on a sweltering southwest Florida morning. Upon coming into the residence, we had been greeted by Chrissy and Stephen, with a number of fantastic snacks and drinks. I have to say, the Spaziani’s know learn how to deal with their friends. Their hospitality is greater than outstanding, contemplating that their house continues to be in shambles on account of injury sustained from Hurricane Ian. Craig‘s cameraman (additionally named Craig, by the way in which) did an distinctive job of capturing the injury, however I can let you know firsthand the movies and photos don’t do the injury justice.

Chrissy and Stephen’s story is, sadly, all too frequent on this day in age. They filed their declare instantly after Hurricane Ian handed. Chrissy tells the story of driving miles from her house, throughout a bridge, to the place she was capable of get cellphone service in order that she might notify her house owner’s insurance coverage firm of the injury. A month handed after the insurance coverage firm’s adjuster inspected the property with no updates for the Spaziani’s. When Chrissy referred to as to get an replace from TypTap, she was instructed by a consultant that “individuals like her had been the explanation why insurance coverage corporations had been going out of enterprise right here in Florida and that she was committing insurance coverage fraud” (I plan to write down extra about this side of the declare at a later date.)

In the end, their house was broken by Hurricane Ian to the tune of over $200,000.00. Up to now, their insurance coverage firm has solely paid them roughly $60,000. So as to add insult to damage, my shoppers’ mortgage firm is holding the settlement checks till the work is accomplished. To this point, almost 11 months after Hurricane Ian made landfall, my shoppers’ have been unable to discover a normal contractor keen to tackle the mission as a result of the quantity of $60,000 will not be almost sufficient cash to finish the repairs. After exhausting all different avenues of decision, Chrissy and Stephen have determined to file a lawsuit towards TypTap for Breach of Contract. 

Thank goodness that reporters like Craig Patrick exist. Whereas this can be a narrative about one household, it’s a story that’s far too much like different policyholders. In a time the place media is usually influenced by promoting {dollars}, Craig Patrick demonstrated that there are nonetheless honest and correct reporters within the media who work with information organizations pushed by rules and the need to report the reality.

Journalists play an essential position in society in the case of exposing dangerous actors who’re systematically harming individuals. Reporters like Craig Patrick and Brianna Sacks, who we famous in The Washington Put up Continues to Expose Florida’s Failed Insurance coverage Regulation, play essential roles in displaying tales to our elected officers about why we’d like stronger legal guidelines defending policyholders and holding wrongful-acting insurance coverage corporations accountable. The regulation mustn’t tolerate such a remedy.  

United Policyholders and the American Policyholder Affiliation additionally play an essential position. Their mission is to advocate for policyholder pursuits and expose wrongful insurance coverage firm conduct. Merlin Regulation Group helps these teams as a result of they rise up for our policyholder shoppers. They take the tales portrayed within the media on to elected officers and policymakers on the departments of insurance coverage.       

Thought For The Day

Journalism is what we have to make democracy work.

 —Walter Cronkite