Dear Ms. Robin DeMonia, The Birmingham News,
 
I read with much interest the article in the subject line.  Robin, as President of The American Association of Public Insurance Adjusters www.aapia.org  I appreciate the article you wrote on the compelling story of a family who suffered catastrophic damage and turned to a professional to help them through the claims process with their insurance carrier. The Value of a Public Adjuster is well known in 44 states where laws have already been adopted.  I commend The Alabama Legislature for taking up the discussion on establishing a licensure act for Public Adjusters in their state.  A good reference as noted in the article is the National Association of Insurance Commissioners - (N.A.I.C. Model Act).  I would encourage the Alabama legislators to base their new law on this Model Act in that it is fair and reasonable for the policyholder and it allows state regulators to develop rules and regulations that protect the consumers as well.  Too often we have seen unlicensed individuals (as referenced in your article) in many states preying on the homeowner telling them how they will get their claim resolved when in fact they are not regulated by any state agency.  Minnesota and Illinois recently passed stringent laws to protect policyholders from these unscrupulous individuals.
 
For this reason alone, public adjusters are needed to assist the homeowners/business owners when they are beset with a disaster. When the policyholder begins negotiations with their insurance carrier they are in for a long and most difficult time. It shouldn’t be that way.  The policyholder pays in good faith and fair dealings with their agent and carrier so why is it, when a claim is filed they must fight for the coverage they have paid for and thought they were insured for!  Simply stated, unless you are trained and knowledgeable about homeowners insurance “law” the policyholder does not stand a chance in coming to a fair and reasonable settlement.
 
Their Homeowners Policy alone is a complicated document of many pages  that needs to be understood.  I refer you to www.delaydenydefend.com wherein Distinguished Professor of Law, Jay M. Feinman, Rutgers School of Law wrote an excellent book on the trials and tribulations homeowners face when trying to get their claim settled.  I encourage every homeowner, legislator and regulator to read this dynamic book and the challenges policyholder’s experience when going up against their insurance carrier Claims Adjuster!  Think about it, the policyholder who does not have a licensed professional assisting them must go up against a trained individual who knows the industry on “how not to pay claims”!  
 
Robin, I agree with Ragan Ingram, chief of staff at the Insurance Department. Where he stated, "A law would provide standards of education and training and would allow the state to know who is assisting Alabama consumers."
 
On behalf of the profession I represent, I encourage the Alabama Legislature to take up this discussion and pass legislation that will license a highly regarded and respectable profession of public adjusting.  It is good for the consumer and it is good for the public adjuster profession to be regulated by the Insurance Department.
 
I would be willing to speak with you if you want to conduct a further interview, I can be reached at 202.422.5092

Sincerely,
Gene