This homeowners’ claim involved loss from alleged smoke and ash damage from a wildfire. The loss was reported by a California public adjuster in March this year; their notice of loss referenced an unspecified wildfire event in June 2022 and bears a digital signature of the insured.
We interviewed the insured who recalled receiving a solicitation letter from the public adjuster and spoke with a gentleman over the phone who said someone would come and inspect the dwelling. However, no one came and the insured threw out the letter. Subsequently, the insured received another phone call and the insured was told that the public adjuster had filed a claim on his behalf. The insured said he told the person he did not want a claim filed. We showed the insured the Notice of Loss / Representation from the adjuster; the insured said he had never seen that document, and that the signature on the document is not his, and he never processed a digital signature for them. He said that public adjuster filed the claim without his consent or authorization.
This claim closed without payment.
This public adjuster had filed multiple smoke and ash claims that were questionable, and Investigation Solutions referred the case to the California Department of Insurance. Soon afterwards, the public adjuster’s license was revoked with the revocation suspended for six months, during which time existing claims were to be resolved. He was barred from accepting new business and must surrender his license at the conclusion of the six-month suspension period.