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Top LA Fire Issues Implicated In Trio Of New Insurance Bills | Law360 Insurance Authority

Attorney Daniel Veroff discussed California’s proposed S.B. 876 and how it seeks to address persistent post-disaster insurance claim delays. (Access requires a subscription.)

Daniel J. Veroff, Property Insurance Attorney at Merlin Law Group

Q&A: 1 year later, insurance issues continue for LA wildfire victims | Westlaw Today

Attorney Daniel Veroff discussed major insurance developments one year after the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires, including recent legislation, emerging claim trends, and why the second year after a disaster can be more difficult than the first.

UCLA Study Finds Toxic Compounds Still Linger in Standing Homes Long After Fires | Westside Current

As families remain displaced one year after the Palisades and Altadena wildfires, attorney Derek Chaiken discussed how toxic residue can persist in standing homes while insurers cut housing coverage before remediation is complete. (Access requires a subscription.)

Rebuilding California insurance law after the Palisades and Eaton fires | Daily Journal

Attorney Dan Veroff analyzed how California’s insurance reforms restructured the FAIR Plan, spreading wildfire losses over time while shifting more costs statewide. (Access requires a subscription.)

Before the ash settles California must learn from Katrina | Daily Journal

Founder and president Chip Merlin examined how California wildfire litigation is increasingly mirroring the post-Hurricane Katrina fight over causation, as courts grapple with whether smoke damage qualifies as “direct physical loss.” (Access requires a subscription.)

Ohio school district files lawsuit against Liberty Mutual after roof collapse | PropertyCasulty360

Merlin Law Group filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Ashtabula Area City School District against Liberty Mutual after a roof collapsed at Lakeside High School following a snowstorm.

Fire victims suing California FAIR plan, saying smoke damage isn’t being covered | ABC7

Homeowners insured by the California FAIR Plan Association challenged denials of smoke-damage claims months after the January 2025 wildfires, with many standing homes remaining contaminated. Attorney Derek Chaiken discussed smoke-damage coverage under fire insurance policies.

Homeowner Policies At Center Of Ga. Insurance Changes | Law360 Insurance Authority

As Georgia homeowners face rising premiums and more restrictive claims handling, attorney Brian Braddy highlighted insurers’ growing reliance on exclusions and extended approval processes. (Access requires a subscription.)

How Home Insurers Are Fueling Costs for Americans | NewsWeek

Founder and president Chip Merlin addressed how climate change is intensifying pressure on the U.S. property insurance market, driving higher losses, insurer pullbacks from high-risk states, and rising premiums for homeowners.

FEMA cuts bring war for disaster mitigation resources | Digital Insurance

Federal cuts to FEMA have shifted disaster efforts from mitigation to response. Founder and president Chip Merlin said states lack the resources to fill the gap without federal support.

Viewpoint: Delay, Deny, Defend for California Wildfire Claims? | Insurance Journal

Eight months after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, delays and narrowed smoke-damage claims continued to fuel litigation and regulatory scrutiny. Attorneys Dan Veroff and Derek Chaiken cited fragmented claims systems as a primary cause.

Katrina’s Insurance Lessons Ever Relevant 20 Years Later | Law360 Insurance Authority

The lasting insurance lessons of Hurricane Katrina remain increasingly relevant as climate-driven disasters intensify. Founder and president Chip Merlin, who represented policyholders after Katrina, underscored how widespread underinsurance continues to hinder recovery. (Access requires a subscription.)

Southern California’s Visionary Consumer Attorneys | Business by Los Angeles Times Studio

Attorney Derek Chaiken of Merlin Law Group was recognized as a 2025 Consumer Attorney Visionary, highlighting his work as a leading plaintiff attorney in toxic tort litigation.

Victor Jacobellis, Property Insurance Attorney at Merlin Law Group

Smoke Taint Evidence Complicates Recovery For Wineries | Law360 Insurance Authority

Widespread California wildfires complicated insurance recovery for wineries, as disputes over how to measure smoke taint affected coverage decisions. Attorney Victor Jacobellis explained how proposed federal legislation could help establish clearer standards for detecting smoke damage. (Access requires a subscription.)

Fire Victims See Positive Step in Calif.’s FAIR Plan Action | Law360 Insurance Authority

California regulators escalated scrutiny of smoke-damage claims after the January 2025 Los Angeles fires by launching enforcement action against the FAIR Plan, citing longstanding concerns over claim denials and policy language. Attorney Derek Chaiken highlighted continued inconsistencies in smoke-claim handling. (Access requires a subscription.)

California Moves Against State’s Insurer of Last Resort Over Smoke Policies | Newsweek

California regulators took enforcement action against the FAIR Plan over its handling of smoke-damage claims. Founder and president Chip Merlin highlighted similar issues at State Farm, pointing to delayed investigations, limited testing, and mounting affordability pressures for California homeowners.

William “Chip” F. Merlin, Jr, Property Insurance Attorney at Merlin Law Group

Viewpoint: State Farm’s Wildfire Claims Response Is a Test of Trust and Preparedness | Insurance Journal

Founder and president Chip Merlin examined State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims following the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, as the California Department of Insurance opened a market conduct examination into delays, inconsistent outcomes, and fragmented claims processes.

Commentary: State Farm wildfire claims handling sparks regulatory scrutiny | InsuranceNewsNet

Founder and president Chip Merlin addressed California’s market conduct examination into State Farm’s wildfire claims and the broader changes affecting how the insurer handles policyholder losses.

Tough decisions on the way as California grapples with insurance crisis | InsuranceNewsNet

California’s insurance market remained under strain following recent wildfires. Attorney Derek Chaiken discussed how proposed reforms and catastrophe modeling could further increase costs and leave homeowners underinsured.

State Farm Rate Hike Portends Intensifying Insurance Crisis | Law360

Attorney Dan Veroff analyzed California’s emergency approval of a 17% State Farm rate increase, describing it as a warning sign of a deepening insurance crisis driven by wildfire losses, rising costs, and climate risk. (Access requires a subscription.)

Underinsurance, negligence fuel California wildfire lawsuits | Digital Insurance

Attorney Dan Veroff discussed how underinsurance, claims handling breakdowns, and policy-writing practices have driven a surge in California wildfire litigation following the January 2025 Los Angeles fires.

California launches investigation into State Farm insurance | KTVU Fox

Attorney Dan Veroff spoke on California’s investigation into State Farm following thousands of wildfire-related claims, highlighting shortcomings in the state’s approach to insurance regulation.

Viewpoint: California’s Property Insurance Crisis and the Path to Reform | Insurance Journal

Attorney Dan Veroff addressed California’s deepening property insurance crisis, highlighting wildfire losses, insurer pullbacks, and growing reliance on the FAIR Plan, while emphasizing the need for comprehensive reform to stabilize the market and protect policyholders.

Women on the frontlines: litigating insurance claims in the wake of California wildfires | Daily Journal

Attorney Rochelle Rajazi explained how the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires tested communities and highlighted the vital role women played in supporting survivors and advocating for recovery. (Access requires a subscription.)

State Farm’s added California rate hike gets pushback | National Mortgage News

After State Farm sought an additional homeowners rate increase in California, attorneys Dan Veroff and Derek Chaiken weighed in on the implications for homeowners and coverage availability in wildfire-prone areas.

Florida bill HB 1551 aims to restore policyholder legal rights | Tampa Bay Business Journal

Attorney Chip Merlin addressed Florida’s ongoing property insurance crisis, examining whether HB 1551 could restore balance for policyholders facing underpaid or denied claims. (Access requires a subscription.)

Homeowners sue insurers, allege boycott to push substandard fire coverage | Daily Journal

Homeowners from Altadena and Pacific Palisades filed suit against dozens of insurers, raising questions about coverage decisions ahead of the January wildfires and the growing reliance on the FAIR Plan. Attorney Derek Chaiken discussed how proposed rate increases fall short of addressing broader challenges around coverage access.

Affiliate oversight failures highlight need for structural reform in Florida: Legal expert | Insurance Business

Founder and president Chip Merlin outlined how lapses in oversight of insurer affiliate transactions have deepened Florida’s insurance crisis, calling for greater transparency to protect policyholders and restore trust.

Proposed law and self-dealing rattle Florida’s insurance market | PropertyCasualty360

Florida’s insurance market faced renewed scrutiny amid concerns over insurer self-dealing, regulatory oversight gaps, and the potential impact of proposed legislation such as HB 1551, as discussed by founder and president Chip Merlin.

California home insurance crisis: How wildfires are driving rate increases | Insurance.com

California’s home insurance market remained strained as wildfire losses and insurer pullbacks drove rate increases and heavier reliance on the FAIR Plan. Attorney Dan Veroff explained how further insurer withdrawals could place additional pressure on the FAIR Plan and the broader market.

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