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We Celebrate Independence Day, with Cohen Law Group and Members of SFPMA

We Celebrate Independence Day, with Cohen Law Group and Members of SFPMA

  • Posted: Jul 05, 2022
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We Celebrate and Honor Our Heros
We Celebrate Independence Day
As we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, let’s remember the American heroes who lost their lives in the battle for the freedom we are enjoying today. We are indebted to our national heroes who have fought and continue to fight for this country.
I served in the United States Army for four years. Because of the GI Bill, I was able to attend college and become an attorney. My military service has helped me grow Cohen Law Group into a place where my team and I can continue to serve our community every day.
As patriotic citizens, let’s put extra effort into performing our own civic responsibilities. Every American’s contribution towards moving this nation forward is important. We must always be mindful of how our actions or inaction affect the well-being of others.
Today we celebrate the honor it is to be an American. We celebrate those who have helped our incredible nation progress. We celebrate all that America will become.
We wish you and your family a safe and happy Independence Day!
With Respect and Gratitude,
Harvey Cohen Signature
Harvey V. Cohen, President

With Respect and Our Thanks for your Service from all of us at SFPMA.COM

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Florida Senate Bill 2-D and 4-D: What You Need to Know! by Cohen Law Group

Florida Senate Bill 2-D and 4-D: What You Need to Know! by Cohen Law Group

  • Posted: Jun 08, 2022
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At Cohen Law Group, It’s About Justice!
It’s more than a slogan, it’s our firm’s mantra. We are zealous in protecting your rights. We offer 24-hour availability through our answering service. Call us today.
(407) 478-4878
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO DEMAND THEY STOP TAKING RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU….

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO DEMAND THEY STOP TAKING RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU….

  • Posted: May 24, 2022
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CALL TO ACTION!!!
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO DEMAND THEY STOP TAKING RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU AND INSTEAD PASS MEANINGFUL REFORM TO PROPERTY INSURANCE CARRIERS FOR YOUR PROTECTION!
Link above not working? Find your elected official and their contact info here:
This week, legislators are in special session in Tallahassee that was SUPPOSED to be focused on bailing out property insurance carriers and stabilizing the re-insurance market to drive down YOUR premiums and address abuses by the carriers.
Instead….the legislature is taking rights away from YOU.
If the language in HB1D (2022 special session) is allowed to become law, YOU as a property owner will be the one bearing the costs of an under-regulated insurance industry, because the carriers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbying and campaign contributions so the legislature only hears the carriers’ misleading statistics and summaries without supporting data to blame YOU for THEIR bad business and claims handling practices.
For years, the carriers have taken advantage of the lack of transparency and protective government oversight in the property insurance industry to reap millions in profits annually before misusing the insolvency system in Florida to get what amounts to a free bankruptcy proceeding that leaves ALL Floridians holding the bag.
CALL OR EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE and tell them not to vote for the problems this bill creates for YOU if this bill becomes law:
Roof Claim Separate Deductibles
YOU will be subject to additional higher deductibles if your roof is damaged, up to 50% of the cost to replace your roof OR 2% of the Coverage A limit in your policy (essentially any damage to your roof will come with your hurricane deductible if it has to be replaced).
For a $20,000 shingle roof, you could have to pay up to a $10,000 deductible!! For a $50,000 tile roof, you may have to pay up to $25,000 for your deductible!!
Carriers would get 45 days to inspect your property after any damages NOT caused by hurricanes, and impliedly even longer if there IS a hurricane
The law NOW already says the carrier has 90 days to adjust and pay or deny your claim. This new bill would mean YOU will have to wait up to FORTY-FIVE DAYS after you make a claim for damages that were caused by anything OTHER than a hurricane before your carrier has to show up and inspect the damages to determine whether and how much you are entitled to from your policy. Implied is that the carrier can take EVEN LONGER to inspect damages after a hurricane!!
Why do they need MORE time? Many states only allow 30 days TOTAL for a carrier to adjust AND PAY property damage claims, why do carriers need 45 days just to INSPECT the property in Florida? And why are you paying so much for your property insurance premiums if the carriers are so understaffed that they NEED 45 days send an adjuster out to inspect your property when there hasn’t even been a hurricane?
Carriers would NOT have to pay the full value of what they AGREE you are owed under your policy until YOU prove you paid your full deductible, even if your contractor is willing to work with you on a payment plan for higher deductibles
YOU will have to come up with the full amount your carrier agrees is owed AND your deductible before the carrier has to pay you BACK, because the carrier would now be allowed to withhold depreciation (which is FREQUENTLY more than 50% of the amount you are entitled to recover under your policy) until you “prove” you have paid your deductible. To avoid liens on your house or the damages continuing to get worse without making the repairs your carrier agrees your policy provides coverage for, YOU will have to be able to pay for up to half of the damages BEFORE the carrier pays you back – which can be thousands of dollars on even lower-value claims.
If your contractor is willing to do a payment plan for your hurricane deductible – which most are – they still have to protect their ability to recover for the work they do, so you may have to deal with a lien until you can afford to pay your deductible in full BEFORE the carrier would have to pay you the full amount they agree they owe you and which you have been PAYING FOR in your policy premiums every year.
This is a gut punch to everyone who does not have thousands of dollars lying around they can afford to throw at an unexpected property loss in this state.
Eliminates your right to assign benefits to a contractor who by law currently gives up the right to collect directly from you or lien your property if your carrier does not pay timely or enough money, leaving YOU on the hook for higher out of pocket expenses or dealing with liens on your property to get covered damages repaired
YOU will lose the ability to sign Assignment of Benefits giving contractors the rights to pursue direct payment for their services for things like tarps, emergency water mitigation, or repairs to protect your property from being damaged any further. Currently, the law protects YOU if you sign an Assignment of Benefits, because in exchange for the right to pursue direct payment on their own, the contractor with the assignment gives up their right to lien your home OR collect from you directly.
Without AOB’s, your insurance policy STILL requires that you take reasonable measures to protect your property from further damage, BUT you will have to pay out of pocket up front for all of those expenses because the legislature is trying to take away the ability of a company with an assignment of benefits to actually enforce and collect on it. The right to use an assignment is YOUR right if you need it to get
If Assignment of Benefits are allowed to be rendered meaningless as the legislature is trying to do, in the event of a hurricane, tree falling on your home, pipe burst, or any other unexpected event causing immediate damage to your home that needs to be addressed, YOU will have to come up with the thousands of dollars that it costs to complete those immediately necessary repairs and LOSE the ability to use an assignment of benefits, which currently allows YOU to receive those services NOW, and the contractor to collect directly from your carrier later, without any extra work for YOU.
If you do not have thousands of dollars on hand, YOUR options under this proposed law that eliminates assignment of benefits from being used would be:
1. Have the repairs, tarping, or mitigation work done and have a lien placed on your house if your carrier does not pay for those expenses before they are completed. This can cause issues for YOU when you want to sell your home!
2. File a lawsuit yourself for the value of services you needed to have performed in order to clear a lien on your property, taking away your right to assign the benefits to a contractor willing to wait to get paid by your carrier (at no additional expense in time or money) to YOU.
3. Wait to make any repairs or remediation measures until your carrier decides to pay your claim (because you can’t afford to make them on your own, which is WHY YOU HAVE INSURANCE) at which point your carrier could deny your claim entirely because you did not fix the immediate problems and the damages kept getting worse.
Immunizes carriers from the consequences of engaging in Bad Faith claims handling if your carrier decides to use appraisal to determine how much they owe you, which costs YOU money you will now never be able to get paid back
YOU will have to bear the costs associated with a prolonged appraisal process and the legislature is removing your ability to get repaid for those costs from the carrier. Currently, you can provide written communication to your carrier to tell them they are unlawfully delaying or failing to use good faith to ensure a fair resolution of your claim, and IF the carrier decides to invoke appraisal to have independent adjusters decide the amount they owe, the law NOW allows you to recover the thousands of dollars it costs YOU to go through appraisal from your carrier, so long as you gave them notice of their failure to handle things properly before the appraisal process begins.
The proposed legislation takes away your ability to get that money back and leaves you without any recourse, because the proposed language immunizes your insurance carrier from having to pay for their bad faith handling of your claim if they use the appraisal process, which can cost YOU thousands of dollars if your carrier invokes it rather than pay your claim properly to begin with.
THESE PROPOSED CHANGES HURT CONSUMERS, AND YOUR VOICE MATTERS, ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR!
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! CALL AND DEMAND THE LEGISLATURE IN FLORIDA STOP TAKING RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU AND FOCUS ON REGULATING THE CARRIERS TO PROTECT YOU, NOT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO COLLECT PROCEEDS YOU ARE OWED IN YOUR TIME OF NEED!
Link above not working?  Find your elected official and their contact info here:
Our Contact Information
Floridians Advocating Consumer Transparency, Inc.
501 E. Las Olas Blvd. Ste. 200/300
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
561-490-7460
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At Cohen Law Group, It’s About Justice!
It’s more than a slogan, it’s our firm’s mantra. We are zealous in protecting your rights. We offer 24-hour availability through our answering service. Call us today.
(407) 478-4878
Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature could reduce insurance rates right now. A giant insurance company is standing in the way.

Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature could reduce insurance rates right now. A giant insurance company is standing in the way.

  • Posted: May 04, 2022
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Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature could reduce insurance rates right now. A giant insurance company is standing in the way.

Lawmakers have a way to save Florida homeowners $150 a year but State Farm doesn’t like it

Written By: Jason Garcia
In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature had a chance to save money for Florida homeowners who are struggling to afford the soaring cost of property insurance.
Members of a key committee in the Florida Senate were presented with a plan that could have cut the price of homeowner’s insurance by an estimated $150 a year. And it would have done so without simultaneously imposing hidden costs on homeowners — like insurance policies that won’t cover the cost of replacing a roof or legal changes that make it much harder to fight back against a big insurer in court.
The plan involved expanding a public insurance fund known as the “Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.” And it had support from a broad spectrum of industry interest groups and a bipartisan coalition of elected officials.
But the Big Business lobby hated it.
At Cohen Law Group, It’s About Justice!
It’s more than a slogan, it’s our firm’s mantra. We are zealous in protecting your rights. We offer 24-hour availability through our answering service. Call us today.
(407) 478-4878

 

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Join Us In Support Of Taylor Yarkosky For State Representative!

Join Us In Support Of Taylor Yarkosky For State Representative!

  • Posted: Apr 08, 2022
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Join Us In Support Of Taylor Yarkosky

For State Representative!

Date: April 13, 2022
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Corona Cigar Company
1130 Townpark Avenue
Lake Mary, FL 32746
RSVP: Makenzi Mahler
850-445-0684
Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s / Members Can you also help!

Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s / Members Can you also help!

  • Posted: Nov 11, 2021
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Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families through our participation in the Central Florida Light The Night. Light The Night is LLS’s annual fundraising event and the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer.
As you may already know, my daughter Madison is a blood cancer survivor. See her story by clicking on the video below.
Madison Cohen and Harvey Cohen share their touching story of survival and hope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzRVNCoODEM
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is an organization that I continue to support because I know first-hand that they are saving lives and I hope you can help us save lives as well.
Cohen Law Group has set an ambitious goal to raise $10,000 for the Central Florida Light The Night. We truly value the partnership that Cohen Law Group, has developed with you. We view you as a partner with Cohen Law Group in the effort to make our communities healthier.
I am asking you to please make a contribution to help us reach our goal.
I am confident that you will join us in stepping up to the challenge. Your tax-deductible contribution (LLS Federal Tax ID: 13-5644916) will greatly enhance these collective efforts. We also invite you to join Cohen Law Group at this year’s Light The Night virtual event on Friday, November 19.

Please join us in supporting an organization dedicated to saving and changing lives.

You can make a secure online donation by clicking on the link to our Team fundraising page

Click Here To Donate!

I look forward to your support of our efforts. Thank you and have a great day.

 

It’s more than a slogan, it’s our firm’s mantra. We are zealous in protecting your rights. We offer 24-hour availability through our answering service. Call us today.
(407) 478-4878
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Vote No For House Bill 305!

Vote No For House Bill 305!

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2021
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Vote No For House Bill 305!

Homeowners, tell your representative to Vote NO on House Bill 305! Do not let the insurance industry take away your rights with House Bill 305. Your voice counts! Call or email your representative today!

Vote No For House Bill 305!
Homeowners, tell your representative to Vote NO on House Bill 305! Do not let the insurance industry take away your rights with House Bill 305. Your voice counts!
Contact Representative Rommel at:
Capitol Office: (850)717-5106
District Office: (239)417-6200
Email at: Representative Rommel or
Click here for your representative:

 

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ACTION ALERT: The insurance industry is backing another bill that is trying to take away your rights and significantly reduce your coverage for roof damage.

ACTION ALERT: The insurance industry is backing another bill that is trying to take away your rights and significantly reduce your coverage for roof damage.

  • Posted: Jan 30, 2021
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The insurance industry is backing another bill that is trying to take away your rights and significantly reduce your coverage for roof damage.

The insurance industry is backing another bill that is trying to take away your rights and significantly reduce your coverage for roof damage. If passed, Senate Bill 76 could potentially cost Floridian homeowners millions of dollars.

We need homeowners and business owners in Tallahassee on Tuesday, February 2nd to be heard and oppose this bill.

 

Here are some highlights of the bill:
  • Insurance companies can limit coverage for roofs more than 10 years old based on a “roof reimbursement schedule.” This could result in significant out of pocket expenses for homeowners.
  • The roof reimbursement schedule limits coverage to a percentage of the amount to repair or replace the roof.

Coverage can be limited to:

  • 70% for metal roofs
  • 40% for concrete tile and clay tile roofs
  • 40% for wood shake and wood shingle roofs
  • 25% for all other roof types, including asphalt shingle roofs

 

  • Timeframe to report property damage claims, including Hurricanes, is reduced to 2 years!
  • Policyholders must send their insurer a Notice of Intent to file a lawsuit prior suing for recovery of insurance proceeds.
  • Notice of Intent must include: the amount of damages sought, a detailed estimate for repairs, the actions of the insurer that gave rise to the action, and the amount of attorney’s fees incurred by the insured policyholder.
  • Notice of Intent must be served at least 60 days before filing a lawsuit. Given the 90 day period insurers already have to adjust claims, adding 60 days means generally waiting 5 months from the date the claim was reported before being able to sue for failure to adequately pay the claim.
  • Limits policyholders’ ability to recover attorney’s fees in a lawsuit against their insurer, a right that has been guaranteed under Florida law for decades.

 

  READ the BILL

Insurance companies are making more in profits than ever before (read about the CEO earning $27 million here: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state–regional/rate-hike-greedy-insurance-ceo-paid-27m-times-citizens-chief/DBgq9ulJnA3GHE0Ap6e8oJ/?template=ampart). Their profits are your losses!
We need every roofing company to bring a homeowner to the Tallahassee Civic Center on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, to testify against bad legislation backed by insurance companies. Please call your representative and tell them you oppose Senate Bill 76 because it is bad for property owners, insurance consumers and contractors. This could affect your home and your livelihood!
Homeowners, do not let the insurance industry take away your rights with Senate Bill 76. Your voice counts! Call or email your representative today!

 

At Cohen Law Group, It’s About Justice!

It’s more than a slogan, it’s our firm’s mantra. We are zealous in protecting your rights. We offer 24-hour availability through our answering service. Call us today.

(407) 478-4878

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Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, this year’s Light The Night virtual event on Thursday, November 12. 

Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, this year’s Light The Night virtual event on Thursday, November 12. 

  • Posted: Oct 27, 2020
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Cohen Law Group is proud to once again support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS)

Mission: to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families through our participation in the Central Florida Light The Night. Light The Night is LLS’s annual fundraising event and the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer.  Please help SFPMA Support our Members and the Lukemia & Lymphoma Society with a Donation.

This year’s “Light The Night” virtual event on

Thursday, November 12. 

Madison Cohen and Harvey Cohen share their touching story of survival and hope

As you may already know, my daughter Madison is a blood cancer survivor.

See her story by clicking on the video below.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is an organization that I continue to support because I know first-hand that they are saving lives and I hope you can help us save lives as well.
Cohen Law Group has set an ambitious goal to raise $10,000 for the Central Florida Light The Night. We truly value the partnership that Cohen Law Group, has developed with you. We view you as a partner with Cohen Law Group in the effort to make our communities healthier.
I am asking you to please make a contribution to help us reach our goal.
I am confident that you will join us in stepping up to the challenge. Your tax-deductible contribution (LLS Federal Tax ID: 13-5644916) will greatly enhance these collective efforts. We also invite you to join Cohen Law Group at this year’s Light The Night virtual event on Thursday, November 12. 

Please join us in supporting an organization dedicated to saving and changing lives.

 

You can make a secure online donation by clicking on the link below:

Team fundraising page  https://pages.lls.org/ltn/ncfl/Orlando20/cohenlawgroup

 

I look forward to your support of our efforts. Thank you and have a great day.

At Cohen Law Group, It’s About Justice!
It’s more than a slogan, it’s our firm’s mantra. We are zealous in protecting your rights. We offer 24-hour availability through our answering service. Call us today.
(407) 478-4878
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Hurriciane Claims 101 Lunch and Learn November 4rth 2020

Hurriciane Claims 101 Lunch and Learn November 4rth 2020

  • Posted: Oct 19, 2020
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Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Lunch & Learn

11:30am – 1:30pm

Happy Hour

5:00pm – 7:00pm

V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante

29 Palafox Place

Pensacola, FL 32502

Contact Daphne To RSVP

Daphne@itsaboutjustice.law

(407)383-6732

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I Have A Roof Claim But I’m Worried About The Attorneys Cost

I Have A Roof Claim But I’m Worried About The Attorneys Cost

  • Posted: Sep 23, 2020
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I Have A Roof Claim But I’m Worried About The Attorneys Cost

by Cohen Law Group / Kailey Evans

A windstorm, hailstorm, or hurricane happens and you are worried about your roof.  You talk to a roofing contractor and they tell you that you have damage on your roof following the storm. You have been paying insurance premiums for years and decide you are going to file a claim. You file the claim and someone suggests (or you decide) that hiring a lawyer is a good idea. You start thinking “I want to hire a lawyer, but how much will it cost? What if I hire a lawyer and the insurance company does not ultimately pay my claim? Will I have to pay the fees for the insurance company’s lawyers?”

 

At Cohen Law Group, we want our clients to know up front and right away what their financial responsibility will be in a property damage case.  We understand that our clients already have the stress of trying to get repairs/replacements done at their home and we do not want financial worries to add anything else to their plate. So, we make sure that we address all personal financial obligations with our clients at the beginning of the case and during the case if the possibility of additional financial obligations arise.

Providing Statewide Professionals to Handle All Condo and HOA’s Storm Damage Claims for Florida Properties!

These Trusted Legal Firms, Public Adjusters, Roofing & Service Companies that work with You to Settle Storm Damage Claims!

CondoHoaAdjusters.com

 

I want to hire an attorney at Cohen Law Group, but how much will it cost?

At Cohen Law Group, we work on a contingency basis.  In the simplest terms, that means that we do not collect fees if you (our client) do not recover insurance benefits. It is a no-risk relationship in the sense that we front the cost of preparing your claim, instead of billing you for the costs, and collect the costs from the insurance benefits at the end of the claim. Therefore, as long as you proceed with your claim, you will not be obligated to pay out of pocket for any of the attorney’s fees or costs.

 

What if I hire a Cohen Law Group attorney and the insurance company does not ultimately pay my claim?

At Cohen Law Group, if we work on your claim and are ultimately unsuccessful in obtaining any insurance benefits for you, you are not responsible for our fees or costs. Again, because of the contingency basis that we work on for our clients, we do not collect fees or costs unless we recover insurance benefits on our client’s behalf.

 

Will I have to pay for the insurance company’s lawyers if my case goes into litigation?

A question we are often asked is whether or not our clients will be responsible for the insurance company’s attorneys once the case goes into litigation.  The answer is, it depends.  In most cases and based on Florida law, the insurance company is typically responsible for paying the homeowner’s attorney’s fees.  However, once a case is in litigation, there are certain situations where the insurance company’s attorneys can file something that opens our clients up to potential financial exposure (including paying the insurance company’s fees and costs).

 

One particular scenario is called a Proposal for Settlement.  After a case is in litigation, either side can file a Proposal for Settlement, which is a court document making a formal offer to the other party. If the insurance company files a Proposal for Settlement and a homeowner rejects the proposal, there is a possibility that the homeowner could be responsible for the insurance company’s attorney’s fees and costs of litigation.  The specifics of the law are best left for another blog post (so be sure to keep checking back in to get more information – or call us to discuss further).  However, whenever a Proposal for Settlement is filed by an insurance company in one of our cases, all of the attorneys at Cohen Law Group are excellent at reaching out to their clients and explaining the potential consequences of rejecting the proposal (including financial obligations) to their clients.  We want to make sure that before our clients incur additional financial expenses, they are fully informed and prepared for the possibility.

Kailey Evans, esq.

 

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