What Happens When Two Independent Third-Party Appraisers Can’t Find Common Ground on the Loss of a Property Damage Claim? It’s Time to Retain Umpire McDorman. Umpire McDorman has over twenty-five years’ experience in complex insurance claim resolution.
The Umpire Service is needed when two independent third-party appraisers who are involved in a property damage appraisal clause process of a loss dispute between the insurer and insured and the two cannot come to an amicable agreement on the loss. When Robert L. McDorman is appointed as an Umpire, he takes it seriously, carefully reviews both sides work file, documents, facts about the claim and independently performs his own research of the loss and all areas surrounding the loss. Robert reviews both independent third-party appraiser’s loss statement with an open mind. Robert is unbiased and always follows the facts to come to a fair and equitable loss statement.
When the appraisal clause is invoked: Each party (insurer and insured) retains an INDEPENDENT and COMPETENT Third-Party Appraiser. Both parties, the insurer and the insured, should precisely perform their due diligence before hiring an independent third-party appraiser. Once the Appraisal Clause is invoked, the insurance company and the policyholder are removed from the negotiations and have no input as to the outcome regarding the loss settlement.
The independent third-party appraisers exchange loss statements and attempt to find some common ground to settle the dispute regarding the loss. The independent appraisers agree on the loss. An agreement on the loss between the two independent third-party appraisers is binding on the parties.
If the two independent third-party appraisers cannot agree on the amount of the loss, an umpire must be appointed to resolve the dispute.
The independent third-party appraisers must agree on the appointment of an umpire and if they cannot, then a judge in the county where the insured resides will be motioned to appoint an umpire. Once the judge names an umpire or the independent third-party appraisers agree on an umpire, then it is the umpire’s job to review all the facts carefully and either convince the appraisers to agree, agree with one of the independent third-party appraisers or issue his or her own statement of loss.
An agreement between any two independent third-party appraisers or one of the independent third-party appraisers and the umpire becomes binding on the parties.
Umpire McDorman understands and respects his appointment as an Umpire. There is no better compliment from Robert’s colleagues and peers than to be mutually selected as an umpire to resolve a dispute between the two independent third-party appraisers. The appointment as an Umpire is a covenanted position and requires the utmost attention to detail. Umpire McDorman cherishes such appointment.
