What mediation is

Florida's state-sponsored mediation program (Fla. Stat. 627.7015) offers property-claim dispute resolution at low or no cost to policyholders. A neutral mediator facilitates negotiation; the process is non-binding unless both parties agree to a settlement.

What we observe, aggregated across 500+ cases

Pattern 1: Scope gaps close at mediation

When the policyholder arrives with a complete Xactimate re-estimate and the carrier arrives with a short-scoped estimate, the gap typically closes substantially at mediation. Mediators don't force outcomes, but they do probe gaps, and carriers prefer to adjust rather than proceed to appraisal or litigation.

Pattern 2: Documentation wins

Cases with pre-loss photos, maintenance records, weather correlation, and independent expert opinion resolve better than cases without. Every scrap of documentation matters.

Pattern 3: Cause-of-loss disputes are partly factual, not just legal

Wind vs. flood, sudden vs. gradual, pre-existing vs. event: these are factual questions resolved by evidence. Engineering analysis, damage-pattern evidence, and timeline documentation drive outcomes.

Pattern 4: Time helps documentation, hurts positioning

The longer a claim sits without resolution, the more time there is to build documentation. But the longer it sits, the more statutory deadlines loom. Balance matters.

Pattern 5: Mediators value good faith

Preparation signals good faith to the mediator. Coming with a complete file, a clear ask, and a rational negotiating position earns leverage.

How we use the Mediation Desk

Each case is anonymized but specific: enough detail to be useful for policyholders facing similar disputes, without identifying the specific client.

Talk to us about your claim

Schedule a free claim review if your claim is headed toward mediation or already in it. Ocean Point represents policyholders at Florida DFS mediation on contingency: no recovery, no fee.

The Ocean Point Mediation Desk