The pattern
- First engineer inspects
- First engineer finds storm causation
- Report reaches carrier
- Carrier "requests revision" or reassigns to second engineer
- Second engineer finds wear-and-tear
- Second report forms basis of denial
Why it happens
- Carrier has panel of engineering firms
- Firms that produce "carrier-friendly" reports get more work
- Economic incentive affects findings
Documented cases
Florida case law (Altman Contractors, others) has addressed engineering-report issues in property claims. Discovery in litigation has produced internal carrier communications revealing report-shopping in specific cases.
How to identify
- Request full claim file
- Look for multiple engineering references
- Check reports for contradictions
- Request "first draft" of any engineering report
- Note any lapse between inspection and report issuance
Counter-approach
- Independent engineering engagement by policyholder side
- Side-by-side report comparison
- Deposition of carrier engineer in litigation
- Bad-faith argument if pattern is documented