Marinilli Associates Profile

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September 10, 2011

Ed Marinilli along with Marinilli Associates Inc is a Public Adjuster firm located in MA. A public adjuster is an insurance claims adjuster who is an advocate for the policyholder in appraising and negotiating a first party insurance claim. Aside from attorneys and the broker of record, public adjusters licensed by state departments of insurance are the only type of claims adjuster that can legally represent the rights of an insured during a property insurance claim process. A public adjuster like Edward Marinilli will offer the most benefit when it is clear that the insurer will pay the claim and the only issue is the proper identification and valuation of the loss. Most public adjusters charge a percentage of the settlement (with the percentage being lower for larger losses (over $250,000)), with the average charge being between 10% to 15% although some states cap the fee. Primarily they appraise the damage, prepare an estimate and other claim documentation, read the policy of insurance to determine coverages, and negotiate with the insurance company’s adjuster.

The public adjuster’s (Like Marinilli and Associates) main responsibilities are to:

Evaluate existing insurance policies in order to determine what coverage may be applicable to a claim

Research, detail, and substantiate damage to buildings and contents and any additional expenses

Evaluate business interruption losses and extra expense claims for businesses

Determine values for settling covered damages

Prepare, document and support the claim on behalf of the insured

Negotiate a settlement with the insurance company on behalf of an insured

Re-open a claim and negotiate for more money if a discrepancy is found after the claim has been settled

Typically a policyholder hires a public adjuster like Marinilli Associates Inc owned by Edward Marinilli, to document and expedite their claims, obtain a more satisfactory claim recovery, more quickly, and completely restore their residence or business operations, and insulate themselves from the stress of engaging in an adversarial role with a large corporation. However, the cost of hiring outside experts, no matter how well-earned, can be an added burden when they are borne entirely by the policyholder. The added burden can be alleviated by the work of a public adjuster. However, policy holders who are not properly indemnified by their insurance carriers may be left with little choice but to hire professional assistance to recover the claim payment to which they are entitled.

Public adjusters like Edward Marinilli and Marinilli Associates Inc must be able to recognize claims that may be insubstantial and disputable and explain such problems to the client. The everyday meanings of terms like “collapse”, “partial collapse” and “extent of physical damage” might be entirely different from their legal interpretations, requiring the adjuster to clarify such terms for the client. Regulations regarding the uses of these terms are constantly in a state of fluxso it is important for public adjusters to have a firm grasp of the law including the division of legal responsibilities between insurance companies and policyholders.

General