Yes, under Florida Statute Section 627.7074, neutral evaluation is mandatory if compelled by either you or your insurance company. If you would like to read the entire Statute yourself, we have linked it here. While the neutral evaluation conference may appear to have few long lasting implications on the case, the results of the conference play a major role in the claim. Most importantly, the neutral evaluator’s opinion and report are admissible, when Florida insurance dispute attorneys challenge carriers at trial.

Over the past several years, Florida insurance dispute attorneys successfully challenged the constitutionality of requiring homeowners with sinkhole claims to attend neutral evaluation. Ultimately, attorneys representing homeowners argued the neutral evaluation conference with unconstitutional for a number of reasons including the Legislature mandating the admissibility of the neutral evaluator’s report and opinion among other matters. Unfortunately, recently the Second District Court of Appeals essentially put our arguments to rest and found the procedure to be constitutional.

The property lawyers of Hackworth Law are here to assist you in the neutral evaluation of your sinkhole claim with your insurance company. Your insurance company’s lawyers are already working on your case and generally attend the neutral evaluation report. Remember the insurance defense attorneys retained by your insurance company work for them, not you. < a href=”https://bhtampa.com/contact/”>Contact the property insurance attorneys of Hackworth Law immediately for a free consultation concerning your sinkhole claim.