You may have already heard the exciting news: Our own founder and president, Chip Merlin, was published late yesterday in the Expert Analysis section of Law360 https://lnkd.in/ep5a3RB3 and across their newsletters this morning! In case you don’t have a subscription, please see the PDF below. #insurance #law #Florida #policyholder #claims #Citizens
About us
Merlin Law Group is dedicated to providing legal counsel to policyholders so that clients receive the full benefit of their insurance contract for which they are entitled. Our practice is primarily focused on property insurance law and catastrophes impacting policyholders. We offer counseling and representation for legal services related to insurance claim presentation, insurance coverage disputes, insurance litigation, bad faith issues, liability coverage disputes, business income, excess insurance disputes, director and officer claims, insurance agent errors and omissions cases, and insurance related appeals. If it is any insurance related concern or dispute, we are available to assist recovery for the policyholder. Merlin Law Group has a policy to be retained on a value-added basis. We are generally obtained under creative fee arrangements so that the interests of the client are aligned with the firm. We will generally decline cases even where the client will pay us dearly for a recovery that will not result in the client obtaining sufficient increased value. Recovering as much as possible as quickly as possible is our goal. We earnestly believe that insurance companies should be held to their promises made long before benefits become due. We lobby for policyholder rights and donate to organizations and political leaders that support policyholders right to full, prompt, and fair payment.
- Website
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http://www.MerlinLawGroup.com
External link for Merlin Law Group
- Industry
- Law Practice
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Tampa, Florida
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 1985
- Specialties
- Property Insurance Law, Bad Faith, Commercial Property Insurance Law, Business Interruption, Insurance Disputes, Claim Presentation, Insurance Litigation, Fair Settlements, Claim Appeals, Dispute Resolution, Agent Negligence, Insurance Claims, and Commercial Insurance
Locations
Employees at Merlin Law Group
Updates
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Empathy is a valued firm employee core attribute for Merlin Law Group. Our Team Contender this week, Sheldon “Donnie” Worrell, Esq., embodies that trait, with an early life experience that allows him to truly identify with his clients and drive his passion and success. When he was a child, the building that held the Worrell family’s general store and law practice burned to the ground. To this day, Donnie remembers how devastating a commercial property loss is to families who count on those businesses to make ends meet. Years later, that experience would lead him to pursue a career in first-party property insurance litigation. “Fighting for the insureds means the world to me,” says Donnie. “My family suffered a fire loss when I was 11. I'll never forget the toll it took on my family. We suffered not only financially but also physically from the stress.” He uses that childhood memory to dedicate himself to treat all his clients with particular care. “I strive to show my clients the compassion they deserve,” explains Donnie, “because I've walked in their shoes.” Donnie grew up in a small town in rural southeast Virginia, where his father was a solo practitioner who handled everything from wills to insurance claims to criminal defense. Watching his father work not only got Donnie interested in practicing law but also showed him the importance of serving every client with empathy and understanding while zealously representing their interests. “I grew up as the only child of a father who practiced law. My father practiced on his own without any other attorneys in his office. As a small family (him, my mother, and I) we were very tight knit and ate together nightly,” remembers Donnie. “These meals became a training ground for thinking critically and applying logic. Those meals and the discussions we engaged in, trained me well in analyzing problems and developing solutions. I deploy these skills daily for our clients.” Donnie graduated from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, where he majored in political science. He then earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Richmond’s TC Williams School of Law, honing his skills in numerous negotiation competitions, and was a member of the Federalist Society. Donnie began his legal career as a general practitioner at the Cooper Law Firm in Virginia Beach. Prior to joining Merlin Law Group, Donnie spent the prior five years practicing at a boutique first-party property litigation firm in Jacksonville. Representing both commercial and residential clients, Donnie is licensed to practice law in Virginia and Florida. He and his wife Laura live in the Jacksonville area with their two children. When not working, Donnie enjoys attending Jacksonville Jaguar games, and coaching his children’s baseball and softball teams. #contenders #Jacksonville #team #MerlinLawGroup #policyholder #insurance #law
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Florida looks for a solution to its insurance crisis. https://hubs.ly/Q02J48VF0 #policyholder #insurance #law #Florida
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Dissecting bad faith. Bad Faith by Your Insurer? When Do You Have to File a Bad Faith Lawsuit? | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog https://hubs.ly/Q02HMWy50 #insurance #policyholder #badfaith #law
Bad Faith by Your Insurer? When Do You Have to File a Bad Faith Lawsuit? | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
https://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com
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Mercedes Guido brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in legal procedures to Merlin Law Group, where she has been instrumental in supporting both attorneys and clients. Her ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines ensures the smooth progress of cases, and her commitment to teamwork enhances the collective strength of her team. Mercedes believes that a positive and cooperative work environment is key to achieving the best outcomes for clients. Mercedes takes great pride in the culture at Merlin Law Group, which emphasizes both exceptional legal services and personal growth. She values the opportunity to work with a team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals, all dedicated to maintaining high standards in the legal field. An interesting fact about Mercedes is that she is multilingual, an asset that adds significant value to her interactions in a diverse workplace. Her favorite quote, "Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road," by Robert Updegraff, perfectly captures her approach to both life and work. #MerlinLawGroup #WestPalmBeach #TeamsWORK #contenders #LegalProfessionals
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Holding the line against bad faith practices in Big Sky Country. https://hubs.ly/Q02HC0hk0 #insurance #policyholder #claims #Montana #badfaith #law
Montana Recognizes Insurance Bad Faith and Does Not Permit Wrongful Insurance Company Claims Practices | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
https://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com
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In Iowa, notice of property insurance loss requires prompt and punctual reporting. https://hubs.ly/Q02Hqjk_0 #insurance #claims #policyholder #Iowa
How Does Iowa Treat Late Reporting of a Property Insurance Loss? A Lesson How to Investigate and Treat Alleged Late Notice of Loss Hailstorm Claims | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
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This week's Team Contender, Merlin Law Group attorney and Director of Business Development Steven Bush, has always had a leaning towards helping others. However, it was while working as a certified indoor environmentalist in New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina Recovery Effort that he became aware of the tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying policyholders their due. During this time, he also became aware of how little policyholders knew about their rights under the terms of their insurance policies. In the early 2000’s, already a licensed contractor, Steven obtained his license as a public insurance adjuster in Florida. While working with both homeowners and business owners, he gained experience handling losses of every size. After years of defending policyholders as a public adjuster, Steven earned a law degree at Florida Coastal School of Law. Steven credits his background as an asset to better serve his clients, and what he does now for a living means the world to him. “It means everything,” says Steven. “I feel very privileged that I get to give a voice to policyholders who have been ignored and discarded by insurance companies. It is an honor to stand up for those who are in need.” Upon his graduation and acceptance into the Florida Bar Association in April of 2016, Steven assembled a team of attorneys — each with a distinctive set of strengths and experience — to create The Bush Law Group, a formidable and talented group which joined forces with Merlin Law Group nearly a year ago. Steven is also licensed to practice law in Texas, Georgia, and with the Washington, D.C. Bar Association. He was awarded the Elite Lawyer of the Year in 2020 and again in 2024. Twice, Steven and his team have been featured in Attorney at Law magazine. Steven has also received Super Lawyer Rising Stars status; a prestigious distinction that only the top 2.5% of attorneys by state receive. Steven also received the Advocate’s Award from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) for his work in uncovering insurance carrier fraud. He serves as a founding board member of the Florida Policyholders Cooperative Board of Governors for Federal Association for Insurance Reform (FAIR) and was appointed as an advisory board member of the American Policyholder Association (APA). #contenders #Jacksonville #team #MerlinLawGroup #policyholder #insurance #law
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The truth must always prevail. https://hubs.ly/Q02HdBnW0 #policyholder #claims #insurance #law
A Warning to Policyholders About the Vital Role of Disclosure During the Insurance Application Process: Tell the Truth or Face the Consequences | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
https://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com
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Appraisal, like the truth, can be easily manipulated. https://hubs.ly/Q02H4ryz0 #appraisal #insurance #claims #policyholder
The Manipulation of the Appraisal Process | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
https://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com