Expert witness services for Florida property insurance disputes include independent claim analysis, technical opinions, expert reports, examinations under oath, depositions, and trial testimony. Daniel Jama, SCLA, CPAU, accepts qualified engagements from plaintiff and defense counsel, law firms, and insurance carriers.
Jay accepts engagements throughout Florida, including Tampa Bay, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties. Assignments are evaluated individually and begin with a conflict check and confirmation of the questions and scope of work.
Property insurance litigation often involves disagreements about the cause of damage, the condition of building materials, appropriate repair methods, or the work required to restore damaged property. These disputes can involve competing inspection findings, estimates, photographs, repair records, and technical opinions.
An independent review examines the underlying property conditions and supporting documentation. It identifies material differences between competing positions and evaluates whether the conclusions are supported by the available evidence. The analysis addresses the disputed questions in the case rather than advocating for a predetermined outcome.
Depending on the facts and scope of the engagement, expert analysis may address:
The assignment is established with retaining counsel. The scope depends on the issues in dispute, the available evidence, and the work required in the particular case.
Review of claim files, policy and estimate materials, inspection reports, photographs, measurements, repair records, correspondence, and other relevant documentation.
Written analysis identifying disputed issues, relevant evidence, technical findings, and the factual and methodological basis for the opinions expressed.
Examinations under oath, depositions, trial testimony, and technical assistance to counsel, as agreed within the engagement.
Each assignment begins with the questions counsel wants addressed. The review then focuses on the evidence relevant to those questions. Depending on the case, the analysis may include:
Opinions remain within the expert’s knowledge, training, and experience. When an assignment requires engineering, environmental testing, or another specialized discipline outside that scope, those limitations are identified. Appropriately qualified professionals may be needed to address those separate issues.
Florida applies the Daubert standard under § 90.702, Florida Statutes. The statute addresses an expert’s qualifications, whether testimony is based on sufficient facts or data, whether the methods are reliable, and whether those methods have been reliably applied to the facts of the case.
In its May 23, 2019 decision in In re Amendments to the Florida Evidence Code, SC19-107, the Florida Supreme Court adopted the Daubert amendments, replacing Frye as the general standard for the expert testimony addressed by those amendments. The court ultimately determines whether proposed testimony is admissible.
What does a property insurance expert witness evaluate?
Depending on the assignment, an expert may evaluate damage causation, building conditions, repairability, construction methods, repair scope, estimating differences, claim documentation, and relevant claim-handling practices.
Does Jay accept engagements from both plaintiff and defense counsel?
Yes. Qualified engagements may be accepted from plaintiff counsel, defense counsel, law firms, and insurance carriers. Each assignment is subject to a conflict check and review of the requested scope.
Can an engagement include an expert report and testimony?
Yes. Depending on the agreed scope, services may include document review, independent analysis, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony.
What standard applies to expert testimony in Florida?
Florida applies the Daubert standard under § 90.702, Florida Statutes. The court evaluates the expert’s qualifications, the underlying facts or data, the reliability of the methods, and their application to the specific case. The court determines admissibility; no expert can guarantee that a particular opinion will be admitted.
How can an attorney retain Jay as an expert witness?
Contact HCH to request a CV, fee schedule, availability, and an initial conflict check. Once conflicts are cleared, the parties can confirm the assignment and scope of work before document review begins.
Request Daniel Jama’s CV, fee schedule, and availability for an initial conflict check.
Or call 727-657-6193
