Daniel Jama, CPAU accepts appointments as a property insurance appraiser and neutral umpire in Florida residential and commercial insurance appraisal disputes. He evaluates disagreements involving the amount of loss, including disputed damage, repair scope, construction methods, and estimating differences.
Jay serves throughout Tampa Bay, including Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties, and accepts appointments statewide. His work draws on more than 20 years of experience across construction, roofing, carrier-side claims adjusting, and public adjusting.
Property insurance appraisal generally addresses disagreements over the amount of a covered loss, subject to the language of the applicable policy. When the parties cannot agree on the value or scope of the damage, the policy’s appraisal clause may provide a process for resolving that disagreement.
Accordingly, Jay accepts appointments in either role: as an appraiser representing one party or as a neutral umpire selected by the appraisers or appointed through the applicable process. Each engagement begins with a conflict check and review of the governing policy provisions.
Appraisal disagreements often involve more than competing estimates. They can require a detailed evaluation of damage causation, repairability, construction methods, material requirements, building components, and estimating methodology.
Because Jay has worked in construction and roofing, handled claims on the insurance carrier side, and represented policyholders as a public adjuster, he understands how these different perspectives affect a property loss evaluation. He brings that practical experience to the appraisal assignment rather than relying on estimating software or claim documentation alone.
Florida Statute § 627.70151 addresses certain conflict-of-interest grounds for challenging an appraisal umpire in covered residential property matters. The appraisal process itself generally follows the applicable insurance policy’s appraisal clause.
What is the difference between an appraiser and an umpire?
Each party generally selects its own appraiser under the policy’s appraisal clause. The two appraisers attempt to reach agreement. If they cannot, they select an umpire according to the policy’s procedure. In many appraisal clauses, an award signed by any two of the three participants determines the result, subject to the policy language and applicable law.
Does Daniel Jama serve as an appraiser or an umpire?
Both. Jay accepts appointments as a party-appointed appraiser and as a neutral umpire. The appropriate role depends on the engagement, the parties involved, and the applicable policy provisions.
What types of disputes are appropriate for property insurance appraisal?
Appraisal commonly addresses disagreements over the amount of a property loss, including damage scope, repair costs, and valuation. Coverage disputes and other questions outside the appraisal clause may require a different process.
Does appraisal always require a property inspection?
Not necessarily. The need for an inspection depends on the disputed issues, available documentation, property conditions, and the requirements of the appraisal assignment.
How do I request an appraisal or umpire appointment?
Contact HCH with the property location, claim information, proposed role, and available appointment documents. HCH can then conduct an initial conflict check and discuss availability before a formal appointment.
Contact HCH to discuss an appraisal appointment, an umpire selection, or an active property insurance dispute.
Or call 727-657-6193
