State-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. wants to expedite the settlement of about 6,500 open lawsuits related to Hurricane Irma.
On Wednesday, the company’s chief claims officer, Jay Adams, said Citizens is offering to pay to have appraisers review the disputes and forge resolutions. And if those appraisers can’t agree, Citizens also will pay for umpires to make binding decisions, Adams said. Normally, Citizens isn’t so generous when it comes to paying for dispute resolution. Under current policy language, either side in a claims dispute can request appraisal before entering litigation, but both parties have to pay for their own appraisers. They split the cost of an umpire if necessary.