MAPA Wins in the Valley
On August 4, 2017, in Cameron County, Texas, a jury decided that an insurance client of MAPA did not breach its agreement with a policyholder from Brownsville by failing to pay for any damages alleged to have been caused by a wind and hail event on May 28, 2014. The jury also concluded that neither the adjuster nor adjusting firm assigned by the carrier had committed any unfair or deceptive acts in their adjustment of the claim. MAPA partner David P. Salyer tried the case on behalf of the carrier, the independent adjuster, and independent adjusting firm with the assistance of his paralegal, Amber Atkins. Partner Chris C. King also assisted in the preparation of the case. The case is significant in that it is the first case to be tried in Texas under the new statutory rules passed by the legislature in 2011 affecting the causes of action and remedies that may be asserted against the carrier and its adjusters.