William F. "Chip" Merlin, Esq.

Since 1983, Chip Merlin has served as a plaintiff's attorney with a focus on Commercial & Residential Property Insurance Claim Disputes and Bad Faith Insurance litigation. Chip is a noted national authority on Insurance Bad Faith, lecturing to national trade groups and publishing a number of papers and articles on the subject for organizations such as The American Association for Justice, The Florida Justice Association, The Florida Windstorm Conference, and Trial Magazine.

As founder and president of Merlin Law Group, Chip has dedicated his practice to the representation and advocacy of insurance policyholders in disputes with insurance companies in Florida, Mississippi, and nationwide.

Chip served as Chair for the Bad Faith Insurance Litigation Group and Secretary for the Fire and Property Insurance Litigation Group for the American Association for Justice (formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America). He was also Vice-Chair for the Subcommittee on Property Insurance Law for the American Bar Association.

• Education

  University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, FL
  
  Juris Doctor
  
  
  
  Honors: Moot Court
  
  Honors: Moot Court
  
  Honors: Florida Blue Key
  
  Honors: Omicron Delta Kappa
  
  Law Review: University of Florida Law Review, Executive Editor
  
  
  
  University of Florida
  
  Bachelor of Science

• Certifications / Specialties

  Certification / Specialties Civil Trial, Florida Bar

• Published Works

  "Practical and Legal Lessons from Hurricane Experts" - Seminar for New York and New Jersey Public Adjusters, 2012
  
  “Practical lessons public adjusters can learn from recent litigation against insurers" - FAPIA Fall Conference, 2012
  
  "Theory of Indemnity and What Constitutes a Loss" - First Party Claims Conference, 2012
  
  "Uncovering Soot and Ash, a Wildfire Claims Seminar" - CE Seminar for California Public Adjusters, 2012
  
  "First Party Property Insurance Cases of Interest to Public Adjusters" - NAPIA Fall Meeting, 2012
  
  "Trends Involving All Risk Coverage and Claims for the Policyholders Perspective" - Willis RE - Managing Extremes, 2012
  
  "Specific Case Studies in the Field of Business Interruption" (Co-Author with Michelle Claverol, Esq. & Kelly Kubiak, Esq.) - FAPIA Spring Conference, May 2012
  
  "What Should be in the Claim File - Public Adjuster Best Claims Practices and the Claims File" (Co-Author with Douglas Grose, Esq.) - FAPIA Spring Conference, May 2012
  
  "Preparation for the Hurricane Season Includes Insurance and Risk Reviews" - Hospitality Lawyer, June 2011
  
  "Contingent Business Income Insurance for the Hospitality Industry: Hedging the Risk of Financial Loss Caused By Catastrophe at Nearby Attractions Gulf Coast Case Law Update" - Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2011
  
  "A Primer on Proving Roof Damage" - NAPIA Summer Meeting, June 2011
  
  "Experience and Specialization Matters When It Comes to Complex Hospitality Insurance" Insurance Journal, Spring 2010
  
  "A Case Providing Far Too Little Because It Was Rendered Far Too Late" - Mississippi Law Journal, April 2010
  
  "Lessons Learned After the Storms" - Journal of the American Association for Justice, August 2007
  
  "Ten Things a Florida Public Adjuster Can do to Raise Professionalism and Become More Successful" - FAPIA Summer Conference, August 2007
  
  "Plugging the Gaps: Dealing with Inconsistent Terms in Your Layered Insurance" - Risk Insurance Management Society Conference, 2007
  
  "Coming Up With Evidence Out of the Blue Creative Bad Faith Discovery" - American Association for Justice Mid-Year Convention, February 2007
  
  "Unfair Claims Practices" - Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Winter CLE Seminar, 2006
  
  "Practical and Legal Lessons from the 2004 and 2005 - Hurricanes for Every Policyholder Representative" National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, Mid-Year Meeting, 2006
  
  "Peace of Mind: Getting Adequate Insurance Protection" - APCM's Regional Conference Florida Region, November 2006
  
  "Dealing With Disaster: How to Survive Being Flooded Out, Burned Up, Or Blown Away!" - Condominium Associations Institute National Conference & Exposition, 2006
  
  "What Else Do We Cover? Extra Coverages" - The American Bar Association Presents: Emerging Issues in Homeowners' Insurance Seminar, 2006
  
  "How to Apply Coinsurance and Deductible Clauses in Property Insurance Policies" - Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA), 2006
  
  "Condominium Leadership Before and After a Hurricane Catastrophe" - Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, 2006
  
  "The First Party Bad Faith Claim" - (Co-Author with Mary E. Kestenbaum), Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (AFTL) Winter Seminar, 2005
  

• Classes / Seminars Taught

  "Gulf Coast/Southeast Insurance Case Law Update" - Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2013
  
  "Practical and Legal Lessons from Hurricane Experts" - Seminar for New York and New Jersey Public Adjusters, 2012
  
  “Practical lessons public adjusters can learn from recent litigation against insurers" - FAPIA Fall Conference, 2012
  
  "Theory of Indemnity and What Constitutes a Loss" - First Party Claims Conference, 2012
  
  "Uncovering Soot and Ash, a Wildfire Claims Seminar" - CE Seminar for California Public Adjusters, 2012
  
  "First Party Property Insurance Cases of Interest to Public Adjusters" - NAPIA Fall Meeting, 2012
  
  "Trends Involving All Risk Coverage and Claims for the Policyholders Perspective" - Willis RE - Managing Extremes, 2012
  
  "What Should Be in a Claim File" - FAPIA Spring Conference, May 2012
  
  "Business Interruption" - FAPIA Spring Conference, May 2012
  
  "Appraisals, Ethics & Bad Faith" - TAPIA Spring Conference, April 2012
  
  "The Ultimate Seminar for Public Adjusters - CALIFORNIA CLAIMS, Business Interruption, Wildfires, Ethics & the Public Adjuster’s Role in Litigation" - April 2012
  
  "Turning Disaster Into Opportunity - What Restoration Professionals Can Do to Help Catastrophe Victims, Contribute to Economic Recovery and Make a Profit" - Restoration Contractors Symposium, Modesto, California, March 2012
  
  "Don’t Get Burnt Adjusting Wildfire Claims!" - TAPIA Fall Conference, November 2011
  
  "What Should Be in a Claim File" - FPCC, October 2011
  
  "Anticipating Manmade and Natural Disaster Trends That Impact Business" - SAFOB, September 2011
  
  "Ethical Requirements of Public Adjusters and What Experienced and Advanced Public Adjusters Should Have Included in Their Claim" - FAPIA Summer Conference, July 2011
  
  "The Ultimate Seminar for Public Adjusters™: Ethical Issues for Presenting Claims" - CE Seminar for Public Adjusters, May 2011
  
  "Learning From Those on the Other Side of Claims Negotiation: Persuasive, Professional, and Ethical Techniques of Adjustment for the Policyholder" - FAPIA, June 2010
  
  "Understanding the Valuation Issues of the Gulf Oil Spill" - HB Litigation Conferences Presents Oil in the Gulf – Litigation and Insurance Coverage, June 2010
  
  "Fantastic Adjustment Results Through Professionalism and Ethical Conduct: Tips From the Masters and Lessons From the School of Hard Knocks" - NAPIA Annual Meeting, June 2010
  
  "What Texas Public Adjusters Should Be Doing Ethically and Professionally Regarding Hurricanes Dolly and Ike Claims" - TAPIA Annual Meeting, 2010
  
  "The Ultimate Roofing Seminar" - CE Seminar for Public Adjusters, April 2010
  
  "The Ultimate Seminar for Public Adjusters: Ethical Issues for Presenting Claims" - CE Seminar for Public Adjusters, April 2010
  
  "Learning From Those on the Other Side of Claims Negotiations: Persuasive, Professional, and Ethical Techniques of Adjustment for the Policyholder" - FAPIA Summer Conference, 2010
  
  "Proofs of Loss, EUOs, & Requests for Documentation" - FAPIA Winter Conference 2010
  
  "Gulf Coast Case Law Update" - WIND, January 2010
  
  "Subrogation - Do’s and Don’t’s" - First Party Claims Conference, 2009
  
  "Science of Roof Damages" - First Party Claims Conference, 2009
  
  "Speed Adjusting: A Fast and Furious Look at the Concerns and Considerations of Insurance Claims and How They Can Affect Public Adjusting" - FAPIA Summer Conference, 2009
  
  "The Merlin Guide: How to ethically and efficiently adjust claims in Texas" - Seminar for Texas Public Adjusters, 2009
  
  "The Process Matters: Appraisals, Prompt Payment and Bad Faith in Texas" - Seminar for Texas Public Adjusters, 2009
  
  "Fact or Fiction: Expert analysis of Hurricane Ike" - Seminar for Texas Public Adjusters, 2009
  
  "Maximizing Recovery: Best practices and surrounding Law and Ordinance coverage, ACV, RCV, Matching, and Building Codes" - Seminar for Texas Public Adjusters, 2009
  
  "Successful Solicitations and Salutations: Sell and Close Right to Succeed" - FAPIA, 2009
  
  "Electronic Discovery Concerns for Adjusters, Insurers, and Policyholders: What you May Not Know Can Hurt You" - WIND, 2009
  
  "How Ethical and Knowledgeable Claims Handling Adds Value to Your Clients Claim" - NAPIA Mid-Year Meeting, 2008
  
  "The Rules of the Game, A discussion comparing and contrasting the rules, regulations, and requirements for Northeastern U.S. and the Gulf Coast states" - NAPIA/MAPIA, October 2008
  
  "Is Your Association really Ready for Another Hurricane in 2008?" - CAI North Gulf Coast Chapter, 2008
  
  "Who's on First? Excess Policies and Multiple Insurers" - Windstorm Insurance Conference, 2008
  
  "What Even Seasoned Attorneys Need to Know About Current Techniques of Persuasion When Discussing Issues of Insurer Misconduct" - Florida Justice Association, 2008
  
  "How Ethical and Knowledgeable Claims Handling Adds Value to Your Client's Claim" - NAPIA, 2008
  
  "Delay of Game" - Panel discussion of specific types of business interruption claims, NAPIA/MAPIA, 2008
  
  "The Perfect Game, Best practices for claims handling when it comes to maximizing the recovery for a client" - NAPIA/MAPIA, 2008
  
  "Rules of the Road: A Different Methodology For Proving Duty and Breach" - Florida Justice Association Winter CLE Seminar, December 2007

• Honors and Awards

  
  Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business,2007-2012
  
  Florida Trend Magazine: Florida's Legal Elite, 2004 - 2012
  
  AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  
  National Law Journal® - Tampa’s Top Attorney 2011
  
  Tampa Bay’s Best Lawyers 2010 by Tampa Bay Magazine
  
  2007 NAPIA Co-Person of the Year, 2007 - Present
  
  Lexis Nexis Insurance Law Center Person of the Year 2008 Policyholder Attorney of the Year, Honorable Mention, 2008
  
  Eagle Talon Award, The Florida Justice Association (formerly the academy of Florida Trial Lawyers), 1990
  
  Board of Directors, SoFAB
  
  Outstanding Amicus Brief of the Year, United Policyholders, 2002

• Professional Associations and Memberships

  American Association for Justice, President's Member
  
  American Association for Justice, 1996 - 1998, Chairman, Bad Faith Insurance Litigation Group
  
  American Association for Justice, Fire and Property Insurance Litigation Group, 1993 - 1995 Secretary
  
  American Bar Association, 1988 - 1998, Vice Chairman, Subcommittee on Property Insurance Law
  
  National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) Associate Member
  
  Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) Associate Member
  
  Community Associations Institute (CAI) Associate Member
  
  Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Associate Member
  
  Windstorm Insurance Network President
  
  Citizen's Property Insurance Corporation Mission Review Task Force, 2008 - Present Member
  
  Southern Food and Beverage (SOFAB) Board Member