CHIP MERLIN is founder and president of Merlin Law Group, one of the largest national firms representing and advocating for policyholders in disputes against their own insurance companies. Having advised CNN, Fox News, Fox Business News, and local television outlets around the country, Merlin has been dubbed “the Babe Ruth of Hurricane Claims” and “the Master of Disaster” in the press.Former chair of the Bad Faith Litigation Group for the American Association for Justice, he is a preeminent insurance attorney and consumer advocate with a focus on commercial and residential property insurance claim disputes and bad faith insurance litigation. His long-running blog helps consumers with their claims.When not taking on big insurance companies, Merlin, a former marathon runner, can be found racing sailboats.

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PREFACE HOW I BECAME AN ATTORNEY FOR POLICYHOLDERS WHEN A COMPUTER DECIDES WHETHER YOU LIVE OR DIE ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE—AND THEN BLOCK YOU ZOMBIES, GHOSTS, AND EVERYONE ELSE A CULTURE OF BAD PRACTICES YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR POLITICIANS WHEN THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER IS YOU DO BUSINESSES AND LARGE PROPERTY OWNERS NEED INSURANCE TO COVER THEIR INSURANCE? THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF COLLECTING INSURANCE BENEFITS WHY CAN’T WE ALL GET ALONG? CAN YOU TRUST YOUR INSURANCE AGENT? DEALING WITH THE NEW LOSS PROFESSIONALS: PUBLIC ADJUSTERS, LOSS CONSULTANTS, AND CONTRACTORS THE ROLE OF POLICYHOLDERS IN THE CLAIMS PROCESS AFTERWORD OUR SERVICES ABOUT THE AUTHOR