Flood Insurance Expert Witnesses: 7

Bruce Fredrics, International, TI, BSM.h, GA-BC, RGA (EGA), ICEP, GMGA, MPA, SME, CGA, AIC, PPIA, ACA, CACP, CALAc, CCA, CMI, PCLA, LPCS, CMS, HCI/R-C, FSRT, WINDP, AMRT, CPLA, CPLU, CPAU, UCC, CPCUc, CCPc, ACPc, SPPAc, LS-LC (CFLC)

As a U. S. Registered Federal & State Court Certified Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Insurance Appraisal, Claims Processes, and Industry Standards of Practice and Care, practicing since 1986, he is an Exclusive Expert at the most advanced pinnacle. 

A Loss Consultant, Public and Independent Claims Adjuster, Mr. Fredrics is engaged / retained by consumers, insurance companies, and Governments to handle insurance claims settlements and to resolve disputes. His experience includes educating and teaching State Regulators including Directors of Insurance Commissioner Offices, their Attorneys, Plaintiff and Defense Counsel, other Federal Experts, and Professionals, including Managers, Supervisors, and Professionals.

Mr. Fredrics is the Provost of a global and international College where he teaches his unique expertise that he alone has developed. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Governors for a global and international trade association which qualifies Experts under U.S. Congressional Rules.

Litigation Support - Mr. Fredrics has been qualified, approved, and confirmed by Federal & State Judges. As an Expert, he has never been impeached, neither under Daubert nor by any Judge. He has conducted Judge and Jury education in live courtroom testimony, and has testified about 30 (thirty) times as an Expert, none of which has ever been invalidated. Mr. Fredrics assists Attorneys in preparing for trial during litigation in both Federal and State Courts, similar to a Litigation Specialist (LS). He has never lost a case.

Areas of Expertise:

Claims Processes Industry Standards of Practice and Care Man-Made Damage Commercial Property Condominium Construction Defects Claims Disputes Equipment / Mechanical Breakdown Business Interruption Residential Dwelling Manufactured Housing Sinkhole Mold Fire Investigation and Adjustment Environmental / Pollution

Property Liability Catastrophe Losses: Hurricanes, Tornadoes,  Total Losses Product Liability General Liability Professional Liability Harassment Casualty Bodily Injury Fatalities Murder / Homicide, Attempted Murder Weapon Assault Auto Liability / Auto Physical Damage Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Cargo Workers Compensation Liability

View USAE's Business Consultant Profile.

Joe L. Williams, CPCU, partner in Pozmantier, Williams & Stone Insurance Consultants, LLC, has over 60 years of experience as an Insurance Agent / Broker and Insurance Consultant. From 1970 until 2007, he was a principal shareholder in a large Houston firm, Wisenberg Insurance + Risk Management, and was Chairman and CEO when the firm was sold to a subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank. One of the youngest people ever to receive the CPCU professional designation at the age of 23, Mr. Williams is very familiar with all phases of the insurance industry, including consulting on bad faith, customs and practices, and standards of care. He has particular expertise in property coverage, business interruption, non-subscription, and risk transfer techniques. Litigation Support - Mr. Williams provides expert services to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defense. He offers objective opinions on the following matters:

• Agent / Broker Bad Faith
• Insurance Industry Customs & Practices
• Agent / Broker Standards of Care
• Coverage Terms and Conditions
• Agent / Broker Services
• Insurance Program Design
• Agency / Company Disputes
• Claims Management by Agent
• Insurance Agency Management

View Joe Williams' Consulting Profile.

Janice A. Ramsay founded the law firm of Ramsay and Johnson, ALC in 1984. She merged her practice and that firm with Berger Kahn LLC in 1999. Since the late fall of 2007, she has primarily worked independently as an expert witness and consultant to other attorneys.

During her career, Ms. Ramsay has given advice on coverage questions, underwriting procedures, rescission rights, claims handling, and insurers legal and policy obligations. She is experienced with both commercial and personal lines policies. Ms. Ramsay is familiar with the business of insurance and the legal framework of that business and has performed the procedures that are unique to the claims process such as examinations under oath, and appraisals. She has drafted or revised insurance policies for several insurance companies and has handled coverage litigation.

Litigation Support - Ms. Ramsay has been retained in over 150 matters as an expert work during her law practice beginning as early as 1989. She has testified frequently in both deposition and trial on the standards and practices of the insurance industry. She has testified for insurers, insureds,brokers, and agents.

Types of Losses:

Fire Losses Organized Insurance Fraud Landslides Earthquakes Water Damage / Mold Defective Construction

Latent Defects Riots Acts of Civil Authority Business Interruption Suit Limitation Issues Mortgagee Rights

Speaking Engagements - Ms. Ramsay has frequently been a speaker and/or panelist for the Orange County Bar Association, PLRB Annual Conference, the Combined Claims Conference, and many more. She has also given in-house seminars for several insurers.

Ivan E. Cohen, RF, ARM, CRM, CIC, AIC, AAI, MLIS, CRIS, is a nationally recognized Insurance Industry Expert with over 44 years of years of Insurance and Risk Management experience. 

In 1979, Mr. Cohen opened his own agency where he still serves as president. He is a member of the Global Risk Management Institute, an associate member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society, and holds the distinction of being a RIMS Fellow and has been a contributing columnist for Risk Management Magazine. 

Mr. Cohen has also been an Insurance Educator for 41 years. A Senior Andjunct Professor of Insurance, he has taught for the Risk and Insurance Management Society, The National Alliance, Professional Insurance Agents of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York, and provides training and continuing education courses for agencies and companies.

Litigation Support - Mr. Cohen is a trial-experienced Insurance Litigation consultant who provides expert witness services on insurance related matters, He currently serves as a subject matter expert for the New York State Department of Financial Services on the Insurance Exam Review Committee. Mr. Cohen has worked on matters in State, Federal, and Canadian Courts. His services are available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defense. 

A. M. Best Client Recommended Expert Service Provider 2018, 2019, 2020.

Areas of Expertise:

Insurance Errors & Omissions Insurance Standard of Care Insurance Agent / Broker Duties Agent Standard of Care Broker Standard of Care Insurance Policy Interpretation Property Insurance

Liability Insurance Insurance Custom & Practice Auto Insurance Home Insurance Personal Insurance Commercial Insurance Insurance Company Bad Faith

View Ivan Cohen's Consulting Profile.

Scott S. Margraves, CIC, has over 32 years of Commercial Property and Casualty Insurance experience. He is the Principal Consultant and Founder of Gulf Coast Risk Management, LLC (GCRM). GCRM provides research, analysis and advice to commerce, industry, government and individuals. 

GCRM operates COIs R Us, a certificate of insurance (COI) compliance and tracking company. COIs R Us compares the contractual obligations of a lease agreement with the COI. COIs R Us processes thousands of COIs for landlords and general contractors for compliance annually.

Litigation Support - Mr. Margraves has been designated as an expert witness in 19 case assignments: 16 State cases and 3 Federal cases. Case assignments are divided between 10 for Defense and 9 for Plaintiff, including Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. Services include standard of care review, deposition question preparation, document review, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Property & Casualty Insurance Certificate of Insurance (COI) Tracking and Compliance Insurance Claims Bad Faith Agency Bonds

Cyber Surety Marine Insurance Safety Programs HR Coordination Contract Integration

Background Experience - GCRM provides consulting services to attorneys, property managers, and general contractors regarding insurance placement, interpretation, and recommended contractual insurance requirements while explaining the relationship and alignment with indemnity and insurance provisions.

Mr. Margraves is well-versed in the placement of insurance policies from an insured's perspective. As a front-line producer, he weathered forty three (five major) hurricanes, three “five-hundred-year" floods and multiple catastrophic fire claims. Agency roles include insurance broker, claims supervisor, agency partner, and risk manager. He is Past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston, Past Vice chairman of IIAT IMPACT Region 10, Member of Insurance Academy, and Lifetime Committeemen for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Mr. Margraves started his second career as a full-time consultant in 2020. He is an insurance industry expert that brings extensive experience in all aspects of property casualty insurance interpretation, policy forms, claims, safety programs, HR coordination and contract integration.

View GCRM's Consulting Profile.

Dave Bano has 40 years of hands-on experience across all aspects of Property Casualty Insurance Operations. He is a cross-functional and seasoned senior executive who has led Sales, Claims and Underwriting operations. Mr. Bano possesses a deep understanding of P & C customs, practices, standards and the duty of care. As a retired Chief Claims Officer, a Business Unit President/COO, as well as a Regional/State Executive at Nationwide, he has very broad multi-discipline knowledge and experience.

Litigation Support - Mr. Bano managed all aspects, and coverage lines, within Nationwide Claims including their bad faith/extra-contractual litigation. He also testifies relative to Sales and Agency operations, as well as Underwriting practices. He is a true general manager and expert across the P&C spectrum. 

Areas of Expertise:

Insurance Customs / Standards / Practices Insurance Claims / Sales / Underwriting / Agency Property / Casualty Operations Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Coverage Insurance Exclusions Insurance Denials Extracontractual Automotive Insurance Errors and Omissions (E&O)

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Uninsured Motorist (UIM) Class Actions Homeowner Insurance Commercial Insurance Catastrophe / Disaster Flood Insurance Excess Surplus Insurance Insurance Fraud Insurance Investigation

Background Experience - Mr. Bano began his career as an adjuster trainee and worked through every operating level within Claims, eventually becoming Nationwide's first company-wide Chief Claims Officer. As a hands-on leader with strong experience in P/C general management (sales, agency operations, underwriting) as well as claims, he offers current expertise across any aspect of Property & Casualty insurance. 

As Chief Claims Officer, he was responsible for 8000 employees, all claims operations, across all lines of coverage. He partnered closely with his legal teams and held decision-making authority over all claims-related litigation, including extracontractual and bad faith situations. He led Automobile, Homeowners, Commercial, Agribusiness, Excess & Surplus [Scottsdale Insurance], Environmental, Pet & Veterinary, as well as the National Catastrophe group and the Special Investigations anti-fraud teams.  

As a general manager, Mr. Bano led the hundreds of agents, underwriters and claims staff within the State of Michigan and earlier, within the five-county Philadelphia, PA market. 

Wayne Citron has 45 years of experience as an expert in Forensic Reconstruction of Insurance Transactions. He is an insurance expert and consultant. Litigation Support - Wayne Citron specializes in policy interpretation of the rules, laws, and regulations governing insurance and financial matters. His services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include effective reports, affidavits, depositions, and testimony as needed. Areas of Expertise:

Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Customs and Practices Insurance Health / HMO / Disability

Insurance - Life & Annuities Property / Casualty Insurance Insurance Agents & Brokers - Standard of Care

Mr. Citron established the Citron Agency and CMC Advisors Inc. in 1972, where his duties included executive and managerial responsibilities, sales, service, compliance with all insurance matters as well as securities laws and regulations. Both firms are leaders in life, health, disability and property and casualty insurance. Mr. Citron is an expert in all forms of insurance, including:

Life Insurance Health Insurance Property and casualty Insurance Disability Insurance Annuities Retirement, IRAs & Pensions

Flood Insurance Broker Malpractice / Bad Faith Profit Sharing Group Coverage Self-insurance Insurance Laws / Regulations

Mr. Citron has served as an instructor for Prudential Insurance Company Brooklyn Agency (1973) educating personnel in general insurance matters, underwriting, and insurance law. He has worked with companies including Prudential Insurance Company, United States Life Insurance Company, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, American General Life Insurance Company, William Penn Life Insurance Company, American Life Insurance Company, Chubb Insurance Company, Travelers Insurance Company, Mass Mutual Insurance Company, John Hancock Insurance Company, and American International Group (AIG), among other. View CMC Advisors' Consulting Profile.