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"You Can't Salvage My Mother's Ring!"

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Release Date: 08/26/2025

[REPLAY] The PLRB Expo: Connection & Community show art [REPLAY] The PLRB Expo: Connection & Community

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Right now we’re gearing up for next week’s PLRB Claims Conference. So this week, we’re sharing a recent episode discussing how to make the most of the PLRB Insurance Services Expo.   You're a new exhibitor, and you're excited and anxious about your first visit to the PLRB Claims Conference. How will you handle the rushes of attendees and the breaks between them? How will you build relationships that will last after you leave the Expo floor? What tone will you strike with members? Gemcor has been attending PLRB since 1984, just three years after our dad founded the company. It’s...

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What's New with Third-Party Supplements? with Steve Badger show art What's New with Third-Party Supplements? with Steve Badger

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

An adjuster starts to close the file on a roofing claim. The adjuster had worked closely with the roofing contractor and saw the claim through to its resolution, with the contractor getting paid in full. Then the adjuster receives an invoice with a supplement, from a company in another state. Upon calling the insured, they had no awareness of this company. Today Steven Badger from Zelle LLP will address these and other topics as we continue our discussion on “hot topics” in hail claims. Notable Timestamps [00:01] - Some in the industry describe the “reclaim game” as when an insured...

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What’s New in the Trenches? with Steve Badger show art What’s New in the Trenches? with Steve Badger

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Steven Badger from Zelle LLP joins us to talk about all the “hot topics” in the always interesting world of hail and other weather-related claims.  Steve will cover all the emerging trends in these claims, including current fraud and other abuse schemes, and provide his recommendations on how to address the common issues. He will also talk about what he is seeing with recent expanded use of the appraisal process.  Finally, Steve will talk about how his clients are addressing these issues through underwriting and policy wording changes. Notable Timestamps [ 00:07 ] - The episode...

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Carpet in the Bathroom? I Hope That's Against Code! show art Carpet in the Bathroom? I Hope That's Against Code!

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

The insured lives in a single-family home in Austin, Texas. While hanging a shelf on the wall in one of the bathrooms, the owner drilled right through the metal stud, directly into a plumbing pipe, causing water damage to the wall and to the carpeting on the floor. (Yes, you heard that correctly, carpeting…in the bathroom!) Should there have been some type of pipe protection near the stud? And, does code even allow carpeting in a bathroom?   Notable Timestamps [ 00:08 ] - The scenario involves a homeowner drilling into a metal stud and puncturing a plumbing pipe, causing water damage to...

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[REPLAY] The PLRB Insurance Services Expo & You show art [REPLAY] The PLRB Insurance Services Expo & You

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

For this holiday week, we’d like to prepare you for the upcoming PLRB Claims Conference, so we’re sharing a classic episode featuring some highlights on what to expect. You might notice some details specific to the original date of taping, but we’ve lightly edited it to keep it relevant. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference!    Let’s say you’re a service provider in the insurance industry. You’ve been attending PLRB Conferences for a few years, and you’re thinking about taking the next step to increase exposure and build relationships with the right...

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Herding Weather/CATs show art Herding Weather/CATs

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A supervisor leads a team of very needy CAT adjusters! Over the course of the year, the supervisor fields many questions as it comes up in their claims. Was there hail on X date? Was there lightning in the area? This hurricane is coming soon, where can I get news about it? Winter weather caused a slip and fall!! Where can I find information on wildfire perimeters and California evacuations? For help herding all these cats, we’ll head to PLRB.org.   Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode introduces a scenario where a supervisor fields constant weather-related questions from cat...

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A Squirrel, A Power Outage, and a Ruined Dinner show art A Squirrel, A Power Outage, and a Ruined Dinner

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A restaurant experienced a power outage lasting over an hour and a half. Because of the outage, they decided to close for the rest of the evening, claiming lost revenue from missed dinner service. PLRB weather tools will help us explore outage duration, date and time, location, and eventual cause. As we investigate, we’ll encounter an efficient proximate cause issue, the electrical currents exclusion, and a fried squirrel.   Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - The episode sets up a real-world insurance scenario: a restaurant closes after a 90-minute power outage and claims lost revenue,...

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The PLRB Expo: Connection & Community show art The PLRB Expo: Connection & Community

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

You're a new exhibitor, and you're excited and anxious about your first visit to the PLRB Claims Conference. How will you handle the rushes of attendees and the breaks between them? How will you build relationships that will last after you leave the Expo floor? What tone will you strike with members? Gemcor has been attending PLRB since 1984, just three years after our dad founded the company. It’s the one conference we commit to every single year, and today we'll share our perspective.   Notable Timestamps [ 00:58 ] - In this scenario, a new exhibitor is hoping for success at the...

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[REPLAY] Join Us at the Claims Conference show art [REPLAY] Join Us at the Claims Conference

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

For this holiday week, we’d like to prepare you for the upcoming PLRB Claims Conference, so we’re sharing a classic episode featuring some highlights on what to expect. You might notice some details specific to the original date of taping, but we’ve lightly edited it to keep it relevant. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference!    A supervisor is leading a small but mighty teams of adjusters, and they're taking their team to Indianapolis this spring for the 2025 PLRB Claims Conference. The only problem? They’ve never been before and have no idea where to...

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Do Jewelry Appraisals Lock In Insurance Payout Amounts? show art Do Jewelry Appraisals Lock In Insurance Payout Amounts?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

The insured felt like she did everything right. She insured the ring when she bought it, kept it scheduled on her policy, kept up with maintenance, and filed a claim right away when it was stolen. She even submitted the original appraisal for $22,000 so the insurance company would know how much to write on the check. So she was shocked when the insurance payout was only $14,000. Apparently diamonds are cheaper today, but she thinks: "shouldn't the appraisal lock in the cost?"   Notable Timestamps [ 00:45 ] - An insured may assume an appraisal amount guarantees payout, but jewelry claims...

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More Episodes

An insured brought her diamond ring to a local jeweler for a routine cleaning. The jeweler found damage and recommended filing a claim. Our team checked the original appraisal on file, which raised questions about the identified break. However, close analysis confirmed a different break in the girdle. The insured was entitled her to a like-kind replacement or cash if she surrendered the chipped stone. But, the insured does not want to surrender the diamond for sentimental reasons.
 
Notable Timestamps

[ 00:52 ] - The insured's diamond had a girdle break, and while entitled to replacement, she didn't want to surrender it due to sentimental reasons.

[ 01:54 ] - Dana & Ali introduce themselves, Gemcor, and Digipraise.

[ 04:32 ] - When a claim involving a damaged stone is resolved, the stone belongs to the insurance company under the policy. However, the insured can often buy back the stone at its salvage value.

[ 05:01 ] - Jewelry claims require empathy because insureds often have deep emotional and sentimental attachments to their pieces. Approaching these conversations sensitively is crucial for a positive resolution.

[ 05:39 ] - For minor damage like a "small nick on the girdle," repairing the stone and compensating for loss in value is an option. This allows the insured to keep their original diamond and prevents further damage.

[ 09:50 ] - Before a claim can move forward, an expert on behalf of the insurance company must inspect the jewelry to verify damage. This prevents premature replacement recommendations.

[ 11:48 ] - Many clients are underinsured because they fail to update appraisals, leading to coverage being capped at outdated values and significant out-of-pocket costs.

[ 16:48 ] - Diamond certifications with a map of imperfections are vital tools. They help distinguish between pre-existing flaws and new damage, which directly impacts coverage decisions.

[ 15:44 ] - Ali & Dana provide a recap of the points above.

Your PLRB Resources

CE Course: Jewelry Valuation & Adjustment - https://members.plrb.org/education/courses/jewelry-valuation-amp-adjustment

Coverage Question: Agreed Value Settlement For Repair Of Jewelry - https://www.plrb.org/documents/wedding-ring-diamond-replaced-w-o-notifying-insurer-acv-for-original-ring-pcq-2009-10-08/?search=diamond%20value

Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company.

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Send us your Scenario!

Please reach out to us at 630-509-8704 with your scenario! This could be your “adjuster story” sharing a situation from your claims experience, or a burning question you would like the team to answer. In any case, please omit any personal information as we will anonymize your story before we share. Just reach out to scenario@plrb.org

Sponsorship

PLRB thanks Pilot Catastrophe Services for its Diamond Sponsorship of the 2025 Claims Conference. "Pilot provides a complete suite of services to handle claims arising from catastrophic events, small storms or daily claims." Visit pilotcat.com!

Legal Information

The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate.

Music: “Piece of Future” by Keyframe_Audio. Pixabay. Pixabay License.
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Sound Effects: Pixabay (Pixabay License) and Freesound.org (CC0).