Books by Barry Zalma
The following are books commercially published and can be purchased from each of the publishers.
Insurance Claims: A Comprehensive Guide by Barry Zalma
This one-of-a-kind Guide covers the fields of property insurance claims, liability, and fraud. It is ideal both as a detailed reference for the insurance professional and as a plain language guide for those—such as attorneys and business owners—who frequently interact with the industry. In addition to examining the nature of property and liability policies and the processing of claims under these policies, the Guide discusses the complexities of such topics as underwriting, bad faith, subrogation and salvage, duties of the insured and insurer, and declaring a policy void. Of particular interest to insurance adjusters and attorneys are the chapters on interview techniques and preparing cases for trial, where discussion of the technical, investigative, and psychological approaches that bring success are detailed. An extensive discussion of fraud—how to identify, investigate, and respond to it—is an invaluable aid for those contending with the rising tide of insurance fraud in the United States. Checklists, sample procedures, forms, and tables provide time-saving, practical guidance.
The author, Barry Zalma, is an insurance coverage attorney and expert witness. He is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and a designated Certified Fraud Examiner. He has used skills honed in serving on the continuing education faculty of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and as a minimum continuing legal education ("MCLE") provider to develop a helpful, practical guide that insurance employers will also find useful as a training manual.
Constructive Defects: Litigation & Claims by Barry Zalma
Construction Defects: Litigation and Claims explains how to investigate, prosecute, or defend cases that address construction defects-one of the most active areas of litigation in the United States.
The dollars involved in construction defect litigation have grown exponentially. If a problem exists in a multiple unit condominium association or a housing tract, minor repairs of the defects multiply over the various units to millions of dollars. In addition, the complexity of a construction defect suit usually results in hundreds of hours of work for lawyers and awards are often extremely large.Construction Defects: Litigation and Claims addresses a wide audience about an escalating-and expensive-problem. This manual will prove useful for owners of defective or damaged real property in their quest to obtain and use the insurance protection for which they paid; for reputable builders, contractors, subcontractors, and other professionals who work in the construction industry; for insurance professionals handling claims; for attorneys representing a defendant or plaintiff in a construction defect suit; and for the uninsured or underinsured in evaluating the facts and determining whether counsel is required to protect their rights.
Part I discusses the construction contract, plans and specifications, and defects.
Part II examines property insurance and insurance policies.
Part III offers guidance on alternative dispute resolution, litigation, and indemnity.
The Guide includes checklists that step you through an analysis of construction defects, the process of purchasing and later invoking construction defect insurance, and the prosecuting or defending of a construction defect case. It also provides helpful sample forms to assist in the identification of defects and numerous case studies to illustrate the state of litigation. To ensure that the publication is current, quarterly updates are included
Mold: A Comprehensive Claims Guide by Barry Zalma
Mold is a danger that threatens to destroy the value of your (or your client’s) real property and may expose you (or your client) to a multi-million dollar damage lawsuit. Such lawsuits
are the basis of the fastest growing sector for insurance claims in the United States even though an insurance policy expressly excludes mold from its coverage. This is the first comprehensive guide that focuses specifically on mold and insurance claims. It discusses the topic first from the point of view of the insured, and then from the point of view of the insurer. It also includes a special chapter on claims in Canada.
Mold: A Comprehensive Claims Guide is designed to assist anyone faced with claims for property damage or bodily injury to third parties, or damage to property owned by the insured as a result of claimed exposure to mold, fungi, or bacterial infestations. It moves through the claim process, from the initial report of the claim to the final resolution, proof of loss, and payment. It provides guidance to anyone confronting losses caused by mold, and addresses the obligations imposed on insurers, including underwriting against mold claims and investigating potential fraud claims. Property owners and insurance companies alike will find Mold: A Comprehensive Claims Guide a valuable resource for presenting cases and preparing mold claims.
The Guide is well referenced to case law, and includes sample forms and checklists. To ensure that the publication is current, quarterly updates are included.
Insurance, Cases and Materials on Coverage, Claims, and Litigation
Eve
ry civil lawyer should understand that a major part of their law firm’s income comes, directly or indirectly, from insurance. Since insurance is so important to the funding of the success of a civil law practice, it is imperative that every lawyer have a basic understanding of the law of insurance. Similarly, prosecutors or criminal defense lawyers dealing with the crime of insurance fraud must understand the law of insurance to properly represent the state or the defendant. The lawyer who is ignorant of the law of insurance cannot adequately serve his or her clients.
The purpose of this book is to provide the law student, the practicing lawyer, the insurance lawyer, or professional claims personnel with the full text of insurance-related decisions of the United States Supreme Court, US District Courts of Appeal, State appellate courts and foreign courts that have molded the law that governs insurance transactions in the United States. Those who are new to the subject of insurance will find this book a resource and starting point for research. It can also be used as a basic training course for those who are just beginning in the practice of law, the claims business, or in representing insurers, representing those who are insured, or litigating against insurers.
868 pp, ISBN-10: 1-59460-312-X, casebound, $110.00
The state of California compels all who are involved in the claims process — even if only tangentially — to be trained with regard to, and comply with, the Fair Claims Practices Regulations (Regulations) and the Integral Anti-Fraud Personnel Regulations (SIU Regulations). It is, therefore, necessary that those insurance people who are engaged in any way in the presentation, processing or negotiation of insurance claims in the state of California be familiar with Regulations imposed by the state of California on all insurers doing business in California.
This book, and its appendices, will enable the insurers to effect compliance with the Regulations when training or assisting the claims personnel in their obligations to read and understand the Regulations. The Appendices include an outline for an insurance company staff member, trainer, or lawyer to use in providing a training class to all of the insurers integral anti-fraud personnel. Zalma provides insurers, and their staffs, the information needed to comply with the SIU Regulations and to offer the required training. 282 pp, ISBN-10: 1-59460-315-4, ISBN-13: 978-1-59460-315-0, LCCN 2007921263, paper, $50.00 http://www.cap-press.com/books/1689
