Des Moines – The Iowa Insurance Division has issued four cease and desist orders against contractors (Recon Roofing & Construction, Exterior + Home and Remodeling, American Dream Home Improvement, and Darren Reeves Roofing (of Anita) who have acted as unlicensed public adjusters by soliciting business and offering services that require a public adjuster license.

Deputy Commissioner Jared Kirby says “Dealing with damage from a storm is stressful for those impacted. Those unlicensed storm-chasers may attempt to create expectations on settlement values or scope of repairs that do not align with the language of the insurance policy which can cause delays to claim resolution and added expense to consumers.”

It’s important for Iowans to make certain that any service provider working on storm restoration is a reputable company and provides the consumer with proof of insurance, proof of contractor registration and references to allow the consumer to make an informed decision regarding who will be chosen to perform the repairs.

“Iowans should expect contractors to provide to the insured, directly, a written estimate of damages that the insured property owner can then submit to their insurance agent or insurance company,” Kirby added. “Maintaining communication with your insurance company is key.”

A contractor, or other service provider, not licensed as a public adjuster is prohibited by law from advertising, or otherwise offering, to negotiate with the insurance company, filing a claim on your behalf or effecting the settlement of a claim.

A public adjuster is any person who, for compensation, acts on behalf of an insured, during the investigation, negotiation, or settlement of a first-party claim for loss or damage to real or personal property of the insured. Iowa law requires public adjusters to be licensed.

Many times, contractors solicit business, especially after major storms, by offering services that fall under the definition of public adjusting. If an insured property owner has become involved with a contractor who has made these types of promises or commitments, the Iowa Insurance Division encourages the public to report it by emailing storm-chaser-scams@iid.iowa.gov.

Iowans that have had damage should be in regular communication with their insurance agent or insurance company until the claim is completed. The Iowa Insurance Division is here to help Iowans who have questions or concerns regarding how their insurance agent or insurance company is responding to their claim. Iowans can file a complaint for free with the Iowa Insurance Division.

Below are a few fundamentals Iowans should expect from their insurance agent or insurance company during the insurance claim process:

• Timely and responsive communications in the handling of their claim. Insurance company representatives are expected to manage the claim process in a diligent manner.
• An understandable explanation of the claim process. If you do not understand something that the insurance agent or insurance company has said or is doing in the claim process, remain persistent in gaining the level of understanding you are comfortable with.
• Clear explanations from the insurance company about what is expected of the policyholder. Questions can arise in the early stages of the aftermath about mitigation of damages. This includes what an insured can and should do to protect their property from future damage.  For example, the removal of items or demolition of property prior to a claim representative inspection, the installation of tarps or other materials necessary to protect the structure and its belongings.
• The timeline in which the insured must make repairs to their property is stipulated in the insurance policy.  If the insured has any questions regarding the timeline for repairs they should first contact their agent and insurance company, if questions persist please file a complaint the Iowa Insurance Division.
• An insurance company is required to perform a thorough investigation of the insurance claim in order to determine an accurate preliminary estimate of the cost to repair or replace damaged property. This investigation, depending on the complexity of the claim, can be lengthy. On occasion, disagreements can arise between the insured and the insurance company as to the value and the scope of damage. The insured may present written estimates for repair services justifying their own damage assessment. The insured may negotiate the settlement of their own claim with the insurance company. Ongoing claim management and reasonably prompt communications by the insurance company or insurance agent to the insured is expected.

If an Iowan feels the expectations above have not been met or have other concerns about the claim handling by their insurance agent or insurer, the Iowa Insurance Division is available to assist Iowans. Iowans can file a complaint with the Iowa Insurance Division which allows our office to ensure contractual obligations are met and done so in accordance with insurance laws and regulations. This is a service provided at no cost to those who choose to file a complaint.

(Sac City, Iowa) – The Sac County Attorney’s Office, Friday (today) released a statement concerning the disappearance and death last November, of Wall Lake truck driver David Schultz. The statement is shown below:

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is calling on the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to immediately resign. The agency protects depositors from losses if a bank or savings and loan fails. Ernst says an independent investigation released 43 days ago found the F-D-I-C’s chairman failed to protect employees from a toxic workplace.

In May, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee called on Gruenberg to resign and Guenberg announced a few hours later that he would step down AFTER his successor is confirmed by the U-S Senate. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says Gruenberg has fostered a raunchy frat house atmosphere in the agency and he needs to go immediately.

President Biden has nominated a regulator on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to take Gruenberg’s place at the F-D-I-C. Ernst says she looks forward to reviewing Christy Goldsmith Romero’s credentials, but a significant amount of time will pass before the senate votes on the nomination.

Democrats say if Gruenberg resigns before he’s replaced, there would be two Republicans and two Democrats left on the F-D-I-C board and tie votes could delay some banking regulations from taking effect. The F-D-I-C was formed during the Great Depression to restore trust in the American banking system. Over 57-hundred people currently work in the agency.

The DEMOCRATIC Party in a southern Iowa county is in the process of nominating a REPUBLICAN for one of the party’s slots on the November ballot. Republican Chris Clark of Sidney is chairman of the Fremont County Board of Supervisors, but he lost this month’s G-O-P Primary by seven votes. Fremont County Democratic Party chairman John Powers says that was an unexpected result — and a recent change in Iowa law prohibits Clark and all other losers of party primaries from running as an independent in the General Election.

According to a news release, Clark is expected to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination, but will remain a Republican. Fremont County Democrats credit Clark, who is seeking a second term as county supervisor, for prioritizing county needs over partisan politics and personal grievance.

In January of last year a group of Fremont County residents sued Clark and other county supervisors as well as a wind energy developer over plans for a wind farm in Fremont County. A judge dismissed the lawsuit last June. In THIS June’s Primary Election, Jeff Shearer of Hamburg won 311 votes and is the Republican Party’s nominee for Fremont County Supervisor.

(Radio Iowa)

At 2:16 am Friday, June 21, Harrison County Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting someone operating a farm tractor within the city limits of Pisgah using it to damage parked vehicles and also causing damage to playground equipment within the city park area. While Harrison County Deputies were responding, dispatch received another call reporting that the subject on the tractor was currently ramming the tractor into the garage doors at the city hall building. A local resident arrived during this time and was able to remove the key from the ignition of the tractor, disabling the tractor. The subject on the tractor then took off on foot and was apprehended by law enforcement. The subject was identified as 59 year old Craig Arnold Hardy of Moorhead. During this investigation, it was discovered that Hardy had stolen the farm tractor involved with this incident from a rural farm property located off of Laredo Avenue. This farm property is located approx. 3 miles north of the city limits of Magnolia. It is believed that Hardy then drove the stolen tractor to Pisgah and began to intentionally cause damage to multiple items and properties including motor vehicles, mailboxes, basketball poles, playground equipment, fencing, and the city hall building. The extent of damage is currently unknown, but preliminary estimated damages for the purpose of criminal charges are believed to exceed $10,000.  Based on information and evidence recovered during this investigation, Craig Hardy was arrested and transported to the Harrison County Jail Facility in Logan and charged with Criminal Mischief- 1st Degree (Felony), Theft- 2nd Degree (Felony), Assault on Law Enforcement (Misdemeanor), and Driving While License Barred (Misdemeanor).

Omaha Police report that 21 year old Chloe Johnson of Crescent died in a two vehicle crash in downtown Omaha Thursday morning.  Johnson died after the 1992 Chevrolet Camaro, which she was a passenger in, collided with a 2006 Cadillac CTS Sedan at the intersection of 20th Street and St. Mary’s Avenue.  According to Omaha police, the crash happened about 7:30 am.  The driver of the Camaro, 22 year old Brennen Pelegrin of Council  Bluffs was heading west when he collided with the southbound Cadillac at an intersection.  Johnson was to taken to Nebraska Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased.  Pelegrin is being treated for a back injury that is not believed to be life-threatening.  The driver of the Cadillac, a 53 year old Omaha man, was not injured.  The investigation is ongoing.

SAC CITY, Iowa (KCRG) — The once missing Iowa trucker found dead on a farm in rural Sac County about two months ago, died from hypothermia related to acute methamphetamine intoxication, according to reports by the Sioux City Journal and KCRG.

The reports, which cites a death certificate for David Schultz, says he ingested the drug and then died when he was exposed to the cold temperatures outside. Schultz went missing in November 2023, sparking a massive search effort.

His body was found in April in the 1900 block of Union Avenue, which is close to the location where his truck was found.

David Schultz