Litigation & Appraisal Adjuster

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end handling of HO property claims in litigation and appraisal, from assignment through final resolution, including supplements and post-resolution activity.
• Drive litigation development and strategy on the file, partnering closely with defense counsel and providing clear direction on case posture, exposure, and resolution path.
• Manage the appraisal process from invocation through award, including appraiser selection, umpire engagement, and oversight of scope and methodology.
• Make difficult, independent decisions with confidence and sound judgment, taking ownership of outcomes and escalating appropriately when warranted.
• Conduct thorough investigations including review of policy terms, complete coverage analysis, and damages evaluation on complex HO property claims.
• Examine claims for potential subrogation opportunities and identify potential fraudulent issues.
• Issue coverage position letters, reservation of rights, and other formal claim correspondence as needed.
• Independently scope and write property damage estimates using Cotality (formerly CoreLogic), applying independent technical judgment to scope and methodology.
• Critically review estimates prepared by public adjusters, contractors, and opposing experts, identifying gaps and unsupported positions.
• Prepare and maintain thorough file documentation, including coverage letters, estimates, activity notes, and settlement documentation.
• Adhere to reserving best practices and update reserves accurately throughout the life of the claim.
• Provide superior customer service to insureds, claimants, agents, public adjusters, attorneys, and appraisers throughout the claims process.
• Discuss and provide updates to insureds, claimants, agents, attorneys, and leadership throughout the life of the claim, ensuring every party has clarity, confidence, and timely communication.
• Maintain absolute, proactive control of every file—anticipating next steps, setting clear action plans, and driving claims forward without waiting for external prompts.
• Apply strong verbal negotiation skills to work through complex, high‑stakes, and often convoluted claim situations—asking tough questions, identifying gaps in logic or documentation, and securing fair outcomes for all parties.
• Negotiate settlement of claims with insureds, claimants, public adjusters, attorneys, and vendors with fairness, professionalism, and confidence.
• Manage and collaborate with vendor partners—including defense counsel, appraisers, umpires, engineers, building consultants, and field inspectors—to drive accurate, efficient, and aligned claim outcomes.
• Provide feedback on process and performance as Openly engages with new litigation partners, helping shape and improve the program.
• Partner with internal functions—including SIU, Subrogation, Legal, and Catastrophe—to drive aligned claim outcomes, and actively contribute to team roundtable discussions.
• Support and mentor peers as needed, sharing expertise on litigation strategy, appraisal handling, and complex estimating.

Requirements

• 5+ years of HO claims experience, with demonstrated experience handling litigation matters from assignment through resolution
• Proven ability to independently scope and write property estimates in Cotality—not merely reviewing estimates prepared by others, but authoring them with technical precision and scope accuracy
• Experience managing the appraisal process from invocation through award
• Strong verbal negotiation skills and a track record of working collaboratively with defense partners to drive the litigation strategy and resolution
• Experience with formal claim handling, reservation of rights, coverage position letters, and related correspondence
• Active adjuster license(s) or eligibility to obtain licenses in all required states; must maintain licensure as a condition of continued employment
• Experience in a remote or hybrid claims environment, with the ability to work from home without distraction
• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google productivity tools
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively across diverse audiences including policyholders, public adjusters, contractors, experts, and legal counsel
• Strong organization, time management, and multi-tasking abilities
• Tech-savvy with comfort using high-end technology tools for adjusting
• Ability to work highly independently, make difficult decisions without constant direction, and proactively manage a complex workload in a fast-paced team environment
• Agile and change-ready mindset, comfortable with constant change, adaptability, and flexibility in a rapidly growing company
• Experience handling claims in Oklahoma and other West Coast states (preferred)
• Auto Physical Damage (APD) experience (preferred)
• Innovative mindset with a track record of contributing to process improvement (preferred)
• Experience with MacBook and Google Suite products in claims handling (preferred)
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience (preferred)
• CPCU, AIC, or other relevant professional designation (preferred)