Note: These are but a glimpse of the hundreds of thousands of claims successfully concluded by our firm. The outstanding feature is our unique ability to understand the full ramifications of a loss and understand all the complex facts that require special investigation and documentation in order to prove the claim must be paid. Insurers or other experts they hire may simply overlook important aspects of loss or fail to understand that the coverage under a certain policy may if properly interpreted extend far beyond some initial opinion. We know how to find those extensions.
New Jersey
The facilities were totally rebuilt including a huge attraction that became the famous national amusement 4 story, Dracula's Castle. A few years later, an accidental fire, started by children playing in the building, caused the Castle to burn to the ground. There was also a series of tenant stores and an apartment lost. Again, our firm, headed by Anthony DiSimone brought in specialists including some of America's leading "Horror Amusement Construction" experts to his team, to value the custom-built animated "horror rooms" and rides, as well as the attached rental stores complex. Again recovery was insurance policy limits. Our experts included Disney Animators, Broadway Production Costume Makers, and renowned horror amusement statue makers.
A third fire, years later, involved the super-structure and a massive indoor amusement "arcade". Again the loss was settled for policy limits. These recoveries were in the millions.
There were 3 other losses handled caused by windstorm and water damage. All were promptly settled by our firm. We also represented the Nickles Family losses to other properties. As with other family owned properties, our firm has handled losses for generation after generation. Our firm is proud of the trust these families have had in our service and the loyalty we enjoy.
The group that owns/owned these complexes including the DiAntonio Family, J. Salisan, R. Davenport & Bill Henfy has had numerous major losses over several decades to both businesses and personal properties in Cape May and Atlantic County and elsewhere including New York and Florida. Mr. DiSimone has continued to enjoy the mutual great relationships and indeed friendships with these wonderful folks. Over the years we have handled dozens of losses for these families
Cape May
Initially internal inspections were done and it was thought the fire caused minimal damage. Our firm was engaged after interviews by the then Executive Director. Our investigation revealed that not only one turret was damaged, but two others also had extreme heat damage. More important was that the heat from the fire caused concrete "spalling". The investigators and engineers from the insurer questioned the cause and suggested it was natural deterioration. Our firm proved that the steel reinforcement encased in the concrete caused the steel to expand and thus destroyed the entire structure integrity of three sections of an interlocking "pool" system. Instead of some half million in damages, the insurer was forced to pay over $4.5 million. Part of the expense was to expedite temporary repairs and a looming issue of a possible "summer season" shut down.
Mr. DiSimone served on a historic preservation council and is fully aware of what issues exist. He also has held a Cape May City General Contractors License. He also has a professional designation as a Certified Mold Investigator. He has knowledge of structure, damage results, and what effects fire, flood, and contaminations have on buildings and equipment.
*Our firm has handled many vessel losses including power boats, yachts, and sailboats.
Lower Township
During a particularly heavy snow and ice storm a section of this historic building had a partial roof collapse and sprinkler discharge. Since metal was at a premium during the war, the building was totally constructed of wood. The collapse involved massive wood roof trusses and damage to the hangar door system.
The insurer did an advance payment after our firm submitted a claim but attributed much damage to "pre-existing conditions" after a contentious number of inspections, engineering studies, and collaborations with our own select team of experts. Mr. DiSimone uncovered numerous "flaws" in the conclusions the insurance companies experts had made in their reports. Extensive investigation and securing of photographic evidences and eye witness reports resulted in preparation of a very detailed law suit - one of the few claims that required legal intervention in our firms history. The insurer, one of the largest in the world, was given our evidences and thus decided not to go further with legal defense and rendered a satisfactory settlement.
Our work included securing expert data including the composition and features of the materials used to construct the building - the rare red Douglas Fir. This wood was found by our experts, actually hardens and thus was prized because it resists rot and deterioration as well as moisture. That information and the extensive physical examinations which were extremely difficult to do along the roof structure at some seventy feet off the ground required mobile "cherry picker lifts" and been photographic experts. The dissection of the out-of-state engineering experts reports revealed multiple in accuracy as well as documented false statements and misleading data, which was documented and revealed the insurance companies. Opposing forces finally realized that a jury would see the overwhelming evidence of possible fraud on the part of their experts and thus offered a "handsome settlement" much to the relief of the NASW non-profit organization.
Avalon - Stone Harbor
Over the decades and including the devastation by hurricanes, windstorms, floods, fire, and nor'easters, our firm has, time and again, assisted our clients - some now second generation. We have a successful history of handling major catastrophes from Hurricane Gloria in the 1980's to Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
One major estate lost over one and a half million dollars in fine arts alone (including paintings, sculptures, and collectibles). Also over a half million in precious stone jewelry and watches (including diamond necklaces and rings). We have handled several losses of this magnitude as well as losses to homes in the tens of thousands that were caused by one single windstorm or burst pipe. We have the knowledge of all facts of "high end" construction systems and luxury furnishings from special bamboo flooring to ornate band carved wood trims and artisan plaster work. We pay attention to and value every detail. We have access to world renowned experts in every field and have work closely with them over the decades.
Sea Isle City
Our firm resolved each of the several losses. Some work on the Antique Cars took over a year to complete yet we were able to secure settlement to full extent of all costs. All these facilities have been totally renovated and upgraded.
Ocean City - Marmora
Atlantic, Cumberland, Glouster, Camden, Ocean Counties and other areas
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Area
Poconos Area
New York
Huge chunks of ice crashed through the side of the building and flowed into the main dining room floors, the bar, and kitchen, and in the storage rooms below. The frigid water also caused extensive flood damage. There was severe structural damage to the historic structure. The news media surrounding this event (NBC, CBS, ABC, and more) created nationally televised coverage. The NY Governor and the Roman Catholic Cardinal visited the owner of the site, Florence Dalrymple, the "iconic restaurateur". The building was filled with various antique collections including a very extensive antique doll collection, personal music boxes, and more. Our firm documented the loss to each item and evaluated all the structural damage and settled the loss.
Other Experience
Mr. DiSimone relied on his extensive investigative background to conduct and uncover the information needed to get the claim settled without going to trial. Prior to his 40 year career in his Public Adjusting practice, he worked for major insurance companies as a claim representative and also as a trial preparation expert. He was responsible to prepare files for trials for Aetna, Hartford Continental, and later General Adjuster Bureau, Glens Falls Insurance Company, Marine Office Appleton and Cox, and others. He did the part of the trial preparation for historic cases including auto accidents, explosions, and collapses as well as weather related matters. Some of the clients served included the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B & O Line) where rail men were killed in the on-the-job accidents, construction accident cases, Moran Towing (NYC Harbor Tug Boats and Great Lakes Vessels) where deaths at sea and on water ways occurred. School bus accidents, a taxi company in New York City, Subler Trucking-a National 18 Wheeler truck common carrier. He worked in several states and has the educational opportunities both in certifications and experience. He had cases that had no "protocol" for handling and had to plan the investigation. Some included the fuel oil spill in the Concord Hotel Main Building in the NY Catskills, one of the famous "Borsch Belt" Resorts. Over 1,000 gallons of Number 2 fuel was mistakenly pumped into a lower level and contaminated the lobby and basement and first floor as well as some nearby businesses. He also handled losses for the business owned by Alan Geary, who later formed the Comcast Cable Company - one of the nation's largest communication conglomerates. He handled losses from skyscrapers in Manhattan to chicken farms in the Catskills as well as hotels and religious camps and churches in the Northeast.
The knowledge and education he gained (he attended various educational programs run by insurers) provided him with a keen insight as to the manner in which insurers operate from the basic levels up to the highest management positions and corporate leadership.
He handled cases involving United States Federal Laws, State Laws, and Laws in some Foreign Nations.
- The Jones Act, the maritime law governing all maritime incidents
- The National Flood Insurance Act, this act established the National Flood "Insurance Program" through an Act passed by the United States Congress
- The United States Government regulatory requirements under OSHA (Office of Safety Health Agency), a work place enactment
- Regulations promulgated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as it applies to loss of income, taxation, depreciation schedules, inventory statements, expenses, and more.
- State laws in more than a dozen states which cooperate with Federal requirements.
- Foreign Insurance Legal Regulations in Caribbean nations including St. Maarten NA, Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, and Puerto Rico.