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Headshot of Barry Zalma

(310) 390–4455

[email protected]

Zalma Insurance Consultants a Service of Barry Zalma, Inc.
4441 Sepulveda Blvd. , 4441 Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City , CA 90230

Barry Zalma

Consultant


Mr. Zalma writes on the insurance industry claims practices for IRMI.com.

Mr. Zalma is a California attorney, insurance claims consultant, expert witness, and author. Since October 1, 2012, Mr. Zalma limited his practice to consultation, expert witness testimony, arbitration, mediation, and acting as an umpire in insurance policy appraisals. His insurance consulting practice, Zalma Insurance Consultants, is available to insurers and insureds to assist in the resolution of insurance disputes or to provide expert testimony or consultation.

Mr. Zalma is a certified fraud examiner. He serves on the faculty of the Virtual University of the Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, writes a regular column for the National Underwriter Magazine, Insurance Advocate Magazine, and "Underwriters Insider" and is a member of the editorial board and frequent contributor to Claims Magazine. He has written for more than 18 years the twice monthly Zalma's Insurance Fraud Letter, a daily blog summarizing recent insurance cases at Zalma on Insurance and a video blog providing painless insurance education called Zalma's Insurance.

Mr. Zalma has served as a director of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Forensic Expert Witnesses Association and the Southern California Fraud Investigators Association and is a member of the California Conference of Arson Investigators, the International Association of Arson Investigators, the Southern California Fraud Investigators Association, the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section and its Property and Coverage Committees, the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, and the Defense Research Institute. He holds the designation of Fraud Claim Law Specialist awarded by the American Educational Institution.

Mr. Zalma has testified as an expert witness in the California Superior Court, various US District Courts, and the Superior Courts of Nebraska, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, and Oklahoma. He is an internationally recognized expert on insurance claims handling, bad faith, insurance coverage, the commercial general liability (CGL) policy, insurance fraud, jewelers block insurance, and other inland marine coverages. Mr. Zalma is the author of or has rewritten CGL, fire, auto, earthquake, jewelers block, and other insurance policies for insurer clients.

In addition, Mr. Zalma is the author of the Zalma Insurance Claims Library published by the National Underwriter Company, including Insurance Claims: A Comprehensive Guide, Construction Defect Coverage Guide, Insurance Law, and Mold Claims Coverage Guide. The American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, has published Mr. Zalma's books, The Insurance Fraud Deskbook and Diminution in Value Damages: How To Determine the Proper Measure of Damage to Real and Personal Property.

Mr. Zalma is the author of the e-books Zalma on California Claims Regulations—2013; Zalma on California SIU Regulations; Zalma on Rescission of Insurance in California—2013; Random Thoughts on Insurance—A Collection of Posts from the Blog, Zalma on Insurance; Zalma on Insurance Fraud—2012; Zalma on Insurance—2011; Murder and Insurance Fraud Don't Mix; Arson for Profit; and Heads I Win, Tails You Lose—2011.

Zalma's Insurance Fraud Letter is available, free from ClaimSchool, Inc. Mr. Zalma received his bachelor of arts in philosophy from Claremont McKenna College and his juris doctor from the University of West Los Angeles, College of Law.


Articles

Claims Practices

Court Must Agree When Parties Agree to Appraisal

January 19, 2024 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurer Has No Duty To Accept Absurd Settlement Offer

October 12, 2023 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Mortgagee Has No Right to Insurance Proceeds after Debt Paid

May 12, 2023 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Building Must Fall To Trigger Collapse Coverage

January 04, 2023 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insured's Release of Insurer Defeats Claim of Third Party

August 05, 2022 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

An Adjuster Is Not a Party to an Insurance Contract

April 08, 2022 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Malpractice Insurance Policy Rescinded When Lawyer Lies on Application

January 13, 2022 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Investigation of <i>Qui Tam</i> Suit Not Covered by D&O Policy

November 15, 2021 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

The Many "Victims" of "Mostly Peaceful Demonstrations"

July 02, 2021 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurance Fraud by Agent Is Fraud by Insured

April 23, 2021 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Professional Insurance Adjusting and Insurance Fraud

February 05, 2021 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurer Loses Summary Judgment by Claiming Evidence It Never Had

November 13, 2020 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Conversion Is an Intentional Tort and Can Never Be an Occurrence

October 16, 2020 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

It's Not Nice To Lie to Your Insurance Company

August 07, 2020 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Failure to Give Notice Defeats Coverage

April 17, 2020 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insured's Obligation To Read the Insurance Policy

January 24, 2020 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Crazy or Not, the Insured Intended to Kill His Wife

October 11, 2019 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Subrogation Waiver Held Enforceable by Wisconsin Supreme Court

July 19, 2019 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Purchasing Higher Deductibles Than Desired Is Not Broker Negligence

April 12, 2019 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Agent Has No Duty To Advise Insurance Coverage Needs

January 18, 2019 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Infrared Detection of Water Damage

November 16, 2018 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

California Case Comes Down Hard on Insurers

October 19, 2018 | Barry Zalma

Claims Management

Appraiser Disqualified for Contingent Fee

August 24, 2018 | Barry Zalma

Claims Management

Greedily Contesting Claim Recovery Can Backfire

July 27, 2018 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Taking Months to Hire a Public Adjuster Is No Excuse for Late Notice

April 13, 2018 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Coconspirator's Civil Testimony Convicts Arsonist

January 19, 2018 | Barry Zalma

Claims Management

Looking at the Tort of Bad Faith

November 03, 2017 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

No Insurance Policy Covers Every Possible Eventuality

October 06, 2017 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Pleading Can't Change a Battery into Negligence

July 21, 2017 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Excess Insurer May Not Refuse Reasonable Settlement

April 07, 2017 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Potential for Insurance Coverage Requires Defense

January 27, 2017 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

No Bad Faith for Reasonable Dispute

November 11, 2016 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Prompt Payment of Appraisal Award Defeats Bad Faith

July 22, 2016 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Agent's Lie to Insurer Voids Policy

April 08, 2016 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Installation of Defective Product Is Not Physical Damage

February 26, 2016 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Invest in Claims Training: Ignorance Can Be Cured

January 15, 2016 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Can an Insurer Obtain Insured's Tax Returns?

August 28, 2015 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Is Pool Pop-Out Excluded?

March 27, 2015 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Eight-Corners Rule Defeats Right to Defense

January 01, 2015 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Texas Court Rules WC Is the Exclusive Remedy in CCIP Claim

October 01, 2014 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Foreclosure Destroys Insurable Interest

October 01, 2013 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurer's Lawyer's Advice Not Privileged

April 01, 2013 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Appraisal Only Determines Loss

April 01, 2012 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Claims-Made Policies—Report Potential Claims Immediately

October 01, 2011 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Arson Conviction Upheld in Ohio; Texas Lets One Go Free

April 01, 2011 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Pleading the Fifth Can Forfeit Insurance Coverage

January 01, 2011 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Diminution in Value

August 01, 2010 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Legitimate Loss becomes a Crime When Insured Lies

February 01, 2010 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Breach of Contractor's Warranty Defeats Coverage

October 01, 2009 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Attorney Fees for Enforcement of Settlements in Florida

May 01, 2009 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurance Fraud

January 01, 2009 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

The Examination under Oath

October 01, 2008 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurers Need To Audit Their Vendors' Service

July 01, 2008 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Surprise: Insurance Is Not a Service

May 01, 2008 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurer Must Go to Trial on Allegations of a Fraudulent Settlement

February 01, 2008 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Required Insurance Training and Continuing Education

January 01, 2008 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Use Licensed Experts in Claims Litigation

August 01, 2007 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

The Lawyer as an Insurance Claims Expert

May 01, 2007 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

When Agents or Applicants Lie to Insurers

March 01, 2007 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurance Fraud Fails in L.A. Superior Court

January 01, 2007 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurer Sues Attorney for Malicious Prosecution

August 01, 2006 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Sharing of Information between Insurers To Fight Fraud

July 01, 2006 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

New ISO ACV Definition and California Statute

March 01, 2006 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Claims in a Disaster

September 01, 2005 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Rescission in California

August 01, 2005 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Insurance and the Law of Unintended Consequences

April 01, 2005 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Fraudulent Application Can Haunt the Broker

December 01, 2004 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Mold and Fungi Insurance Claims

August 01, 2004 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Stacking Insurance Limits

July 01, 2004 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

The Ethical Dilemma Caused by Fighting Fraud

April 10, 2004 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Adjusting Liability Claims

January 01, 2004 | Barry Zalma

Claims Practices

Why Insurance Fraud Succeeds

September 01, 2003 | Barry Zalma