Industry Insight: Florida AG Subpoenas Velocity Over Public Adjuster Limits

Background: An Investigation Into Access to Public Adjusters

Insurance companies bring experienced professionals to the claims process. Policyholders should be able to bring knowledgeable help of their own. That principle is at the center of a development announced this week. On October 20, 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that his office had subpoenaed Velocity Risk Underwriters over possible agreements that restrict policyholders from hiring licensed public adjusters.

This article is based on the publicly reported announcement. The subpoena itself has not been tested in court, and nothing has been adjudicated. Public adjusters and policyholders should treat it as an investigation, not a finding of wrongdoing.

What Has Been Reported

• The Attorney General's office issued a subpoena to Velocity Risk Underwriters.
• The stated focus is possible agreements that limit a policyholder's ability to retain a licensed public adjuster.
• The announcement was made on October 20, 2026.

The reporting does not, by itself, tell us what any specific agreement says, how many policyholders may be affected, or what remedies the state may pursue. Those details will likely emerge as the investigation proceeds.

Why This Matters to Public Adjusters

Licensed public adjusters represent policyholders in the presentation and negotiation of property claims. Any contractual or practical barrier to hiring one changes the balance of a claim. The carrier has trained adjusters, engineers, vendors, and counsel. The policyholder, often after a hurricane, fire, or water loss, may have none of those resources.

If agreements that restrict a policyholder's choice to hire a public adjuster exist, they raise several questions:

• Disclosure: Was the restriction clearly presented to the policyholder when coverage was bound?
• Enforceability: Can a private agreement limit a right that Florida's licensing framework contemplates?
• Regulatory exposure: What authority does the state have to investigate and act on such terms?

These are open questions. We are not asserting answers here. The point for the profession is that the State of Florida is now looking at the issue.

Impact on Policyholders

Policyholders often learn the details of their policy only after a loss. If a policy, endorsement, or related agreement was read to limit who can help with a claim, the policyholder may have postponed hiring help or been discouraged from doing so. Delay can matter. Notice deadlines, proof-of-loss requirements, and documentation of damage all run on the clock, and an unrepresented policyholder is poorly positioned to manage them.

Practical Takeaways for Public Adjusters and Claims Professionals

• Read the full policy package. When you are engaged on a claim, review the declarations, endorsements, and any signed agreements for language that addresses representation.
• Document any pushback. If a carrier or its representative objects to your involvement or says the policyholder is not permitted to retain you, record who said it, when, and in what form, and preserve the communication.
• Do not assume a restriction is enforceable. Whether a given provision can be enforced is a legal question that depends on the exact wording and the governing law.
• Watch for developments. The investigation may produce further public filings, statements, or regulatory action.
• Escalate early. If a policyholder is told they cannot hire representation, get counsel involved before deadlines pass.

What to Watch Next

Key developments to track include whether Velocity responds publicly, whether the Attorney General's office releases additional details, and whether other carriers or managing general agents face similar inquiries. Any resulting enforcement action or court ruling would shape how these provisions are treated going forward.

How Louis Law Group Can Help

Louis Law Group represents Florida policyholders in property insurance disputes and works alongside public adjusters on complex claims. If a carrier is resisting your client's right to representation, or if you have questions about a policy provision that appears to limit it, our team can review the documents and advise on next steps. Call us at (833) 657-4812 to discuss your situation.

Source: Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog - Who Decided You Cannot Hire a Public Adjuster? Florida’s Attorney General Wants Answers