Q & A with “Insurance, Appraisers & the Law” Instructor Nancy Martin, ASA

SAN MARINO, CA–The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) is offering its course “Insurance, Appraisers & the Law” on Thursday, Oct. 10 – Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA.

ASA will subsequently offer “Appraising Fine Arts Overview,” also at The Huntington, on Saturday, Oct. 12-Sunday, Oct. 13. Students may take one or both courses.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

SEE ALSO: Q & A with ‘Appraising Fine Arts Overview’ Instructor Lela Hersh, ASA

Nancy Martin, ASA, the course instructor, agreed to answer a few questions about “Insurance, Appraisers & the Law.”

ASA: Please tell us about the “Insurance, Appraisers & the Law” course.

“Due to the societal shifts that have changed the market for most personal property since the Great Recession, as well as the revisions to estate and income tax codes, loss claim work comprises a growing portion of our appraisal businesses. Appraisal reports prepared for loss claims (whether or not an insurance company is involved) are among the most scrutinized of our work products; it is not unusual for these appraisal reports to become the subject of an Appraisal Review, or for the disputes to proceed to mediation or arbitration, if not to court.

This course is team-taught by retired insurance law attorney Maila Putnam, JD, allowing us to offer the perspectives of both an attorney and an Accredited Senior Appraiser. We plan to address best practices for insurance coverage appraisals and appraisal reports prepared for loss claims.

We will also discuss the basic components of the insurance code (essentially consistent across all 50 states), insurance industry terminology, widely accepted court decisions and case law relevant to the insuring and appraising of Fine and Decorative Arts, and Gems and Jewelry. Participants will gain a strong foundation for producing a professional report that will not only withstand close examination, but also meet the needs of the parties involved.”

ASA: What’s unique about this course?

“Of particular interest will be our focused discussion on best practices through the review of actual appraisal reports prepared for loss claims. Also, of course, the location is not to be missed!”

ASA: Can you please tell us about the course location?

“The Huntington, currently celebrating its centennial, is renowned for its important collections of books and manuscripts, European and American art, furniture and decorations spanning more than 500 years, and more recently for its notable collections of American modern, contemporary and folk art.

The Huntington is situated on 120 acres of verdant botanical gardens. The library itself is comprised of more than 11 million items and is a resource serving thousands of scholars from around the world each year. Explore the Huntington’s website at: Huntington.org.

Additionally, the greater Pasadena area has other worthwhile museum collections to explore, including the world-class European and Southeast Asian art at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, the USC Pacific Asia Museum also in Pasadena, the superb gems and minerals collection at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the varied collections at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, both of which are nearby in Los Angeles.

Between the art museums and the unique educational opportunities on offer, it’s definitely worth the trip to California.”

ASA: Who would benefit from taking this course?

“Practicing appraisers of personal property seeking to refine their skills and expand their practice in loss claims will benefit from taking the course.”

ASA: Where can we find more information on how to become an ASA Accredited Personal Property Appraiser?

“To find out how to become an ASA Accredited Personal Property Appraiser, visit: www.appraisers.org/Disciplines/Personal-Property. If you have questions about the course, please call 800-272-8258.”

Instructor Biographies:

Nancy Martin, ASA is an Accredited Senior Appraiser with specialties in Antiques & Decorative Arts, Residential Contents and Appraisal Review & Management. For the past 25 years, her firm has focused on disputes and controversial matters, including collaborative projects involving multiple appraisers and experts, most related to loss claims, both with and without insurance. Ms. Martin’s teaching background includes ten years as course co-developer and instructor in the UC Irvine Appraisal Studies program, including the American Society of Appraisers Principles of Valuation classes. She has co-authored the proficiency exams for both the Residential Contents and the Antiques and Decorative Arts disciplines of ASA, served on ASA’s International Board of Examiners and Personal Property Committee, and in various offices for the Los Angeles Chapter of ASA, including President of the Board of Directors.

Ms. Martin has held positions on the Board of Directors for the Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House, the Decorative Arts Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 10 years as a docent in the American galleries at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, and sat on several boards of advisors concerned with personal property, appraising and the arts.

Maila Putnam is an attorney licensed to practice in California, Oregon and Washington (inactive). For nearly 35 years, the focus of her career has been on property insurance coverage, including homeowners, commercial and auto insurance. She worked as a sole practitioner for the bulk of her career, during which time she took hundreds of Examinations Under Oath (EUOs) and rendered hundreds of coverage opinions. Thereafter, she worked as a coverage lawyer for a major national insurer,  providing “real time” coverage advice to claims personnel and rendering more than a thousand coverage opinions.

This will be the sixth time Ms. Putnam has participated in this course for ASA, previously as part of the UC Irvine Appraisal Studies program.

Photos: Copyright The Huntington Library

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