Section 15028.7 Of Article 3. Regulation, Licensing, And Registration From California Insurance Code >> Division 5. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 3.
15028.7
. (a) A public adjuster who receives, accepts, or holds any
funds on behalf of an insured towards the settlement of a claim for
loss or damage shall deposit the funds in a non-interest-bearing
escrow or trust account in a financial institution that is insured by
an agency of the federal government in the adjuster's home state or
the state where the loss occurred.
(b) All funds held in an escrow or trust account shall be the
property of the insured and shall be held pursuant to a written
contract signed by the insured and the public adjuster.
(c) A public adjuster who receives any fiduciary funds shall,
within 15 business days of receipt, deposit the funds in the escrow
account and provide a written statement to the insured showing the
amount of funds received and deposited in escrow.
(d) A public adjuster who, after reasonable diligence, is unable
to obtain the endorsements of all payees designated on any bank draft
representing fiduciary funds, or who receives a written statement
from the insured indicating that he or she does not wish to establish
an escrow or trust account, shall be exempt from the requirements of
subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.
(e) The endorsement by a payee designated on any bank draft
representing fiduciary funds shall not be construed as a waiver of
any potential right of the payee to dispute the public adjuster's
entitlement to those funds or any portion thereof.