Real Estate Claims Adjuster

TOM CARSTARPHEN

SENIOR PARALEGAL-NEGOTIATOR

**** *. **-**, #**** ***.***********@*****.***

Round Rock, Texas 78681 512-***-****

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPENTENCIES

• 20+ Years Experience in legal/insurance fields as Paralegal/Negotiator and/or P&C Injury Claims Adjuster for Plaintiff Law Firms and Insurance Carriers

• Superior Skills in Assessments, Evaluations and Development of Injury Case Files

• Strong Negotiating Skills and Adept at Working Independently with Minimal Direction

• Thorough Communicator that excels with Challenges and Goals SOFTWARE

• Electronic Filing: Pacer, EfileTexas

• Legal Software: Neos, Lexis/Nexis, Westlaw, Amicus, Cosmolex and other claim/time management programs

• General Office: MS Word, Snippets, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Paralegal

Dang Law Group/Dang & Zapata Law (Negotiator) 8/2023-2/2025 Poli, Moon & Zane, PLLC (under Attorney Jeff Zane) 2/2020 – 8/2023 Callagy Law, P.C. (under Attorney Jeff Zane) 5/2019 – 2/2020 Robert Collins & Associates 5/2014 – 9/2017

• Preparation of Bodily Injury Settlement Demands and Negotiations to Settlement (DLG/D&Z)

• Management of Case Manager Team on Client Treatment and Records Acquisition

• Property Damage/Insurance Bad Faith Claims – Commercial and Residential (PMZ)

• Developed Case Files, Prepared Pleadings and Discovery, Monitored Calendars

• Managed Client Relations and Correspondence

• Handled State and Federal Cases in TX, NM, AZ and CO (PMZ)

• Prepare all manner of Legal Pleadings, Motions/Orders, Offensive/Defensive Discovery, Case Filings, Correspondence (PMZ)

• Set up Expert and Witness Depositions, Court Notices, Subpoenas & Subpoena Duces Tecums

(State and Federal in Multiple States)

• Prepared Trial documentation including Voir Dire questionnaires, Jury Charges, Motions in Limine (PMZ)

Paralegal & Negotiator

Kitchens Law Firm 2012 – 2014, 2017 – 2019

Fox & Associates, PLLC (Negotiator) 3/2008 – 5/2011 Patricia Brown & Associates (Negotiator) 7/2004 – 3/2008

• Launched successful and profitable Personal Injury practices (Fox and Brown)

• Principle work product generator for Personal Injury practices (Fox and Brown)

• Developed multiple types of injury case files for prosecution and prepared and negotiated Settlement Demands (Fox and Brown)

• Developed and negotiated non-litigated Personal Injury Claims and prepared Court Filings and Discovery, as necessary

• Performed client intake interviews, handled correspondence, investigations, and evaluations to brief attorneys

• Managed overall settlement process, and negotiated with health insurers, WC carriers and subrogation claim entities

• Reviewed and determined policy coverage applicable to multiple types of claims

• Handled commercial general liability, premises liability, personal injury, and wrongful death claims

Contract Claims Adjuster

Texas Property & Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association 1/2003 – 7/2004

• Developed all Assigned Claim files and negotiated settlements for Casualty, Property and Commercial claims plus Professional Errors & Omissions Claims

• Reviewed and Confirmed Coverages on all Assigned Claims

• Supervised all Outside Claims Counsel on all Litigated Claims, reviewed & adjusted attorney billings for Hours, Charges and Rates

• Executed and managed incoming and outgoing excess coverage and reinsurance correspondence, notifications, and other required reporting pursuant to the Texas Property & Casualty Insurance Guaranty Act

• Briefed other staff, in-house counsel and supervisory boards on claims, to obtain settlement authority, provided status reports on all litigated and non-litigated claims, plus reservations of rights correspondence to insureds

• Facilitated and negotiated third-party recoveries as necessary In-House Plaintiff Claims Adjuster-Negotiator

Bob Richardson Law Firm 9/1999 – 1/2003

• Developed average of 150-200 non-litigated Personal Injury Claims, and if not settled, transitioned case file to litigation section with briefing

• Performed client intake interviews, case investigations, and evaluations for acceptance by litigation counsel

• Managed non-litigation process including demand packages and negotiated settlements, as applicable

• Negotiated Subrogation Claims on 50% of cases with health insurers, WC carriers, and subrogation-collection entities

• Maintained claim diaries and communications with client, attorneys and carrier adjusters for Personal Injury Claims

• Reviewed and monitored Coverage Applicability for 100% of Personal Injury claims

• Managed all correspondence for 100% of all commercial general liability, auto liability, premises liability, and wrongful death claims

EDUCATION

Paralegal Training Institute of Clear Lake (Houston): Paralegal Certificate Texas A & M – Commerce: Master of Music Education

Texas Wesleyan University: Bachelor of Music

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