Update: In January 2020, the Navistar MaxxForce engine class-action settlement finalized at $135 million. We are not available to appraise individual trucks. We suggest owner/operators find an attorney to assist with individual claims. In 2017 an Arkansas trucking company became the latest to file a complaint against Navistar in federal court, arising out of the…Read More
Deconstructing Daubert on the Art of Appraisal
Appraisers frequently refer to what they do as an “art.” And in fact, the word “art” features prominently in the title of a book on appraisal review published by a major appraisal organization. But the practice of referring to appraisals and appraisal review as an “art” can be problematic, especially when we’re providing appraisals to…Read More
Wildland Fire Litigation Conference: A Report
Several years ago while serving as equipment appraisal expert witness for the Ophir Fire, I discovered the Wildland Fire Litigation Conference and put it on my appraisal bucket list. Just this year, my schedule finally allowed me to attend the conference. In the intervening years, I’ve done many equipment appraisals related to insurance loss claims,…Read More
Compelling Evidence for Property Tax Appeal
A county Board of Equalization in Washington state recently examined one of my equipment appraisal reports in an on-going tax appeal case. The report had been originally submitted to the county assessor, who dismissed it, citing … the statement by the appraiser that the purpose of the appraisal is to assist with an ad valorem tax…Read More
Case Study: Inventory Fire Loss
Join us Friday, Nov 10, 2017, 4:00pm to 5:00pm at Caruso’s in The Westin St Francis, Union Square in San Francisco, CA, when ASA equipment appraiser, Jack Young, ASA, CPA, will be available to answer your questions about the importance of independent, defensible and USPAP compliant equipment appraisals for in fire litigation. Click here for more information &…Read More
Factors in Appraising for Fire Loss or Theft
How do we appraise equipment that’s been destroyed or stolen? Of course we hope for good records — photos, equipment lists, maintenance records — but rarely are those available. Often whatever records might have existed have been lost in the same fire that destroyed the equipment. In most of the fire cases we’ve been called…Read More
The Difference Between an Appraisal and an Appraisal Review
When clients call our office asking for an equipment appraisal review, I’ve found it’s important to ask them the purpose of the appraisal review. That quickly opens up the discussion about what an equipment appraisal review is and is not. And believe me, not everyone understands the difference between an appraisal (a quantitative analysis) and…Read More
The Use of Photos in Appraising Equipment
Taking useful photos is an important part of the equipment appraisal process. Taking interesting photos is a bonus. You’ve probably visited our flickr or Pinterest sites, where some of our photos are highlighted. We also use some photos to illustrate our blogs. A few weeks ago, we received a flattering email from a Canadian educational…Read More
USPAP: Not just for Litigation Appraisals
Litigation support, from an equipment appraiser’s point of view, often seems like a long discussion about what constitutes an adequate appraisal report –– and that inevitably includes explaining what USPAP is and why it’s important. Of course, the benefits of a USPAP report aren’t limited to litigation purposes: professional appraisal standards benefit everyone in every situation for…Read More