Insurance Whistleblower Sued for Libel
Consumers often trust insurance companies to do the right thing, but there is a lot of fraud going on in the industry. Insurance companies do what they can to save money, and the customers are the ones paying for it.
One man bravely spoke out about it and has been sued for libel. Jordan Lee, an independent adjuster, drew ire from Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co. after appearing on 60 Minutes in September. He claimed that Heritage and other insurers drastically altered adjusters’ damage reports to reduce payouts.
“I handled 46 claims; 44 were changed,” Lee told 60 Minutes, which reported some estimates were cut by up to 98%.
Tampa-based Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co. sued Lee for libel. CBS News was not named in the lawsuit.
Now, Lee’s attorney has responded, claiming the lawsuit is a tactic to silence critics of insurance industry practices.
“Jordan Lee bravely exposed widespread misconduct. This lawsuit isn’t just against him—it’s against every Floridian counting on fair treatment from insurers after disasters,” said John Tolley, Lee’s attorney. He has yet to file a formal response or motion to dismiss.
So why was 60 Minutes, CBS News, or any other related companies not named in the lawsuit? It is believed that the suit is meant to intimidate adjusters. The lawsuit is about discouraging whistleblowers. Even if Lee wins, the cost could bankrupt him.
Heritage’s complaint, filed in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, accuses Lee of fraudulently inflating estimates on homes damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022. The company alleges Lee, who traveled from Texas to work the storm, manipulated figures to boost his commission and later went to the media when his estimates were revised.
The insurer claims Lee defaulted to replacement costs instead of repairs and failed to support many of his estimates with photos or documentation. A third-party firm later corrected them to align with coverage limits, according to Heritage.
Lee and two other adjusters had previously testified before a Florida legislative committee, alleging insurers changed their reports without permission. Rather than sending a second adjuster, companies allegedly altered the original reports, giving the false impression that field adjusters supported the reduced amounts. The practice came to light after homeowners noticed discrepancies and confronted the adjusters.
Heritage’s CEO previously called the 60 Minutes claims “flat wrong.” The company later said report revisions sometimes increased payouts and attributed discrepancies to software errors that omitted desk adjusters’ names from final documents.
The suit seeks damages and legal fees, alleging libel, slander, defamation, and fraud. An investigation into insurers’ alleged misconduct, promised back in 2022, has yet to yield results. Meanwhile, despite last fall’s stock dip following the 60 Minutes report, Heritage’s shares have since surged to a nine-year high.
Contact Us Today
Insurers are often seedy companies that do what they can to make money at the customers’ expense. It’s brave of individuals to blow the whistle and expose these companies.
If you have been accused of defamation or libel or feel the need to expose it, see how a Bradenton business litigation lawyer from Cahall Law Firm can help you move forward and get results. Schedule a consultation today. Give us a call at (941) 281-2019 or fill out the online form.
Source:
insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2025/04/30/821884.htm
