Joseph Dittman, Certified Insurance Appraiser and Umpire
Texas-Licensed ◆ Party-Appointed ◆ Impartial

Joseph Dittman

Certified Insurance Appraiser · Umpire
About

Professional Summary

Texas-Certified insurance appraiser and umpire with three years of appraisal and umpire work, eight years of independent adjusting on the carrier side, two years of hands-on general contracting, and a fire science foundation from prior firefighter and EMT service. Has served in appraisal proceedings on engagements from both policyholders and carriers across residential, commercial, liability, and catastrophe losses—providing balanced perspective on scope, causation, pricing, and policy application when claims are in dispute.

Author and publisher at txinsuranceappraiser.com.

By the numbers

Experience Snapshot

3years
Insurance Appraiser & Umpire (party-appointed, both sides)
8years
Independent Adjuster (residential, commercial, liability)
2years
General Contracting / Construction Foreman
3years
Firefighter / EMT (fire science, structural hazards)
2022 – Present

Appraisal & Umpire Experience

  • 463 appraisals closed and settled in 2025.
  • Loss types handled: fire, hail, wind, tornado, hurricane, water damage, sewage backup, pipe burst, explosion, flood, and large mitigation losses.
  • Engagements balanced between policyholder-appointed and carrier-appointed appraiser roles, supporting impartial umpire selection and award drafting.
  • Issues regularly evaluated: scope of damage, repair methodology, RCV/ACV, overhead and profit, depreciation, code and ordinance application, matching, and coverage scope under the appraisal clause.

Carriers appraised for include: Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Mercury, Farmers, Texas Farm Bureau, State Farm, Germania, TWIA, TFPA, RVOS, MSI.

Sworn Testimony

Expert & Fact Witness Experience

  • Expert Witness Deposition — Judy White v. Allstate.
  • Fact Witness Depositions — seven cases for Cypress, Kin, and FPI/EDI, primarily involving tile roof losses and large mitigation claims.
Carrier-Side

Independent Adjusting Experience

Commercial IA (2022 – 2025)

Church Mutual, Hallmark, Tower Hill, Millennial Specialty Insurance (TRVCA), Travelers Farm & Ranch, Pharmacy Mutual, TML (Texas Municipalities).

E&O / Liability IA (2022 – 2025)

National Interstate, HCC Casualty, Golden State Claims Adjusters.

Residential IA (2018 – 2025)

MSI, SageSure, FPI, EDI, Kin, Cypress, Slide, Blair, Allied, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Countryway, Progressive, Travelers, Conifer, Trident, Global Indemnity Group Services, American Reliable, K2 Insurance, American Risk, Catalytic Claim Services, Home First, Wellington, American Modern, Hastings.

Loss Types

Wind, hail, sewage backups, pipe bursts, fire, tornado, hurricane, explosions, mitigation, and complex multi-trade losses.

Policyholder-Side

Public Adjusting Experience

Service area: Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Houston, and surrounding cities.

Commercial PA (2025 – 2026)

  • Two commercial fire losses.
  • Various commercial wind and hail claims.
  • One commercial flood claim.
Hands-On Background

Construction & Trades Experience

Construction Foreman — Legend Landscape & Construction (2013 – 2018)

  • Two years full-time as foreman; six years total of hands-on construction exposure.
  • Trades performed: foundation repair, deck construction, drywall, painting, carpentry, roofing and roof repairs, pump and fountain systems, drainage, hardscape and rock features, mulching, landscape design.
  • Provides direct working knowledge of repair methods, sequencing, and trade pricing used in appraisal scope review.
Fire Science Foundation

Fire Science & Emergency Response

Firefighter / EMT (2013 – 2016)

  • Served in volunteer, part-time, and full-time roles on a 48/96 schedule.
  • State-licensed firefighter and licensed EMT.
  • Working knowledge of fire behavior, ignition sources, fire pattern indicators, structural collapse hazards, and post-fire scene assessment—applied regularly to fire loss appraisals.
Credentials

Licenses & Certifications

  • Texas Public Adjuster License #3341461 (active).
  • Texas Independent Adjuster License #2341686 (active).
  • P.L.A.N. Umpire / Appraiser Certification.
  • Certified Appraiser.
  • State-Licensed Firefighter / EMT (prior).
  • Ongoing continuing education in insurance claims and appraisal.
Capabilities

Umpire-Relevant Skills

  • Neutral evaluation of competing appraiser scopes, estimates, and supporting documentation.
  • Xactimate proficiency and pricing analysis (RCV, ACV, O&P, depreciation, supplements).
  • Causation analysis across fire, wind, hail, hurricane, water, and explosion losses.
  • Differential scope review and line-item adjudication.
  • Policy interpretation, coverage application, and reading of endorsements/exclusions.
  • Building code, matching, and ordinance/law analysis.
  • Award drafting with itemized breakdowns and clean supporting documentation.
  • Familiarity with Texas appraisal clause procedure, TPPCA, and Tex. Ins. Code §542A.
  • Field inspection protocols, evidence preservation, and photo documentation standards.
  • Direct, professional communication with both party-appointed appraisers and counsel.