Insurance Appraisal Mini-Course: Valuation Methodologies

Objective _____________________________________________________________________
To serve as party appointed Appraiser or Umpire on Insurance claim valuation disputes, in the capacity of a tripartite panel. As well respected with my peers, my unique expertise in the procedural components
of insurance appraisal, as an alternative dispute resolution, enhances my ability to ensure complianmce and fairness to the panel.

Furthermore, as considered an expert in personal property damage and
valuation, I often serve in an advisor and/or consultant in first party and third party litigation, including notable class action litigation.
In this capacity I have provided appraisal, pre-appraisal resolution, fact-finding, consulting, settlement initiation, impartial investigation, and educational resources on a nation-wide scale, in residential, commercial, institutional, governmental and educational facilities.

I have also designed innovative ADR systems and services, utilizing computer programing, end to end ecyption cloud base documentation
organization, as well as extensive investment in the utilization of remote based, video conference and web 2.0 tools to facilitate enhanced organication and reduction of costs to the disputants.

Profile _______________________________________________________________________
1. Personal Property and Business Personal Property documentation and valuation for Insurance Claims, both remotely and on site.
2. Established the first cloud based remote personal property claim solution in the policyholder
market.
3. Working with parties who seek to resolve their Insurance Claim disputes through Appraisal/Arbitration as ADR.
4. Forensic Identification and Appraisal of totally involved property; investigation of property owner’s profile and buying habits. Data mining of financial and tax records to confirm probability of individual’s ownership and characteristics of such.
5. Domain Name Arbitration

Skills Summary ________________________________________________________________
◆ Personal Property
Identification
◆ Fire Forensics
◆ Personal Property
Replacement Cost Valuation
◆ Personal Property Actual Cash
Valuation
◆ Alternative Dispute Resolution
◆ Internet based Value Research
◆ Mass based determination of
Shipping and Handling Costs

◆ Application of the
Broad Evidence
Rule
◆ Photographic
Analysis
◆ Determination of
extent of damage
◆ IIRC Liquid
Category Damage
◆ Thermal and
Radiant Damage

◆ Tribunal Appraisal Panel
Procedure
◆ State Specific compliance
to Insurance Appraisal
Process
◆ Stages, strategies and
techniques in Appraisal
◆ Domain Name
Arbitration
◆ Website Development
◆ Search Engine Optization

Professional Experience _________________________________________________________
• Mr. Sieno formed Digitory Solutions Corporation in early 2008. The focus of this Corporation is
three-fold:
1. 1. The provision of Personal Property documentation and valuation services for
Property Insurance Claims.
2. 2. The provision of expert insurance witness services
3. 3. The provision of Insurance Claim dispute Resolution by way of the Policy's
Appraisal Clause. Serves as party-appointed Appraiser on tribunal Appraisal Panels.
• Mr. Thomas Sieno has appraised or arbitrated cases in the areas of Property Insurance Claim Settlement disputes with a concentration on Personal Property and Business Personal Property in many states and jurisitications. As a private party-appointed Appraiser, Mr. Thomas Sieno has been widely utilized by attorneys and adjusters to utilize expertise in personal property valuation
and scope
• Mr. Sieno has substantial experience in cases involving many levels of complexity including Forensic Recreation, Restoration verses Replacement, thermal and smoke pattern analysis, determination of Actual Cash Value utilizing the Broad Evidence Rule, calculation of additional values of loss, categorized liquid composition and pattern for extent of damage, as well as complex industrial losses involving metallurgy.
• In addition to specific case, Mr. Thomas Sieno has been involved in tribunals for which required the Supreme Court's intervention under State Statute. He has successfully resolved complicated impasses between the panel by way of requesting judicial intervention for Court Appointed Umpires, submitting documentation for which was determined as prima facie evidence
inherently calling into question the impartiality and disinterest of the opposing party's recommended Umpire.
• Mr. Sieno has assisted Attorneys on the process and procedure of requesting judicial intervention in the action of filing motion of Court appointed Umpire, as well as presenting certain Umpires and providing proof of oppoistion’s candidates’ non-disclosed working relationships.
• Further, Mr. Thomas Sieno has been involved in several cases for which the opposition's appointing party attempted to challenge my appointment, on the basis of disinterest, resulting in potential disruptions to the entire Appraisal Process. By consulting legal counsel, including well known Attornies in the field, Mr. Sieno has successfully defended his appointment, resulting in
opposition's abandonment of challenge, and successful outcome of the Appraisal Process with minimal costs and delay.
• Has worked as an expert for several Attorney firms, including the largest class action lawsuit deriving from Superstorm Sandy, utilizing forensic recreation expertise.
• Has worked for several Insurance Carriers to provide forensic recreation services for their policyholders

Employment History ___________________________________________________________
• Appraiser, 2018 to present, DAS LLC, Danbury Connecticut
• Founder/Lead Appraiser, 2008 to present, Digitory Solutions, Inc., Kent, NY
• COO, Personal Property Expert, Communications, 2010 – 2016, Yonkers, NY

Education ____________________________________________________________________
MERCY COLLEGE – Dobbs Ferry, New York
Bachelors of Science in Business Management GPA: 3.44/4.0
ONEONTA STATE – Oneonta, New York
Business Economics, Risk Management

Continued Education/Self Study ___________________________________________________________
2003-2004 Personal Property Valuation Methodology - Research and Analysis
2004-2005 Personal Property Valuation: The Legal and Commercial Environment
2006-2019 Law and procedure with regard to insurance appraisal
2007-2008 Insurance appraisal, valuation methodologies
2009-2011 ADR, such as Arbitration and Mediation; ethics, procedure & law
2012-2013 Analytical principles in writing, pertaining to arbitration/appraisal process
2017-2019 State by State study of Insurance Appraisal procedure and rules
Published Works ___________________________________________________________________
• Sieno, Thomas “Are Party-Appointed Insurance Claim Appraisers Expected To Advocate Their
Client's Interests?" 15 Mar. 2011 EzineArticles 14 Nov. 2011
• Sieno, Thomas. “Depreciation of Contents Claims: The Broad Evidence Rule.” Court Decisions and
Ruling, September 2010.
• Sieno, Thomas. “Insurance Claim Personal Property Services.” Ezine Articles
• Named “Expert Author” in Insurance Claims for Ezine Articles
• Sieno, Thomas. “Insurance Claim Personal Property Services.” Confused Today (United Kingdom),
September 2010
• Sieno, Thomas. “Insurance Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).” Squidoo, August 2010
• Sieno, Thomas “Insurance Appraisal Clause” Youtube, 3,000 views, Listed as #1 on Youtube
• Sieno, Thomas. “New Services Aimed at Public Adjusters.” Loan Insurance Guru, August 2015
• Sieno, Thomas “Insurance Appraisal Clause” Youtube, 3,000 views, Listed as #1 on Youtube

Letters of Reference and Testimonials from Industry Peers

“Thomas is incomparable in the claims industry as a vocal and tireless advocate for the policyholder. He has gone way beyond being simply an inventory specialist to become well schooled appraiser and umpire. His opinion is valued in the industry and his work product is accurate and lacks bias.”
Leslie Knox, MBA, SPPA, Chairman at Andrew K. Knox & Company

“I have been working with Mr. Sieno’s firm, Digitory for the last 15 years. I am of the opinion that when it comes to inventory services, they are the best there is. Furthermore, Mr. Sieno is a leading authority with
regards to the policys appraisal provision. He is the most knowledgeable and effective appraiser I have ever appointed, and provides extensive assistance as a consultant for other appraisers. He is an authority on the process and has an incredible work ethic. If you are a PA, Attorney, policyholder, Accountant, and need the services of an inventory company. Look no further, Digitory is the company you want in your corner.”
Eric Gruber, SPPA, CEO of BG Adjusters, Inc.

“I wanted to take few moments to thank Digitory Solutions, and specifically Thomas Sieno for the tremendous job they did while representing our interest when the carrier severely under valued the damages sustained by fire. We were not familiar with the insurance apprasial process in our policy until we got
educated by Mr. Sieno. Upon his appointment, he it the ground running and kept open communication with us on the entire apprasial process. He was very professional, and his writing abilities are seberb. Further, and when challenged or facing a compliance issue by his opponent, he is extremely aggressive, and dominates the opposition by his obvious expertise, to the point of intimidation.
Mr. Sieno, as well as his firm, independtly assessed all the damages and wrote very detailed estimates. I cannot tell you how pleased we were when he had the umpire award execute an award in excess of $162,000, after their initial offer of $52,100.23.”
Kennith Stokes Sr., Director of Operations, Stoke Public Adjusters, LLC.

“As I have had the pleasure of working for Mr. Sieno since he originally incorporated his company 10 years ago, I have witnessed his compassion & care for both our many clients as well as his staff. The unwavering
level of dedication he invests on leading the company with diligence, extreme hardwork, commitment, and his natural empathy for our clients' losses & recovery. Although considerably younger, and without the financial foundation that his typical counterparts of the industry have, he is extremely respected and trusted across the Country as a leading expert and dedicated Consumer Advocate, especially in the insuranace appraisal process. In addition, and while having many responsibilities both professionally and personally, his true nature and heart is shown through his commitment to give back, which includes mentoring less experienced professionals, providing occasional pro
bono services to victims who do not have the financial resources available to afford professional assistance, while it is obvious that these activities are substantial personal sacrifices.

I could not list all of the various ways he has gone above and beyond to help people, as that would require far too many pages beyond the scope of this letter. In short, his career is dedicated to helping families and small businesses recover from traumatic and financially devastating losses, and he truly shows a zest for advocating.

To name just a few examples I have witnessed, Mr. Sieno was instrumental in ensuring that hundreds of families victim to Super Storm Sandy were able to financially recover from their losses, in addition to the endless amount of conversations I have heard him have with victims, providing emotional support during their trying times.

As president of the New York Public Adjuster Association, with Jonathan Wilkofsky, Esq., as general counsel, we had even chose him to design our association’s website, as well as assist Mr. Wilkofsky in preparing his latest edition of the Law and Procedure of Insurance Appraisal in a digital version.
Mr. Di Sieno, due to his years of tireless efforts, dedication and trust he has gained, was chosen and appointed Expert Witness, to testify in a historic and high profile Class Action Lawsuit on behalf of the victims, over 140 families, During that time, I have witnessed Mr. Di Sieno dedicate his time to review each
families documentation and particulars, a task that required an unfathomable amount of effort and work.”
Robert D’Amor, Owner/PA of D’Amor Adjusters, President of the New York Public Adjuster Association

Insurance Companies _________________________________________________________
Claim valuation and presentation stems from extensive experience in settling losses for the following
insurance companies:

• Encompass
• Harleysville
• Travelers
• Chubb
• Liberty Mutual
• Hartford
• Kemper
• State Farm
• Franklin Mutual
• Geico
• Progresive
• USAA
• Farmers
• Nationwide
• And many others