Paterson needs ‘insurance archeologist’ for two $48M lawsuits
With millions of dollars on the line, Paterson needs an “insurance archaeologist” to look at city documents from almost three decades ago.
The question is whether Paterson had liability insurance in the early 1990s. Ralph Lee Jr. and Eric Kelley were caught and convicted in a high-profile murder case by Paterson police at that time.
Lee and Kelley are now suing Paterson for $48 million apiece, claiming that their convictions were overturned in 2018, after they had served more than 24 years in prison. The federal complaints accuse Paterson police of falsifying evidence, concealing information from the men’s lawyers that may have helped exonerate them, and coercing confessions by using their mental disabilities.
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In a separate lawsuit over their convictions, Lee and Kelley each received $1 million from the state. However, their agreement with the state did not resolve the city’s and police officers’ pending complaint.
According to court records, both sides have agreed that they should find out what type of liability insurance Paterson had at the time of the arrests and convictions. The insurance coverage would aid in determining how much Paterson taxpayers stand to lose if the lawsuit is successful.
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According to court papers, lawyers for the city and the two men agreed to split the expense of hiring the insurance archeologist.
However, according to many reports submitted in the case, city officials have refused to participate with the hunt for old records.
The city neglected to provide the insurance archeologist with access to municipal papers and staff, according to a March 4 letter signed by lawyers on both sides. “The vendor cannot complete the agreed-upon study without access to the essential files,” the letter stated.
The access problem has not been rectified, according to a second letter dated May 16.
Officials from the city declined to answer questions about the insurance archeologist, citing pending litigation. END
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What is Insurance Archeologist
An insurance archaeologist is a licensed professional who specializes in the identification, evaluation, and salvage of historic properties.
Insurance archeology is a branch of archeology that deals with investigating and assessing historic buildings for insurance purposes. The insurance industry has become increasingly concerned with protecting their assets and assets of their clients against natural disasters such as fires, floods, earthquakes and windstorms.
To protect themselves against the threat of losses from these natural hazards, insurers require evidence that buildings are up to code and have been constructed according to accepted safety standards.
A professional in this field must be familiar with building codes, construction methods and materials used for different types of buildings at different times in history. He or she must also know how those materials deteriorate over time and what factors speed up or slow down this process.
In addition to being knowledgeable about common building materials used throughout history, an insurance archaeologist must also have experience working with different types of evidence left behind by past occupants of buildings (such as pottery shards found at archaeological sites).
He or she must also have experience working with government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and its predecessor agencies which issue federal housing subsidies that may be affected by changes in local zoning laws due to new development.
Insurance archeologists use several techniques including:
Photography – This can be useful when examining damage caused by fire or flood since it allows them to record exactly how the property looked before and after the incident occurred. Photographs can also be useful when attempting to recreate how something might have happened by showing how objects are positioned relative to one another.
Documentation – Insurance archeologists document everything they find during an investigation so that they can refer back to it later if necessary (e.g., photographs taken at various stages
The job of the insurance archaeologist is to protect the interests of the insurance company. In order to do this effectively, the insurance archaeologist must be able to determine if there has been vandalism on a property and if so, how much damage has been done. This can be difficult because many people who commit acts of vandalism will try to hide evidence that they were involved.
How to become an insurance archaeologist?
Becoming an insurance archaeologist is a rewarding career choice for anyone interested in history and archaeology. Insurance archaeologists are called upon to investigate property damage claims, helping clients determine the extent of their losses and how best to proceed with repairs or replacement.
The first step to becoming an insurance archaeologist is to have a passion for the field. This is not a job that someone can just go into without any prior experience or knowledge of the field. It takes years of study and training before one can become an insurance archaeologist.
When it comes to education, there are many different options available. Most people pursuing this career will choose to get their bachelor’s degree in archaeology or anthropology, but there are other options as well. Some people may even choose to get a degree in business administration or finance instead, depending on what they are looking to do with their careers.
Once you have successfully completed your education and are ready to start working, there are several different avenues available for you. You could choose to work directly with an insurance company, working as a consultant on cases that need help from someone knowledgeable about the importance of historical artifacts and how they relate to damage claims. This can be a very rewarding position because you will be able to work with people who have been involved in accidents and need help proving their case.
Another option would be working for an insurance company as an adjuster or estimator who handles claims related to property damage caused by natural disasters like floods or earthquakes. This can be a very challenging position, Many people who become insurance archaeologists also have their Master’s or Ph.D. degrees in the same field.
Archaeologists also work with architects when designing new buildings and homes. They can help architects find out what kind of materials were used historically in order to make sure that new buildings look like old ones.
After graduation, The first thing to do is to contact your state’s archaeology division. Most states have a department that deals with the protection of historic sites and artifacts. The division will be able to tell you about any license requirements for insurance archaeologists, as well as what coursework is needed for certification.
Once you have your license, your next step is to start networking with other archaeologists. You can join the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) or the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA). These organizations will help you meet other professionals in the field and offer resources for learning more about the profession.
Next, you’ll need a way to make money while you’re still studying. You might try working on an archaeological dig or volunteering at one of the many museums that specialize in historical artifacts. While this won’t pay much money, it will give you valuable experience working with artifacts and allow you to network with other professionals in the field.
The average salary for an insurance archaeologist is $57,000 per year according to SalaryExpert (2016).
