PGELawsuit.com Personal Property Claim Guide - To assist you with the claims process in a lawsuit - Senator Noreen Evans / Mauro Archer Associates, LLC / Watts Guerra LLP 70 Stony Point Road, Suite A • Santa Rosa, CA 95401 • (707) 237-2445 /PGELawsuit @PGELawsuit Table of Contents Prior to Preparing the Inventory Document ............................................. 1 Total Loss Documentation Process .......................................................... 2 Creating the Personal Property Inventory ................................................ 5 Sample of Personal Property Inventory Worksheet ................................. 7 Personal Property Category Guide ........................................................... 8 Apparel, Clothing & Accessories ................................ 9 Jewelry – Fine Jewelry ............................................. 24 Apparel - Haute Couture, Custom-made Jewelry – Costume ................................................... 24 & Formalwear ............................................................. 9 Kitchenware - Cookware, Flatware & Cutlery ........... 24 Appliances - Major Kitchen & Laundry ..................... 10 Kitchenware - Dinnerware, Glassware Art - Decorative Art ................................................... 10 & Food Storage ........................................................ 25 Art - Fine Art ............................................................. 10 Lamps & Lighting ..................................................... 25 Arts, Crafts & Hobby Supplies ................................. 11 Linen, Bath & Bedding – Common ........................... 26 Audio Equipment ...................................................... 11 Linen, Bath & Bedding – Fine ................................... 26 Automobile Electronics ............................................ 11 Luggage ................................................................... 26 Automobile Parts & Accessories .............................. 12 Mattresses & Box Springs ........................................ 27 Baby & Infant Care ................................................... 12 Medical & Optical Care Equipment .......................... 27 Bicycles & Accessories ............................................ 13 Miscellaneous ........................................................... 27 Boats & Watercraft ................................................... 13 Movies, Music & Media ............................................ 28 Boating Equipment & Supplies ................................ 13 Musical Instruments ................................................. 29 Books ....................................................................... 14 Office Equipment ...................................................... 29 Building Materials, Hardware, Supplies ................... 15 Office Supplies & Stationery ..................................... 29 Camera & Photographic Equipment ......................... 15 Optical Equipment .................................................... 30 Collectibles ............................................................... 16 Outdoor Furniture ..................................................... 30 Commercial Equipment and Supplies ...................... 16 Personal Documents ................................................ 30 Computer, computer software and accessories ...... 16 Personal Effects & Memorabilia ............................... 30 Drug, Health, Beauty & Personal Care Pets, Animals & Livestock ........................................ 31 Consumables ........................................................... 17 Pet Equipment .......................................................... 31 Drug, Health, Beauty & Personal Care Durables ...... 17 Pet Supplies & Consumables ................................... 31 Electronics ................................................................ 18 Plants, Shrubs & Trees ............................................. 32 Financials - Cash, Securities, Credit Cards, Pool & Spa ................................................................ 32 Documents ............................................................... 18 Recreational Motor Vehicles ..................................... 32 Fine China & Crystal ................................................. 18 Rugs ......................................................................... 33 Firearms, Weapons & Accessories ........................... 19 Services, Fees, Misc Contents Related Expenses ... 33 Food & Beverage ...................................................... 19 Sporting Goods ........................................................ 34 Footwear and Handbags .......................................... 20 Television & Video Equipment .................................. 35 Furniture ................................................................... 21 Tools - Hand Tools & Tool Storage ........................... 36 Furniture - Antiques .................................................. 21 Tools – Power ........................................................... 37 Furniture & Rugs ....................................................... 21 Toys/Games - Adult Games & Equipment ................ 38 Furs .......................................................................... 21 Toys/Games - Children’s .......................................... 38 Gifts & Special Occasion Purchases ........................ 22 Video Gaming & Electronic Toys .............................. 38 Handbags, Purses, Wallets & Accessories ............... 22 Watches .................................................................... 39 Heirlooms ................................................................. 22 Window Treatments .................................................. 39 Household Consumables ......................................... 22 Yard & Garden Power Equipment ............................. 39 Housewares .............................................................. 23 Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living ................................ 39 Personal Property Inventory SAMPLE .................................................... 41 Personal Property Total Loss - Documentation Checklist ..................... 43 Prior to Preparing the Inventory Document Documenting your personal property loss is a difficult and often emotional experience. As you try to recall all your personal possessions, following this guide should help you minimize your effort and increase the effectiveness and accuracy of your portrayal of your loss items. Your list of personal property will be impacted by family demographics: age, gender, family size and lifecycle stage. It will be influenced by the family member activities, interests and values. Your purchases may reflect geographic factors: region, urban, suburban, rural and climate. As noted earlier, among the duties of claimants is to present a list of damaged property and the amount of loss including quantity, description and replacement value. Following the process outlined here should help you develop adequate documentation to qualify the extent of loss. Note that your valuation efforts will state only the replacement cost value. You do have the benefit of your best recollection of what you have spent for items and your past and current experience as a shopper to estimate a reasonable replacement cost. Key Points and Generalities to Assure an Accurate Inventory To the best of your recollection, you will provide the following information for each item to help pave the way to proper and full indemnification. Description: The description includes the item type and should contain adequate information to support its relative quality and your stated replacement cost value. Expensive items or items that appear more expensive than average for the category will warrant more full descriptions. Your descriptions will vary from as simple as “T-shirts” to those that include brand, model number and/ or product features. Replacement Cost Each: Your estimated replacement cost may be based on your recollection. For items that you do not recall or for more expensive items you may choose to do some on-line research or make visits to local stores to assure that the stated number reflects current pricing. For items that you have already replaced use the actual amount paid and note “already replaced” within the description. When preparing the inventory, be truthful, accurate and detailed. CALIFORNIA MANDATORY FRAUD STATEMENT: For your protection, California law requires that you be made aware of the following: Any person who knowingly presents false or fraudulent claim for the payment of a loss is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in state prison. 1 Total Loss Documentation Process Sketch Floor Plan Sketch a rough floor plan of each floor of the home. As this illustration shows, it need not be of architectural quality: 1ST FLOOR DOOR PANTRY DOOR KITCHEN DINING ROOM 1/2 BATHROOM HALLWAY STAIRS PANTRY 2 DOOR CLOSET FAMILY ROOM STAIRS FORMAL TV ROOM LIVING ROOM FRONT HALL DOOR DOOR DOOR FRONT PORCH 2 Sketch Rooms and Note Furniture Placement Separately sketch each room/area of the home and place all articles of furniture. Devote an individual page to each room or area. It will be helpful to envision each room systematically – i.e. Mentally enter through doorway, when viewing left to right, clockwise – what do you see? … from floor to ceiling Add notes to your sketch referencing significant value contents items. What do other family members