RS 22:1807.17: Umpire qualifications; conflicts of interest

A. To qualify as an umpire, a person shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Be either of the following:

(a) An appraiser qualified pursuant to R.S. 22:1807.14.

(b) An attorney licensed in this state with experience in first-party property damage litigation.

(2) Have no disqualifying conflicts of interest listed in Subsection B of this Section, unless, after full disclosure, the parties agree in writing to waive an otherwise disqualifying conflict of interest.

B. A disqualifying conflict of interest for an umpire exists if any of the following apply:

(1) The umpire or a member of his immediate family is any of the following:

(a) A party to the claim.

(b) A current employee or contractor of a party.

(c) A current employee of the adjuster or public adjuster, including business entity licensees, who adjusted the loss.

(2) The umpire currently has an open claim or acts as a representative or public adjuster on an open claim with the insurer that is a party to the appraisal.

(3) The umpire is a party or a member or employee of a law firm that represents a party to a current lawsuit with the insurer that is a party to the appraisal.

(4) The umpire has any other direct or indirect interest, financial or otherwise, of any nature that substantially conflicts with the umpire's duties.