28-04-2025
St. Pete dad takes on insurance giants, one claim at a time
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (BLOOM) — After a storm, a fire, or a sudden pipe burst, most homeowners do what they've always been told: call their insurance company. But what happens when the insurance company's offer barely scratches the surface of what it will take to repair the damage?
After Hurricane Ian tore through Florida, one St. Petersburg family received a $14,000 check to repair their heavily damaged home. It wasn't enough to cover half of what they'd lost. That's when they called Daniel Lackey.
Lackey is the founder of CMD Claim Consultants, a public adjusting firm based in St. Petersburg that works for the policyholder, not the insurance company. Since launching the company in 2020, CMD has carved out a reputation for being relentless, fair, and laser-focused on getting clients the payouts they actually deserve.
'What most people don't realize is that the adjuster sent by your insurance company is there to protect their bottom line,' Lackey said. 'We're here to protect yours.'
Public adjusters like CMD operate independently, stepping in to assess property damage, create a detailed estimate of the real cost to repair or rebuild, and challenge the insurance company's number when it doesn't match reality. Many of CMD's clients come after being denied or underpaid. Others call right away to make sure it's done right from the start.
With a background in construction, roofing supply, and disaster recovery, Lackey brings a hands-on understanding of what it actually takes to put a home or business back together. But his approach goes beyond the technical.
'I started CMD when my daughter was just eight months old,' he said. 'I walked away from a steady job because I knew people were getting shortchanged. I wanted to be the guy in their corner when everything else felt like it was falling apart.'
The company's process is thorough and aggressive. It starts with hundreds of photos and detailed documentation of the damage, then moves through industry-standard estimating software to build a claim that insurance carriers can't easily dismiss. CMD handles negotiations, supplements underpaid claims, and even prepares for mediation or legal action when needed.
One client came to CMD after receiving an $80,000 estimate from their insurance company for severe structural damage. Their home had suffered major integrity issues after a partial collapse, and the initial payout wasn't enough to make the repairs livable, let alone restore the property fully. With limited options for dispute due to restrictive language in their policy, the family felt stuck.
CMD took over the claim, launching a detailed reinspection of the property. Lackey and his team documented everything, built a stronger estimate using industry tools, and challenged the original number with building codes, policy language, and undeniable evidence. Through persistence and multiple rounds of negotiation, CMD was able to increase the claim payout to $276,000.
'For them, it wasn't just about money—it was about getting their home back,' Lackey said. 'They had been living in a situation that felt hopeless. Now, they had the resources to rebuild, move forward, and breathe again.'
'That's the difference we fight for,' he added. 'Helping people rebuild, not just recover.'
CMD Claim Consultants continues to grow, serving clients across Florida and Texas, and positioning itself as a trusted advocate in an industry where policyholders often feel outmatched and overlooked.
'We don't cherry-pick easy claims,' Lackey said. 'We take on the hard ones. The ones other people walk away from. And we see them through to the end.'
Learn more at or follow @daniels_claims_corner on Instagram.
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