Meet the Team.
Thomas Lacovara
Senior Public Adjuster
Over 25 years experience, certified Appraiser/umpire, court recognized expert, licensed, bonded and insured
Thomas Lacovara and Associates have negotiated over $100 million in claim recovery for their clients.
Mr. Lacovara has in-depth knowledge of policies, insurance law, appraisal, construction, planning and zoning boards, working with the top law firms in South Jersey as an expert.
He works directly with law firms, accounting firms, engineers, architects and the legal system to ensure you receive the best possible settlement you are entitled to.
John Ross
Senior Public Adjuster | Contents Specialist
Over 22 years experience, certified Appraiser/umpire, court recognized expert, licensed, bonded and insured
John Ross graduated Stockton University, is unsurpassed and his knowledge of contents, antiques, collectibles, high-quality furniture, clothing and other household
and commercial items.
Mr. Ross also holds a New Jersey State Police license as a private investigator and coordinates with the insurance company’s fire investigators.
Tim Young
Senior Public Adjuster, Building Expert
Over 18 years experience, certified Appraiser/umpire, court recognized expert, licensed, bonded and insured
Tim Young graduated Drexel University, and worked for the other side for 8 years as an insurance company adjuster. He has an in-depth knowledge of the claim process, building estimating and the insurance company strategy of paying the least amount possible, whenever possible.
Colt Lacovara
Public Adjuster
New Jersey State licensed, bonded and insured
Colt has been working with the company for several years and grew up around the business.
Colt Lacovara graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics and Statistics.
Carley YoungMay 24, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I could not express enough how much of a good experience I’ve had using tom and John as our public adjuster. We had a house fire that displaced us for over a year and they were there every step of the way helping guide us through the process. We were distraught and vulnerable and they didn’t take advantage of our situation. Their only goal was to help us through such a difficult time. We were able to sustain housing for our family and rebuild our home, we are eternally grateful for all that they have done. We couldn’t have done it without them. If you are looking for a public adjuster to help you with any issue you may be having I HIGHLY suggest you give them a call. 100/10 would recommend. I can’t speak highly enough of them.
Allyn PenkethmanJanuary 13, 2026After having a major water leak in my utility room, my son suggested I hire a private adjuster to help me through the process. He done it previously by himself and found it very difficult dealing with his insurance company. I found Tom on a Google search and he was a true blessing! He had his associates on the job almost immediately and produced an in-depth report of damages. My insurance company was not so kind in their evaluation. Tom had his team on it and got over three (3) times the insurance company’s initial settlement. Tom fights for you and keeps you involved at every turn. He will lead you in the right direction. Thank you Tom and associates!
Thomas EgiziDecember 12, 2025We suffered a house fire and lost everything. Tom and John were great and worked around the clock to get our policy limits across the board. Highly recommend.
Cristal HolmesJuly 9, 2025I lost my home of 30 years in a fire. While no one was injured it was still traumatic to my family. Tom Lacovara and his colleagues gave us solid unsentimental advice that helped us get what our home and possessions were worth so we could move forward. I highly recommend his services.
Mike MansorMay 21, 2025Thomas was very friendly, informative and helpful. I was impressed with his professionalism and exceptional customer service. I was not even his customer, but he guided me in the right direction. Thomas even offered to assist me moving forward if I had any questions. Not many business owners will go out of their way to help someone they don't know and who is not doing business with them (not doing business due to the distance and travel time). I strongly recommend Thomas Lacovara & Associates Public Adjusters to those who are in need.
Andrew MillerMay 6, 2025I had a major loss. Everything was wet and mostly destroyed. Tom came in and adjusted the claim in the most professional and effective manner anyone could ask for. We did extremely well with our insurance claim as a direct result of Tom Lacovara's efforts and expertise. I can't recommend Thomas Lacovara enough.
Ed MawhinneyApril 16, 2023We had a very complex and difficult case involving other family members and a house fire. The case took over 1 1/2 years to make it's way through the courts before being settled. Thomas Lacovara & Associates guided us through the process and we won the case and was able to move one with our lives. I highly recommend his firm for all your insurance claims.
Vince CaputoMarch 16, 2023Great experience with Tom Lacovara and his team. He helped my parents navigate the fallout from their kitchen fire. His team was on top of things from start to finish, I highly recommend.
John ColletteFebruary 17, 2023Tom and his team go overboard to make sure the customer is Satisfied! I would highly recommend him! 👍 Thanks Big Dog !
Piper J2February 14, 2023Dealing with a fire was hard enough we weren't equipped to deal with the insurance company. Thomas and John were a blessing. From the very start they took care of details we would never have thought of & Tim treated our home with respect. They were professional but never made us feel like clients. They fought for us and guided us thru a tough process to an amazing resolution.
Joseph StickelFebruary 13, 2023I had a water pipe break in the kitchen and den which was directly below the kitchen. I called Thomas Lacovara & Associates (Public Adjuster) Thomas came out immediately and began assessing the damage. He made a few phone calls and had his crew come over and started removing everything that was wet. They setup fans and dried out the areas that were wet. Thomas kept me well informed of each stage. He reach out to the insurance company and within no time the house was repaired. I highly recommend Thomas Lacovara & Associates.
Steven BrogFebruary 5, 2023Tom Lacovara is an amazing public adjuster. Not only is he very experienced, but he is relentless in his dealings with the insurance companies. He fights hard day in and day out, as if he is fighting for a family member, and delivers great results! He truly leaves no stone unturned!
john bodine jrFebruary 3, 2023Thank you to Thomas Lacovara for your professionalism and attention to detail. He was able to smoothly navigate my family through two separate complicated losses. Highly recommend to those in need.
stephen gagnonFebruary 3, 2023My family and I had a house fire. We had no idea what direction to go. Tom showed up, with years of experience. He helped us with every phase, where to stay, dealing with insurance. He was awesome, I would highly recommend his assistance in any emergency situation.
Jeff VasserFebruary 3, 2023Lacovara & Associates was there when I needed them and made me feel like I was their only client. They made a tough situation much easier and I can't imagine how it would have been without them. I can't say enough about the quality of their work and effort
Manny AfifiFebruary 3, 2023Thomas Lacovara is so knowledgeable and helpful when you need it the most!
William LeveringFebruary 2, 2023Thomas Lacovara has assisted me a couple times with insurance settlements. He is extremely knowledgeable around all aspects of insurance. I received much more than I had initially thought. We had kitchen losses due to a water spillover from icemaker and later unfortunately a total loss due to a house fire where I received much more than the covered amount.
William ZanesFebruary 2, 2023Tom and his team did a fantastic job helping us get what we deserved from our loss. Our insurance was so difficult to work with and Tom made it all much easier.
Joseph SporkinFebruary 1, 2023I have owned multiple rental properties in Ventnor City over the past 20 years and luckily have only had a couple of incidents where I had to make an insurance claim. The first claim was due to a car crashing into my home that lost control on a wet/slick evening. My insurance company sent their adjuster to evaluate the damage and offered me approximately $12,000 to make the repairs. Not knowing a lot about construction I called a local friend who was a carpenter and he recommended I get a second opinion to make sure the $12,000 would cover the costs. I was referred to private adjuster named Thomas Lacovara. Thomas went to the property and assessed the damage in a way that was much more detailed than my own insurance carrier. He was able to confirm a significant amount of damage to the foundation that the insurance adjuster did not report. There was some back and forth conversations between Thomas and my insurance carrier and the end result was that my insurance carrier then offered approximately 5 times the original offer of $12,000 to repair the property properly . Had I not hired Thomas to represent me in this claim I would have accepted the original $12k and then been out of pocket a large amount of money to cover the cost of the remaining damage caused to the house. At the end of the day, I am grateful I was recommended to Thomas and would highly recommend him to anyone that has an insurance claim so he can help guide you through the claim process and make sure you are getting a fair settlement.
Will HarleyFebruary 1, 2023Thomas Lacovara is the person you need when you have a fire or water loss. Don’t try to do it alone.
Bernie LaleyanFebruary 1, 2023Tom is very detail oriented and very professional, he handled my case which should have taken 4 to 6 weeks instead it took 4 1/2 months through no fault of him but he never gave up nor did he change or complain on what we had agreed on. You can not find anybody more qualified for the job then Tom. My family and I thank you.
Amy WalshJanuary 31, 2023Tom and his team are professional, responsive and get you the best possible results in an unfortunate circumstance.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
The Facts.
A highly trained, highly competent professional public adjuster will make all the difference handling your claim. In economics, it’s called value added services.
A top public adjuster can make a 50%, 100%, 200%, 300% difference in your claim settlement, more than enough to cover the 10 or 15% public adjuster fee.
Plus you have eliminated the headaches and the learning pitfalls of trying to manage your own claim.
Our Promise
We help our clients settle their insurance claims, and reduce stress.
We’ll handle all of the details that are associated with your insurance claims and on-call to answer all of your questions.
We’ve spent nearly three decades working with the South Jersey community, and have a very reputable reputation.
Take a look at our testimonials from happy clients we’ve worked with over the years.
Our Values.
Thomas Lacovara & Associates is a highly trained, high-quality public adjusting firm that will more than earn our fee with your recovery.
This means you are the beneficiary of the added value we bring to your claim.
Plus, we handle all of the details that are associated with these claims, often causing stress during the settlement process.
Customer first
You are our top priority, first and foremost.
Experience
We have settled hundreds of claims and can do the same for you.
Integrity
With decades of experience, we know how the other team works, your insurance company assigned adjuster. Don’t make the mistake of accepting their claim assessment.
Excellence
After your damage, you’re panicked and frightened. We are the gold standard when it comes to large loss claims.
Don’t let poor judgement during stress prevent you from getting the most money you’re entitled to.
Trusted by South Jersey’s homeowners since 1997.
Thank you, Thomas Lacovara for all your hard work and help settling this large and complicated insurance claim and for all your professional help with rebuilding the medical center. You came highly recommended and you earned that reputation.
You have our appreciation and recommendation.
We present Thomas Lacovara and Associates with this award of gratitude. We were having a difficult time with the insurance company until you stepped in and made sure we got everything we were entitled to.
Thank you for all your effort and hard work.
Award Ceremony presentation to Thomas Lacovara and Associates. Our fire house suffered a tragic fire loss, you and your team took us through the difficult process. At the conclusion we were able to build a new fire house from the insurance proceeds. Thank you.
I cannot thank this company enough. I had a flood claim and a fire claim. Both times Thomas Lacovara and his people saved the day for me. I was totally lost and confused they took over every aspect of the claim and made my life so much easier during this difficult time.
I was able to rebuild my house both times through their hard work. They have my highest recommendation, thank you.
Thomas Lacovara and his team were a guiding light in one of the darkest days of our lives. Our home was totally destroyed by fire. Mr. Lacovara’s support and amazing knowledge, skills, and disposition allowed us to survive the pain and the loss. The entire company was wonderful to us.
He got us a fantastic settlement, we were able to buy a new home and yes, we are smiling again. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I recommend this company to all my clients and have personally used their services several times. As a personal injury trial attorney, I understand insurance companies’ reluctance to pay what is owed, that’s why I recommend a trusted expert in the public adjusting field.
Thomas Lacovara and Associates are true professionals and experts at insurance recovery, they have my highest recommendation and thanks.
After my kitchen fire, I was in a panic. The insurance company wanted to send in a restoration cleaning service to wipe down my house and dry clean my clothing. Mr. Lacovara immediately put a stop to that and negotiated replacement of all my clothing and a brand-new kitchen, including appliances. If I did not hire their services, I would still be in a smoky house wearing damaged clothing.
Hiring Thomas Lacovara and Associates was the best thing I’ve ever done.
Always hire a professional! I had a major house fire, the insurance company attempted to under pay the claim every way possible to the point of absurdity.
Thomas Lacovara and Associates worked relentlessly to get me everything I was entitled. At the conclusion, I was able to rebuild my home and replace all my damaged contents.
This company has my gratitude, thank you.
Proven results, more than 12 of my clients have used Thomas Lacovara and Associates. Over the last decade I’ve seen the results firsthand, they are fantastic. If you have a major loss/insurance claim, this company has a proven track record, they have my highest recommendation.
Get in touch with us.
We are here to help answer your questions and start the process of working with you and handling your insurance claim.
Whether by fire, flood, wind, there are 3 questions that often arise when someone experiences a major loss.
What Is A
Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster is a highly trained insurance professional that represents you, the insured homeowner, with your insurance claim. We represent you.
At Thomas Lacovara & Associates we are licensed by the New Jersey Department of Insurance and work FOR you to help you get the maximum amount of money in a settlement that you’re entitled to receiving.
We help to remove the stress and ease the headaches associated with insurance claims – handling all the details accompanying a major loss.
Why Choose A
Public Adjuster?
The insurance company sends in their own adjuster that represents the insurance company, not you.
Insurance companies are part of major corporations and experts at paying the LEAST amount of money to you for your damages.
They are more interested in their bottom line than yours.
We need to talk.
When To Choose A
Public Adjuster?
Immediately at the time of damage, you should contact a public adjuster. The first meeting with the insurance company is the most critical and important meeting. This is when the rules of engagement are established; identified as the Scope of The Loss.
The insurance company may want to send a cleaning or restoration company into your home right away. This is a huge mistake made by many homeowners as you will lose tens of thousands of dollars, just on that one mistake.
Think of it this way. If you had an automobile accident, would you clean and polish your car before the adjuster had an opportunity to review the extent of the damages?
We Are The GOLD STANDARD In The Industry.
Brief List of Trusted Clients:
Paul D’amato Esq., Trial Attorney/Former Mayor Assemblyman
Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County Executive
Bargantown Fire Department
Sonny McCullough, Former Mayor Egg Harbor Township
Danny Adams, Chief Margate Fire Department
Dennis Brooks, Former Chief Atlantic City Fire Department
Pat Moran, Former Chief of Police Galloway
Steve Brog Esq.
Jack Plackter Esq.
Steve Marchel, Owner Stock Brokerage
Lou Bongiovanni, CPA
Frank Thomas, CPA Port Republic
Tom Kimble, Realtor
Steve Kaplan, Judge
James Knox, Atlantic City School Principal
Commercial Clients
Absecon Methodist Church
Faith Baptist Church, Pleasantville
JCC – Jewish Community Center, Margate
Steve and Cookies Restaurant, Margate
Tomatoes Restaurant, Margate
Roberts Place Bar Restaurant, Margate
Great Bay Country Club, Somers Point
Art Handler Appliance, Pleasantville
Mainland Medical Center, Northfield
Pleasantville Yacht Club
We Are Your Trusted, 5-Star Review Public Adjusters
Carley YoungMay 24, 2026I could not express enough how much of a good experience I’ve had using tom and John as our public adjuster. We had a house fire that displaced us for over a year and they were there every step of the way helping guide us through the process. We were distraught and vulnerable and they didn’t take advantage of our situation. Their only goal was to help us through such a difficult time. We were able to sustain housing for our family and rebuild our home, we are eternally grateful for all that they have done. We couldn’t have done it without them. If you are looking for a public adjuster to help you with any issue you may be having I HIGHLY suggest you give them a call. 100/10 would recommend. I can’t speak highly enough of them.Allyn PenkethmanJanuary 13, 2026After having a major water leak in my utility room, my son suggested I hire a private adjuster to help me through the process. He done it previously by himself and found it very difficult dealing with his insurance company. I found Tom on a Google search and he was a true blessing! He had his associates on the job almost immediately and produced an in-depth report of damages. My insurance company was not so kind in their evaluation. Tom had his team on it and got over three (3) times the insurance company’s initial settlement. Tom fights for you and keeps you involved at every turn. He will lead you in the right direction. Thank you Tom and associates!Thomas EgiziDecember 12, 2025We suffered a house fire and lost everything. Tom and John were great and worked around the clock to get our policy limits across the board. Highly recommend.Cristal HolmesJuly 9, 2025I lost my home of 30 years in a fire. While no one was injured it was still traumatic to my family. Tom Lacovara and his colleagues gave us solid unsentimental advice that helped us get what our home and possessions were worth so we could move forward. I highly recommend his services.Mike MansorMay 21, 2025Thomas was very friendly, informative and helpful. I was impressed with his professionalism and exceptional customer service. I was not even his customer, but he guided me in the right direction. Thomas even offered to assist me moving forward if I had any questions. Not many business owners will go out of their way to help someone they don't know and who is not doing business with them (not doing business due to the distance and travel time). I strongly recommend Thomas Lacovara & Associates Public Adjusters to those who are in need.Andrew MillerMay 6, 2025I had a major loss. Everything was wet and mostly destroyed. Tom came in and adjusted the claim in the most professional and effective manner anyone could ask for. We did extremely well with our insurance claim as a direct result of Tom Lacovara's efforts and expertise. I can't recommend Thomas Lacovara enough.Ed MawhinneyApril 16, 2023We had a very complex and difficult case involving other family members and a house fire. The case took over 1 1/2 years to make it's way through the courts before being settled. Thomas Lacovara & Associates guided us through the process and we won the case and was able to move one with our lives. I highly recommend his firm for all your insurance claims.Vince CaputoMarch 16, 2023Great experience with Tom Lacovara and his team. He helped my parents navigate the fallout from their kitchen fire. His team was on top of things from start to finish, I highly recommend.John ColletteFebruary 17, 2023Tom and his team go overboard to make sure the customer is Satisfied! I would highly recommend him! 👍 Thanks Big Dog !Piper J2February 14, 2023Dealing with a fire was hard enough we weren't equipped to deal with the insurance company. Thomas and John were a blessing. From the very start they took care of details we would never have thought of & Tim treated our home with respect. They were professional but never made us feel like clients. They fought for us and guided us thru a tough process to an amazing resolution.Joseph StickelFebruary 13, 2023I had a water pipe break in the kitchen and den which was directly below the kitchen. I called Thomas Lacovara & Associates (Public Adjuster) Thomas came out immediately and began assessing the damage. He made a few phone calls and had his crew come over and started removing everything that was wet. They setup fans and dried out the areas that were wet. Thomas kept me well informed of each stage. He reach out to the insurance company and within no time the house was repaired. I highly recommend Thomas Lacovara & Associates.Steven BrogFebruary 5, 2023Tom Lacovara is an amazing public adjuster. Not only is he very experienced, but he is relentless in his dealings with the insurance companies. He fights hard day in and day out, as if he is fighting for a family member, and delivers great results! He truly leaves no stone unturned!john bodine jrFebruary 3, 2023Thank you to Thomas Lacovara for your professionalism and attention to detail. He was able to smoothly navigate my family through two separate complicated losses. Highly recommend to those in need.stephen gagnonFebruary 3, 2023My family and I had a house fire. We had no idea what direction to go. Tom showed up, with years of experience. He helped us with every phase, where to stay, dealing with insurance. He was awesome, I would highly recommend his assistance in any emergency situation.Jeff VasserFebruary 3, 2023Lacovara & Associates was there when I needed them and made me feel like I was their only client. They made a tough situation much easier and I can't imagine how it would have been without them. I can't say enough about the quality of their work and effortManny AfifiFebruary 3, 2023Thomas Lacovara is so knowledgeable and helpful when you need it the most!William LeveringFebruary 2, 2023Thomas Lacovara has assisted me a couple times with insurance settlements. He is extremely knowledgeable around all aspects of insurance. I received much more than I had initially thought. We had kitchen losses due to a water spillover from icemaker and later unfortunately a total loss due to a house fire where I received much more than the covered amount.William ZanesFebruary 2, 2023Tom and his team did a fantastic job helping us get what we deserved from our loss. Our insurance was so difficult to work with and Tom made it all much easier.Joseph SporkinFebruary 1, 2023I have owned multiple rental properties in Ventnor City over the past 20 years and luckily have only had a couple of incidents where I had to make an insurance claim. The first claim was due to a car crashing into my home that lost control on a wet/slick evening. My insurance company sent their adjuster to evaluate the damage and offered me approximately $12,000 to make the repairs. Not knowing a lot about construction I called a local friend who was a carpenter and he recommended I get a second opinion to make sure the $12,000 would cover the costs. I was referred to private adjuster named Thomas Lacovara. Thomas went to the property and assessed the damage in a way that was much more detailed than my own insurance carrier. He was able to confirm a significant amount of damage to the foundation that the insurance adjuster did not report. There was some back and forth conversations between Thomas and my insurance carrier and the end result was that my insurance carrier then offered approximately 5 times the original offer of $12,000 to repair the property properly . Had I not hired Thomas to represent me in this claim I would have accepted the original $12k and then been out of pocket a large amount of money to cover the cost of the remaining damage caused to the house. At the end of the day, I am grateful I was recommended to Thomas and would highly recommend him to anyone that has an insurance claim so he can help guide you through the claim process and make sure you are getting a fair settlement.Will HarleyFebruary 1, 2023Thomas Lacovara is the person you need when you have a fire or water loss. Don’t try to do it alone.Bernie LaleyanFebruary 1, 2023Tom is very detail oriented and very professional, he handled my case which should have taken 4 to 6 weeks instead it took 4 1/2 months through no fault of him but he never gave up nor did he change or complain on what we had agreed on. You can not find anybody more qualified for the job then Tom. My family and I thank you.Amy WalshJanuary 31, 2023Tom and his team are professional, responsive and get you the best possible results in an unfortunate circumstance.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
Thomas Lacovara
Handling your insurance claim headaches so you don’t have to.
Only highly trained professionals with decades of experience know how to properly settle your complicated insurance claim.
Maximize your insurance settlement $$$!
Review our testimonials to learn more about what our client’s have to say.
