About this episode
The episode features a discussion on the title insurance industry and a legal case emphasizing the importance of obtaining a survey when purchasing real estate.
For the first episode of our fifth season, co-hosts Michael R. O’Donnell and Bethany A. Abele welcomed Jeffrey Leung, Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Counsel of WFG National Title Insurance Company. Jeff discussed the evolution of the title insurance industry based on his career experience handling claims for a national underwriter, running the gamut of “everything from A to Z – abstracts of title to zoning,” proving once again that title insurance is not boring! Jeff contrasted working with insured lenders and working with homeowners, providing guidance on navigating the claims process effectively, including complicated sales transactions and estate situations with heirs. Next, Mike discussed a federal court case emphasizing the importance of obtaining a survey when purchasing real estate. In Messersmith v. CATIC Title Insurance Company , 2025 WL 3530275 (M.D. Pa. 2025), an individual purchased a property and moved into the house, learning thereafter from a neighbor that she was living in a house that was actually on that neighbor’s property. She had opted not to obtain a survey prior to closing on the property. Mike explains how the survey exception comes into play…
People in this episode
Hosts: Michael R. O’Donnell, Bethany A. Abele
Guest: Jeffrey Leung
Topics covered
- title insurance
- claims process
- real estate
- legal cases
- homeownership
- surveys
Keywords
- title insurance
- claims
- real estate
- surveys
- homeowners
- lenders
- legal cases
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: WFG National Title Insurance Company
Books & works: Messersmith v. CATIC Title Insurance Company
Places: M.D. Pa.
More episodes of Title Nerds
- Season 5, Episode 2 · June 9, 2026 · 40 min
- Season 4, Episode 4 · November 3, 2025 · 39 min
- Season 4, Episode 3 · September 29, 2025
- Season 4, Episode 2 · July 21, 2025 · 36 min
- Season 4, Episode 1 · February 17, 2025 · 52 min
- Season 3, Episode 6 · January 2, 2025 · 45 min
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