Word of the Day: Pleonexia—The Dragon-Sickness of Greed

In the claims adjustment process, the goal is simple: justice. We are here to ensure you receive what is right and due, no more and no less. Yet, this pursuit of justice is often hindered by a powerful, ancient vice.

The early Church Fathers had a name for this soul-sickness: Pleonexia.

What is Pleonexia?

Pleonexia is an ancient Greek term derived from  (pleon, "more") and  (echein, "to have"). It means:

The unscrupulous desire to have more than is rightfully one’s own; a grasping greed that actively seeks advantage over a neighbor.

In the Orthodox tradition, this is far more than mere materialism. The Apostle Paul equates it with idolatry (Colossians 3:5), because the person consumed by pleonexia worships possessions and wealth instead of God's perfect justice. It is the spiritual foundation of all exploitation.

The Claims Process: Battling the Dragon-Sickness

The great chronicler of Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien, gave this spiritual vice a vivid, unforgettable name: Dragon-Sickness. This powerful archetype perfectly illustrates the nature of pleonexia in the business world.

The Hoarder's Paralysis

We see this sickness clearly in the dwarf-king Thorin Oakenshield. Upon reclaiming the vast treasure of the Lonely Mountain, he became instantly corrupted. He grew paranoid, isolated, and refused to give even a single coin to the people of Lake-town who desperately needed aid and were justly owed a share. The sickness had made him blind to honor, compassion, and the sanctity of his word.

Dragon-Sickness is a metaphor for a system that has succumbed to pleonexia. Just as the dragon Smaug lay on his gold, corrupting it with his malice, a large entity focused purely on profit can become afflicted by the desire to hoard by minimizing payouts. This entity loses sight of the fundamental truth that insurance exists as a mutual compact of aid and restoration.

The Result: Unjust Suffering

For the policyholder who has suffered a devastating loss, this afflicts them in two primary ways:

1. Exploitation: The claimant arrives at the mountain of reserves only to find the door shut by the same paranoia and greed that characterized the Dragon. They are unjustly denied the means for their full restoration.

2. Injustice: Their policy, meant to restore them to wholeness, is instead wielded as a weapon to prevent them from receiving their just due.

Our work, steeped in the Orthodox phronema, is a ministry of justice and restoration, designed to intervene in this corrupting process. We are here to stand against the unscrupulous grasp of pleonexia in all its manifestations.

People Are For Caring: The Cure

My beloved father Damon, may he rest in peace, taught me the foundation of Rome PA: "People Are For Caring." This simple truth is the cure for pleonexia.

When we accept your case, we are not just adjusting a monetary claim; we are engaging in an act of restoration. Utilizing our C.A.R.E. framework—Creative wonder, Active thinking, Recognizing the best solution, and Executing the plan—we actively stand against the vice of greed.

Our commitment to you is two-fold:

• We will zealously fight the pleonexia of any entity that attempts to profit by withholding the full, fair, and righteous value of your claim.

• We will never engage in pleonexia ourselves by exaggerating your loss, thereby ensuring our advocacy maintains the highest moral, ethical, and legal standards.

We seek only that which is just and necessary for your full, ethical, and equitable restoration. Trust Rome PA to act as your faithful advocate, guiding you to a recovery that is free from the sickness of greed.

We are here to help you slay the dragon of injustice and claim the restoration that is truly yours.

May the Lord grant you peace and strength in your time of loss.

Fr. David Burrows, Priest and Public Adjuster

Founder, Rome PA LLC

Dragon-sickness