January 12, 2007
Gulfport, MS (January 12, 2007) – A recent landmark court ruling that awarded a South Mississippi couple their policy limits and $2.5 million in punitive damages for a claim that was originally denied may be the catalyst for insurance companies to pay claims they previously underpaid or denied.
“It is without a dispute that Hurricane Katrina was a windstorm,” U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. said regarding the case that he presided involving State Farm and Genevieve and Norman Broussard.
Ronald Delo, President The Public Adjusters Inc., said his company represented over 150 claimants in the Gulf coast similar to the Broussard’s where insurance companies denied or grossly underpaid claims based on the wind versus flood dispute.
“This court case will be a lightning rod for insurance companies to step up and finally pay claimants what they are owed. Because of the magnitude of this court case, insurance companies should make a good faith attempt to revisit claims they previously denied or underpaid, if not, we may see that many companies could face the possibility of more bad faith lawsuits,” Ronald Delo said from his company’s headquarters in Tampa.
Delo notes that his public adjusting firm has already received over 200 calls from people in Mississippi that feel their claim can be reopened.
“The public adjusting process is lot less complicated and should prove to be a quicker process than a long protracted legal fight; however; many Mississippians may still have to file a lawsuit in order to collect from these insurance companies.”
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About Insurance Claim Consultants Inc., dba The Public Adjusters:
Insurance Claim Consultants Inc., has represented the interests of policyholders for the past 25 years. The company, headquartered out of Tampa, FL, has garnered settlements in excess of $20 million and increased settlements that approach the $2 million mark. The firm has offices throughout the southeast United States.
For Additional Information, Please Contact:
Jane N. Delo, Director of Public Relations
The Public Adjusters
813-393-6005
www.thepublicadjusters.biz
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