CT Supreme Court Issues Punitive Damages Ruling Favorable to Policyholders
CT Supreme Court Issues Punitive Damages Ruling Favorable to Policyholders

In a decision to be officially released on December 19, 2017, the Connecticut Supreme Court broadened the circumstances in which policyholders may receive insurance coverage for punitive damage awards. The decision in Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co v. Pasiak, SC 19618, rejected the argument that “in…
Homeowners Fear Losing Insurance in Midst of California Fires
Homeowners Fear Losing Insurance in Midst of California Fires

California homeowners and regulators have a new fear about wildfires ravaging the state: that insurers will drop coverage. Massive, out-of-season fires in northern and southern California are causing billions of dollars in claims and challenging expectations of when and where to expect blazes. State law…
Hundreds of fire victims finding themselves vastly underinsured
Hundreds of fire victims finding themselves vastly underinsured

Hundreds of Sonoma County residents who lost their homes in the October wildfires say they are finding themselves underinsured and many are pressing their cases with their homeowners’ insurance carriers. Many displaced homeowners are discovering that they will likely have to pay tens to hundreds…
Home insurance? Use it and you may lose it
Home insurance? Use it and you may lose it

Millions of homeowners battered by hurricanes, tossed about by tornadoes or scorched by statewide wildfires this disaster-filled record year have filed insurance claims for the damage done. And it could wind up totaling $150 billion or more. But now there’s a dire warning from a…
Nonprofit Backs Office Depot In False Claims Coverage Row
Nonprofit Backs Office Depot In False Claims Coverage Row

A nonprofit policyholder group has urged the Ninth Circuit to revive a coverage dispute between Office Depot and a unit of AIG, arguing that the lower court ruling could drastically curtail coverage in California False Claims Act cases. U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson had…
Insurance gap may leave fire victims on the hook for millions
Insurance gap may leave fire victims on the hook for millions

SANTA ROSA, Calif. KTVU) – Some North Bay Fire victims may find their homes underinsured by hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s a big surprise that is not uncommon after disasters. In recent years, state insurance regulators have taken action to minimize the issue. “I…
Some under-insured North Bay fire victims in for a shock
Some under-insured North Bay fire victims in for a shock

SANTA ROSA, Calif. KGO) — Fire victims working to start the rebuilding process may be in for a shock. After running the numbers, some homeowners are finding they are under-insured. Residents in hazmat suits are searching through rubble, taking photos of what’s left after the…
Liz Weston: 4 Steps to Disaster-Proof Your Finances
Liz Weston: 4 Steps to Disaster-Proof Your Finances

Mother Nature could be excused if she wondered, “How much more prompting do you people need?” This year delivered epic wildfires, devastating hurricanes, massive floods and some pretty horrific earthquakes. Yet many people still haven’t taken a few critical steps to protect their financial lives…
Have questions about fire insurance? Check out the meeting on Weds.
Have questions about fire insurance? Check out the meeting on Weds.

MENDOCINO CO., 11/07/17 — Confused about how to handle questions about insurance and the recent fire? Mendocino County is holding a meeting to provide information on insurance issues for people who are rebuilding their homes in the wake of the recent fires. The meeting will…
Rebuilding After a Disaster? Don’t Let These Insurance Surprises Slow You Down
Rebuilding After a Disaster? Don’t Let These Insurance Surprises Slow You Down

Prevent payout delays with these smart and simple moves The October wildfires in California wine country destroyed more than 7,200 homes and other buildings, according to the latest estimate by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Now, as wildfire victims begin the long…
Who cleans up wildfire debris: Private contractors or the government?
Who cleans up wildfire debris: Private contractors or the government?

SANTA ROSA, Calif. Debora Villalon/KTVU – Progress is being made in North Bay fire recovery, as thousands of scorched properties have been cleared of household hazardous waste. But the next, more complex step, is debris removal, a much thornier issue for homeowners. “No one knows…
Carbon Monoxide Suits Not Excluded, Nonprofit Tells 9th Circ.
Carbon Monoxide Suits Not Excluded, Nonprofit Tells 9th Circ.

Nonprofit policyholder advocacy group United Policyholders urged the Ninth Circuit on Monday to reverse an Oregon federal court’s decision that a pollution exclusion in a pool contractor’s policy negates coverage for underlying suits over carbon monoxide poisoning, arguing the lower court’s reading of the exclusion…
California’s epic wildfires show rebuilding a ‘daunting’ prospect
California’s epic wildfires show rebuilding a ‘daunting’ prospect

Two years after the 2003 Cedar fire, nearly 4 in 10 households burned out at the upscale Scripps Ranch subdivision in San Diego had yet to complete their rebuilding projects. Two years after the 2007 wildfires destroyed more than 1,600 homes around San Diego County,…
Fire survivors reunite to mark 10th anniversary
Fire survivors reunite to mark 10th anniversary

A “low-key” reunion of more than 130 Witch Creek fire survivors and recovery coalition members was held Sunday to mark the wildfire’s 10th anniversary. “This is a celebration of homecoming and friendship,” Jan Rasmussen told attendees. She was co-chair of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church’s…
How to get help after a fire
How to get help after a fire

Suggestions for getting help in recovering from disaster Getting help from a mess of bureaucracies, insurance companies and nonprofits can be difficult. Here are some of the best tips from Chronicle writers: FEMA The Federal Emergency Management Association has continued to expand the number of…
Upfront: Fair Questions
Upfront: Fair Questions

High-risk fire insurance pool grapples with new normal of urban wildfires Homeowners insurance is not mandated by the state of California, but is a requirement for anyone who wants to get a home mortgage from a bank. As the historic North Bay fires are brought…
Public adjusters can help consumers with fire claims, but tread cautiously
Public adjusters can help consumers with fire claims, but tread cautiously

People who lost homes in the Wine Country fires might be approached by public adjusters offering to represent them in their insurance claims. While some disaster victims have had good experiences with public adjusters, consumer advocates and the California Department of Insurance warn against rushing…
Advice for Homeowners After a Wildfire: Keep a Diary
Advice for Homeowners After a Wildfire: Keep a Diary

The last thing on the minds of most people whose homes were devastated by wildfires like those in Northern California may be keeping a journal. But, consumer advocates say, a journal can help in successfully filing an insurance claim. After damage from a wildfire —…