In New Orleans, Louisiana and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, people are lining up to file lawsuits against their fraudulent insurance agencies. “We’re trying to get some money and it looks like suing them is the only way that might happen,” said Randy Anny, one of many victims of Hurricane Katrina who did not receive the appropriate amount of compensation as their insurers locked their doors on them. Randy Anny’s lawsuit is concerned with a vehicle held under repair during the hurricane that was damaged by the storm’s fierce conditions. According to recent changes in Louisiana Legislature, citizens have until September 1st, 2007 to file lawsuits concerning Katrina damages and up to October 1st, 2007 to file charges based on Hurricane Rita damages. This has driven many homeowners, home renters and drivers with auto insurance, like Randy Anny, to wait in lines taking up to two hours, often involving multiple visits, to the Civil District Court in Louisiana.
Excluding flood damage (flood insurance is handled under a federal program in Louisiana), the Louisiana Department of Insurance estimates private insurers have paid out over $14.5 billion on hurricane claims. Most of this money has gone to the New Orleans area to settle over 549,000 claims. As the deadline approaches, more and more people line up to file lawsuits. “To give you an idea of what that’s like,” said Clerk of Court Dale Atkins, “we have not taken 1,000 lawsuits in month in the past, let alone in a day. And we’re handling it with half the staff we had before Katrina.”
If you or someone you know has been injured by personal injury or insurance bad faith, please feel free to contact a personal injury lawyer in your area such as Broussard and Hart, L.L.C. in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
