People Magazine and Yahoo News recently reported that Shannen Doherty (from Beverly Hills 90120 and Charmed) won $6.3 million in a lawsuit against State Farm after her house burned in the Woolsey Fire.
People confirmed that Shannen was awarded $6,346,000 in damages, after the insurance company refused to pay for repairs under the policy on her Malibu, California Home, which was damaged in the Woolsey Fire of 2018.
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People goes on to report that the amount awarded in the civil lawsuit covers damages to her home, personal property, emotional distress and attorney fees.
People goes on to report that Doherty revealed that she was suffering from stage 4 breast cancer in February 2020, after she previously announced that the cancer was in remission in 2017.
State Farm’s response even after the court’s decision is unbelievable!!
People magazine reports that a rep from State Farm stated the following, ”We empathize with Ms. Doherty’s health an wish her the best. We are disappointed by the jury’s decision and respectfully disagree with it. We will explore all available legal options, including appealing the verdict.”
This case demonstrates how major insurance carriers will sometimes make coverage decisions not based off the damages, but rather based on their bottom line. As discussed in previous blogs, this type of behavior by carriers is becoming all too common place, as destructive weather events have increased over the last few years.
All weather events have dramatically increased as of late, including: fires, mudslides, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, winter freeze events, floods, hail storms, straight line wind storms, and lightning events.
When shopping for insurance coverage, it is extremely important to discuss the complexities of the various weather events with your insurance agent, as well as the specific perils that are covered by the policy. Other areas of your policy to pay attention to, are as follows: the deductible, exclusions and endorsements, and the type of policy (RCV vs. ACV). RCV is the preferred policy type.
Replacement cost value (RCV)- this coverage guarantees that a policyholder will receive the full amount necessary to replace covered damaged items with “like” kind or quality.
Actual Cash Value (ACV)- this coverage pays you what your property is worth today, minus a few factors. Actual cash value is calculated by taking what it would cost to buy your property new today, and subtracting depreciation for factors such as age, condition and obsolescence.
It is important to understand the various components of your insurance policy, as sometimes carriers will not uphold their end of the policy agreement. We have seen various carriers use the age old tactics of: deny, delay, and underpayment of claims.
This is why it is important to consult with a reputable policyholder attorney when filing a claim, and especially if your claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid.
The Voss Law Firm, P.C. has been protecting policyholder’s rights for the past sixteen years, recovering billions of dollars in settlements for our clients.
Feel free to call, or email today for a free consultation on your file.
We are 100% contingency fee based. No recovery, no fee.
Please contact Todd Farr, Director of Client Relations, if you need help with your State Farm insurance claim.
