Home owner sues insurance company over Hurricane Isaac damages

GRETNA – A Gretna homeowner is suing her insurer for allegedly not covering damages to her home that occurred during a hurricane.

Cynthia Karney filed suit against Louisiana Citizens Property and Insurance Corp. in the 24th Judicial District Court on July 11.

Karney claims that when Hurricane Isaac made landfall on Aug. 29, 2012, she owned a home at 468 Westmeade Drive in Gretna and had a homeowner’s insurance policy with Louisiana Citizens Property. The plaintiff alleges that the hurricane’s wind and rain caused massive damage to her property, which she reported to the insurance company. Karney asserts that despite making a claim Louisiana Citizens has not paid for any of the damages that occurred during the hurricane.

The defendant is accused of failing to pay damages due under the policy, failing to include all damages in scope of loss and damage estimate, failing to bring in qualified individuals to timely and properly assess all damages, refusing to pay for matching of existing items before the damage, refusing to explain depreciation calculations, failing to pay for post catastrophe price increases, failing to provide living expenses, failing to pay loss rents and failing to timely and properly communicate with the insured.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for the full value of property, loss of use, recoverable depreciation, mold remediation and damage, debris clean up and removal, cost of compliance, mental anguish, attorneys fee and case costs.

Karney is represented by Roderick “Rico” Alvendia of the Law Office of Alvendia Kelly & Demarest LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division M Judge Henry G. Sullivan Jr.

Case no. 728-788.