Marine company sues property insurance provider for $340K in uncovered Hurricane Isaac damages

GRETNA – A Harahan-based marine company is suing their insurer for allegedly failing to pay damages they incurred during Hurricane Isaac. 

Donovan Marine Inc. filed suit against Stone Insurance Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on July 15.

Donovan Marine claims it began carrying "all risk" total property coverage following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and that the insurance covered both the physical property as well as movable property.

The plaintiff alleges that in 2012 it switched its property insurance provider to Stone Insurance and that when given a quote it was supposed to be an "all risk" policy. However, after

Hurricane Isaac struck the area on Aug. 29, 2012, and Donovan Marine asserts they were subject to high winds that peeled off the store’s roof and caused considerable damage. The plaintiff claims that it was not until it submitted a damage claim that it learned it did not have an "all risk" policy as requested.

The defendant is accused of failing to properly carry out “all risk” insurance coverage, failing to use reasonable diligence and reasonable care in placing “all risk” property coverage as instructed by the plaintiff and failing to notify of coverage afforded.

Payments in the amount of $340,591 are sought for damages that occurred during the hurricane and monetary loss and damages suffered as a result of a higher deductible in the future.

Donovan Marine Inc. is represented by attorney David M. Culpepper of New Orleans.

The case has been assigned to Division A Judge Raymond S. Steib Jr.

Case no. 728-939.