Insurer sued by homeowner over property insurance claims

GRETNA – A local homeowner is suing her property insurer claiming it did not properly adjust her claims following Hurricane Isaac and a subsequent hail storm.

Rhonda Marie Cooper Crocket filed suit against Farmers Insurance Exchange in the 24th Judicial District Court on March 6.

Crocket asserts that she held an insurance policy with Farmers Insurance Exchange on Aug. 28, 2012 on her home located at 3833 Chadwood Drive in Harvey when Hurricane Isaac struck the area and caused significant damage to the property. The plaintiff alleges that the storm caused damage to the home’s roof as well as water damage to the interior and exterior of the building. Crocket claims that the Farmers Insurance Exchange’s adjuster did not adequately investigate the claim on her home nor properly evaluate the factors surrounding the damage.

The plaintiff asserts the defendant undervalued the insurance claim at $9,400 and has not paid sufficiently for the property damages.

In addition, Crocket alleges Farmers Insurance Exchange further undervalued another insurance claim stemming from damages the home incurred during a hail storm that struck the area on Feb. 24, 2013. The plaintiff claims the adjuster hired by the defendant estimated the damages to the property in the amount of $16,000, however, the plaintiff claims that amount is too low.

The defendant is accused of breach of contract, bad faith claims handling, negligent claims handling, breach of duty of good faith, non-prompt payment, violation of state law and negligent misrepresentation.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for loss of property value, repair and remediation expenses, amount due under the policy, cost to hire investigative and engineering firms, mental anguish, loss of use and attorney’s fees.

Crocket  is represented by Shelly R. Hale of New Orleans-based Speights & Worrich.

The case has been assigned to Division K Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach.

Case no. 736-146.