Days Inn owner sues property insurer over Hurricane Isaac damage

GRETNA – A local hotel is suing its property insurer for allegedly not providing sufficient claims payment following hurricane damage.

Metairie Hotel LLC, Days Hotel New Orleans-Metairie and New Orleans Hotel Consultants LLC filed suit against Companion Property & Casualty Insurance Company in the 24th Judicial District Court on June 27.

The plaintiff alleges that it purchased a commercial property insurance policy for the Days Inn from Companion Property & Casualty Insurance Company that was to cover physical damage due to wind and wind-driven rain to the hotel’s structures and property. According to the lawsuit, the Days Inn was struck by Hurricane Isaac when it made landfall and the hotel sustained significant damage.

The plaintiff contends that following the storm it immediately contacted Companion Property & Casualty Insurance Company who sent an adjuster to inspect the property on Sept. 18, 2012 and afterward the insurer allegedly paid an insufficient sum for the damages the property sustained. After the defendant purportedly provided the insufficient amount the plaintiff hired an independent engineering firm to to inspect the property which found extensive damage to the property that was later rejected by the defendant.

The defendant is accused of breach of contract, bad faith claims adjustment and violation of state law.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for loss of profit, business income, extra expenses and attorney’s fees.

Metairie Hotel LLC, Days Hotel New Orleans-Metairie and New Orleans Hotel Consultants LLC are represented by Kirk Reasonover of New Orleans-based Reasonover & Associates.

The case has been assigned to Division P Judge Lee V. Faulkner Jr.

Case no. 739-849.