GRETNA – A Gretna homeowner is suing his property insurer claiming it failed to properly adjust and pay for damages to his home following a hailstorm.
Deneen Labat filed suit against Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in the 24th Judicial District Court on Feb. 23.
Labat alleges he owns a home located at 713 Dory Drive in Gretna that is covered by an insurance policy provided by Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. The plaintiff contends that on Feb. 24, 2013 a hailstorm struck the area resulting in serious damages to the property including to its roof that allowed water into the residence and further damaging the home’s interior, structure and contents.
Despite purportedly making a timely demand to have the home inspected following the storm, Labat asserts Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation failed to inspect the home and adjust the property damages appropriately. The plaintiff claims the adjuster hired by the defendants to estimate damages did not spend an adequate amount of time inspecting the property and the resulting insurance payout offer was far less than the actual damages to the home.
Labat alleges that due to the low insurance claim offer he has been unable to properly repair his home or prevent future damages to it.
The defendant is accused of breach of contract, bad faith, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and violation of state law.
Damages in excess of $75,000 is sought for diminution in value of property, repair and remediation expenses, amount due not paid, cost to hie engineering and investigative firms, consequential damages, loss of use, attorney’s fees, prejudgment interest and litigation costs.
Labat is represented by Tiffany R. Christian of New Orleans-based Binegar Christian.
The case has been assigned to Division K Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach.
Case no. 747-017.
Gretna homeowner sues property insurer over alleged failure to cover hailstorm damage
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