Flood Damage Repair Lawsuits

Learn about Katrina flood damage repair lawsuits in the news on the insurance blog. Find out how to prepare for natural disasters with emergency kits and safety tips.

This week, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled against a homeowner impacted by Katrina and in favor of a homeowners insurance company that writes in Louisiana. Joseph Scher, who had won his case in two lower courts, finally lost his battle against Lafayette Insurance Company. Scher had claimed that the homeowners’ insurance company was responsible for flood damage repairs to his New Orleans home.

Flood Damage Repairs Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance Policy

Scher didn’t have flood insurance to pay for damages and repairs to his home. Flood insurance doesn’t come with the homeowner’s insurance policy and has to be purchased separately. But the homeowner claimed that the flood damages in need of repair were caused by construction workers working on the New Orleans levee and not by Katrina. Scher claimed that since the flood wasn't caused by a natural disaster, the insurance company should pay. The court disagreed, stating that the definition of flood doesn’t change depending upon the cause and that the insurance company wasn’t responsible for the loss. Ouch.

Prepare for Natural Disasters with Emergency Kits and Safety Plans

Prepare for natural disasters this year by creating an emergency kit. And get safety plans for tornados and hurricanes to keep your home safe this year:

• Tornado safety tips help keep your family safe during twister season.
• Hurricane safety tips help protect your home and your personal belongings.