Insurance Dispute Lawyer Blog

The tax debacle Chinese drywall creates

Published on: August 22, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

While many members of the state and federal government have been discussing tax rebates for those who have Chinese drywall in their homes, it is not an open and shut situation for those wishing to make claims. Instead, it can be a long and tedious uphill battle with mixed results. WPBF of Florida recently featured a couple facing this challenge

Larry Kosakowski and his fiancée, Kelly Wonderlick, can fill their living room table with their Chinese drywall battle. They’ve already found that the imported wall boards corroded electrical wiring and ate up appliances. The telltale Knauf stamp can be seen all over the attic.

“The value of the property is important to us,” said Kosakowski. “It’s your biggest investment.”

Hurricane Bill likely to miss

Published on: August 21, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The good news for the United States is, other than a bit of rain and higher waves, Hurricane Bill will likely miss and not make landfall.

This article, from Canada’s CBCNews, details the storm’s projected path

Hurricane Bill will likely blow into Atlantic Canada’s waters on Sunday as a Category 2 storm, bringing 150 kilometre an hour winds and heavy rain, the Canadian Hurricane Centre said Friday afternoon.

Chinese drywall not radioactive

Published on: August 21, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Tests have confirmed that while the faulty Chinese wallboard may be toxic and harmful to the health of those people whose homes are lined with the stuff, Chinese drywall is not radioactive. As a precaution, the government carried out tests to insure that the material is not even more dangerous than it already is and the tests came back negative.

The Herald Tribune reports

Tainted Chinese drywall is known to smell and corrode metal, and is suspected of making people sick. But state and federal investigators have determined one thing the wallboard is not: radioactive.

Atlantic Hurricane Bill downgraded to Category 3 – still missing US

Published on: August 20, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

For updated views of Bill’s projected Bath, bookmark this Blog entry.

CNN Money: 5 Tips in the event of hurricane damage

Published on: August 20, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

An article from 2005 while Hurricane Katrina raged through the States remains relevant today.

In today’s five tips, we’re going to tell you what you need to know about your insurance if your home as been damaged or destroyed in the hurricane.

1. Contact your insurer, stat.

Hurricane Bill projected path

Published on: August 19, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Builder looks to help homeowner that has Chinese drywall

Published on: August 19, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

WBRZ News 2 features the story of how a Livingston Parish homeowner with Chinese drywall may receive some help from a builder.

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States rolling dice by not seeking reinsurance

Published on: August 18, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The New York Times recently brought up a casualty of the economic climate facing many states: the cost/benefit analysis being made by states in regards to insurance against dangerous storms. Often extremely costly and unnecessary, this reinsurance looks to bolster defenses against disastrous natural calamities but, with budget cuts at a premium, states are beginning to count every dollar and looking to go without.

Public insurance programs in some coastal states are flirting with the notion of saving millions of dollars every year by shrinking or canceling the coverage they buy from private reinsurers — the deep-pocketed companies that insure insurers whose exposure to loss exceeds the budgets of some nations.

States are the insurers in this case. And they are either tired of paying piles of cash for reinsurance policies that are rarely needed, or too broke financially to maintain coverage that has saved state residents from paying billions in hurricane damage claims. In the parlance of the insurance business, without coverage or a hedge against their expensive risks, they are “running naked.”

Three storms pop up in 24 hours

Published on: August 17, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

In something around 24 hours, 3 tropical storms have popped up according to the National Weather Service. While two (Ana and Bill) are still off into the Atlantic, Claudette hit Florida late last night.

Now is as good a time as any to prepare for any future storms that may come. You can check out our section on various storm and hurricane preparedness tips, available here, and make sure that your home preparation checklist is complete before the height of storm season gets here.

FAU to teach classes on Chinese drywall removal

Published on: August 15, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

In brief, from the Palm Beach Post:

Florida Atlantic University’s School of Architecture plans to begin offering training classes for workers and supervisors who are going to be removing Chinese drywall from homes.

According to a flyer by the school, two courses – a one-day worker safety awareness class, and a supplemental two-day supervisor and worker safety awareness training – are currently being developed.