Ivo Labar Discusses Post-Sandy Insurance Complexities

PHILADELPHIA, PA, April 22, 2013

As an attorney based in San Francisco, Ivo Labar is far removed from the direct effects of Superstorm Sandy--and yet, in a new press statement, the Kerr & Wagstaffe lawyer notes that Sandy's effects resonate throughout the insurance industry. To illustrate this point, Labar points to a recent article from the New York Law Journal. The article contends that those homeowners who were hit hard by the hurricane now face numerous challenges as they seek to file claims; Labar has responded to this article in his new statement to the press.

The New York Law Journal reports that, following Sandy, many of the affected homeowners are seeking to "pick up the pieces," often filing claims with their insurance companies--only to be turned away, told that their policies do not cover any Sandy-related damage. For some homeowners, this may be true, the article notes; flooding remains an excluded peril from many homeowners insurance policies. For other policyholders, however, there may be legal avenues to take to receive aid from an insurance company.

"This is where truly knowing the specific ins and outs of your policy comes in handy," Labar opines, in his press statement. "What perils are excluded from your coverage? What are some of the specific provisions your policy has? It is important to work either with an independent insurance agent or an attorney to understand these issues."

The New York Law Journal goes on to note that most property insurance policies are "all risk" policies, which means they cover any and all perils except for those expressly excluded. Typically, flood is one of the risks that policies exclude. Even when a policy does include a flood exclusion, there is usually a cap that limits the coverage. Notably, wind is usually a covered risk--which only serves to complicate some of these Sandy-related claims.

Indeed, the article notes that, in the wake of a flood, one of the most significant sources of
contention between policyholders and insurance companies is the question of whether damages were caused by water or by wind.

"This is where consulting with an attorney is so important," Labar offers. "An attorney may be able to help you pursue various means for arguing that your claim is in fact very valid--that the damage to your property was caused first and foremost by the wind and not the water, for example."

Ivo Labar is a partner at the Law Firm of Kerr & Wagstaffe, in California.

ABOUT:

Ivo Labar is a partner at the Law Firm of Kerr & Wagstaffe, which is based in San Francisco, California. With the rest of the legal professionals at Kerr & Wagstaffe, Ivo Labar provides clients with guidance regarding diverse legal cases, including those tried by state and federal courts. Labar is interested in a wide range of practice areas, but he specializes in complex litigation cases. Class action lawsuits, victims' rights, and insurance policyholder rights are of particular interest to Labar. Since starting his career, Labar has assisted clients in recovering over $25 million in settlements and verdicts. He graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.