From: Lila Hayes
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 1:30 PM
To:
Subject: An article in The Sun... finally
Sorry about all the email this week, but it seems like the newspapers are starting to buzz!  I guess after so much media coverage, The Sun just had to write at least one article. 
 
Bills aid wildfire victims
Governor signs two; two await signature
Article Published: Wednesday, September 01, 2004
By BEN SCHNAYERSON, Staff Writer

I think The Sun only has their articles up for one day so I have provided full text to follow.  If you go to their web site at www.sbsun.com you can search for "Marcey" since Marcey Stanton was quoted in the article.  They also quoted George Kehrer extensively, but misspelled his name every time so searching for his name will not help.

Lila Hayes
Old Fire Recovery Group
www.oldfirerecoverygroup.org
 
 
Bills aid wildfire victims

Governor signs two; two await signature

By BEN SCHNAYERSON, Staff Writer

Victims of last year’s wildfires could get some relief from two bills recently signed by the governor and from two more awaiting his signature.

Those who saw their homes burned now have more time to recoup money from insurance companies and rebuild. They also can go to the state Department of Insurance to mediate disputes on their reimbursements.

One bill awaiting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s OK would prevent insurance companies from canceling a homeowner’s policy because of the fires. Another would require the companies to disclose more about its policies, such as that rebuilding costs may exceed policy limits.

Additional policy disclosure might have helped Marcey Stanton, one of the victims of the October wildfires.

Stanton, 78, estimates that her Del Rosa area home was underinsured by about $130,000.

She said her insurance company argues it told her about 15 years ago of a change of wording that makes her underinsured.

"Well, we have all our policies, and we were not notified," Stanton said.

She said she is looking at a possible lawsuit if her insurance company doesn’t pay up.

"We had major problems with our insurance coverage. It’s like a saga," Stanton said.

The two bills signed by Schwarzenegger are SB 64, written by state Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco, and AB 2199, written by Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego.

The two bills awaiting the governor's signature are AB 2962, written by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, and SB 1855, written by state Sen. Dede Alpert, D-San Diego.

All four bills are all steps in the right direction, said George Kehar, executive director of Community Assisting Recovery, an organization helping victims of the October fires.

But the bills alone cannot cure the problems.

Before people go into mediation, Kehar said, they should make sure they have all their documents. They need all their paperwork dealing with their escrow, loans and claims.

"Otherwise, they are going to be in a disadvantage in any mediation," Kehar said.

Getting an extension on replacing a home … 24 months from the first payment if a state of emergency is declared … is definitely a big help, Kehar said. Rules now allow just one year after a home is destroyed, unless an insurance company is generous.

There are, however, many other snags that will hold things up way past two years.

"People up in Cedar Glen and Hook Creek may have to wait five years until these things get worked out because they have a lot of infrastructure problems," Kehar said.

The disclosure requirements also don't go as far as some may like.

"It gives you about 10 percent more piece of mind," said Rebecca Huston, 42, of Cedar Glen, who lost her house and now lobbies in Sacramento for victims of the October fires.

She said insurance companies still aren't required to explain everything in great detail and may not convey how underinsured one is.