Post-Sandy insurance claims cause confusion and anger among ...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - In December, a photograph of a Tottenville couple "thanking" Allstate for providing a mere pittance in payment for their Sandy-wrecked home had gone viral, amassing more than 88,000 "shares" in a matter of days.

The image shows Maria Cardinale and her husband, Joe, outside their heavily damaged home on Loretto Street hoisting an orange banner with the legend "Thank You Allstate Homeowners Insurance. Approved for $165.35 in Damages."

The banner's bottom line mocks the insurance company's "Good Hands" motto.

The Advance reported Dec. 8 that while the photo captures a tale of woe, the Cardinales are expecting more money ? up to a maximum of $250,000 ? from their Allstate flood insurance policy, the homeowner said.

Cardinale said he was still awaiting a check from Allstate, but didn't expect to receive the full amount from his flood insurance policy. Cardinale did not respond to phone messages left on his voice-mail Sunday that requested an update on his family's situation.

But an Allstate spokesperson said the company paid "significant dollars" toward his claim, though it could not disclose an actual amount.

Earlier last week, Cardinale stated he wasn't anticipating Allstate to provide significant funds from his homeowners insurance policy because the engineering report said wind damage to his Tottenville residence was limited to two missing shingles on the front (east) slope of the roof.

A Loretto Street resident since 1998, Cardinale believed a tree wiped out part of his home during the night of Hurricane Sandy, but the engineering report, obtained from Cardinale, states, "A tree strike caused damage to the wood deck at the rear of the house and the south exterior wall and windows. The tree fell as a result of storm tide from Sandy."

Said Cardinale: "I'm not a happy camper about that. A tree came down. Who's to say what happened when?"

The report also says "The damage at the residence that occurred during the passage of Sandy was caused by flowing water and rising water from the storm tide."

In addition, it reads, "High water resulted in increased hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic (water) pressure on the exterior walls which caused structural failure of the north and west walls. The brick veneer at the front (west) exterior wall, front window, front entry door, and garage door were also damaged by water pressure. The flooding also caused non-structural water damage to numerous floor and wall coverings throughout the residence."

Cardinale's homeowners insurance policy does not cover floods under coverage A, B, and C (dwelling protection, other structures protection and personal property protection), including, but not limited to, surface water, waves, tidal water or overflow of any body of water, or spray from any of these, whether or not driven by wind, according to an Allstate pamphlet. Cardinale confirmed this, but said his policy included protection from wind damage.

"Allstate continues to serve, and help our customers restore and rebuild what they lost in the storm," the company said in a statement. "While we cannot provide specific details pertaining to this claim or our interactions with the customer, we have been and continue to be in ongoing contact with this customer."

Cardinale admitted he's having chest pains over the whole thing.

"I have life insurance with Allstate. They're going to pay me one way or another," he joked.
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Source: http://www.silive.com/southshore/index.ssf/2013/01/post-sandy_insurance_claims_ca.html

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