Callahan & Blaine

Despite an appeal by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has once again denied federal disaster aid to the victims of the San Bruno, California gas line explosion. Thirty-five homes were destroyed and eight people killed when the PG&E gas line exploded in September of this year.

FEMA maintains that local resources have not been overwhelmed and federal aid is not necessary, and will not give the people of San Bruno the millions in aid requested by California officials. Thus far the final cost of the explosion and subsequent fires is unknown.

The news became public during a packed town-hall meeting led by California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner at a San Bruno elementary school.  The meeting addressed the difficulties and rights people have when making insurance claims in the face of such disasters.

Deputy Insurance Commissioner Tony Cignarale told the room full of people that they generally have about a year to submit a list of destroyed and lost items to their insurance companies, and that everyone should file a claim if they have not already done so. Cignarale also advised saving all receipts for costs associated with the explosion because they might be necessary if a claim is denied or an expense disputed.

As a litigation firm with a national reputation for aggressively litigating and consistently winning complex multi-million dollar cases, Callahan & Blain has developed an expertise in going after the insurance companies – and making them pay. In a similar case, our attorneys were able to obtain $800,000 in coverage for a client who had been denied coverage for claims arising from the Northridge earthquakes.

If your insurance claim has been denied, contact the lawyers of Callahan& Blaine for expert legal assistance.