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The deadline to file (or re-file) your Sandy flood insurance claim is September 15. If you had flood insurance at the time of the Superstorm, forgive us for saying this, but you’d be crazy not to have your case checked out by the firm of McCarthy & Kelly LLP. The Manhattan-based law firm partnered with another firm — Gauthier, Houghtaling & Williams (out of Louisiana), who fought for Katrina victims also shortchanged on flood insurance – to represent Sandy homeowners here.
We’re not getting paid to say it; we’ve already been paid for the lawyers’ ads in our centerfold. We just really like Bill Kelly and the others we met in sponsoring the recent town hall meeting in Howard Beach. They’ve been straight-shooters with us, and they care about this community.
Yes, it seems like a lot of time has passed since the storm hit nearly three years ago, and perhaps in an ideal world that would have been enough time to bounce back from the devastating blow to this part of Queens. But we were shortchanged on our flood insurance claims, and then, afterward, we were shortchanged again when FEMA asked for its money back. It’s daunting, so it’s not surprising that a lot of people gave up.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we think you should consider the following points made by lawyers from McCarthy & Kelly and Gauthier, Houghtaling & Williams during the town hall gathering on August 6:
- 100 percent of the cases they’ve taken on have yielded additional payouts
- The average re-filed claim gets $107,000 on top of monies already received
- The lawyers are paid on a contingency-basis. They don’t get any money if you don’t.
- Engineering firms, insurance companies, and possibly FEMA were fraudulent in original assessments, which, in hundreds of cases
- Omitted sales tax allocations
- Denied all or partial claims due to false preexisting conditions
- Did not cover replacing sheetrock floor to ceiling
- All siding was supposed to be covered
- Homes had foundational damage
- Matching cabinetry, floors, and carpets should have been covered
Kelly, a Rockaway native, couldn’t be clearer: he guarantees he can get you more money if he refiles your claim for you. His firm has already recovered more than $55 million for Sandy victims that were covered by flood insurance at the time of the Superstorm. It’s not rocket science. You were cheated, and it’s time (with very little effort required on your part) to rectify things. Simply call 844-33 SANDY or go to ghwlegal.com and click on the “free consultation” button to fill out an online form. The lawyers will handle the rest.
And if you are still confused or need more personalized assistance, The Forum has decided to sponsor another Town Hall meeting with the Sandy flood claims lawyers Kelly, et al on Thursday, August 27. This time the gathering will be held at the Old Mill Yacht Club at 163-15 Cross Bay Boulevard. Come ready with any documents you’d like reviewed or questions you need answered. We’ll see you there. And we’re looking forward to getting you paid the insurance money to which you have been entitled since the beginning.
