Sulphur lady suggests insurance commissioner ‘humiliated’ her | Community

Robin Baudoin stated she was stunned and humiliated after studying Louisiana Coverage Commissioner Jim Donelon’s letter to the editor, published in Sunday’s version of the American Press. Donelon wrote that Baudoin did not surface to have filed a criticism with the Department of Insurance on the claim for her hurricane-ruined Sulphur dwelling. She said she filed a complaint Jan. 6 and afterwards bought an emailed affirmation letter from Donelon the identical working day.

“I simply cannot believe that they would have completed this without the need of some energy to make contact with me,” Baudoin said of Donelon’s letter. “It created me search like a liar. I truly feel like he kicked me while I was down.”

The American Push very first spoke with Baudoin in January about how Hurricane Laura remaining her two-tale dwelling in ruins, coupled with the disappointment at her insurance plan company’s sluggish rate in receiving her declare settled. A lot less than two months in the past, she testified prior to the Residence Insurance policies Committee in Baton Rouge in aid of Property Monthly bill 469 by Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria.

Just after her testimony, Jeffrey Zewe, with the Louisiana Insurance coverage Section, approached Baudoin and asked if she filed a complaint with them. She outlined filing a grievance in January and finding Donelon’s affirmation letter. She claimed he then asked for the spelling of her previous name.

“That’s all he asked me,” she mentioned. “He appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared.”

Considering that then, Baudoin explained she hasn’t listened to from Donelon or any other insurance coverage division staff members member.

“I’ve experienced no electronic mail, nothing at all from their business office,” she said. “It’s like radio silence.”

Eric Holl, executive director of Serious Reform Louisiana, stated Donelon choosing to create and post the letter without to start with achieving out to Baudoin is unacceptable.

“The incompetence on display from the Division of Insurance is fairly striking,” he mentioned. “Their grievance method and administration of issues is so poor and disorganized, they really don’t know who has filed a grievance and who hasn’t.”

A few months ago, Baudoin reported Point out Farm, her insurance plan company, stopped shelling out the $950 regular hire on the garage condominium where by she has been dwelling due to the fact Laura, alongside with the $273 monthly price on a storage unit.

The expenditures of the apartment and storage device were being lined less than her insurance coverage coverage and were being connected to loss of use from the hurricane, she stated.

“They had been paying that with no trouble, then it just stopped,” Baudoin explained.

Baudoin stated she was left with no choice but to file a lawsuit in federal court. The match was submitted May possibly 5, just one day just after her testimony in advance of the Property Insurance policies Committee.

“The next number of months are going to be attention-grabbing, but that’s the way it is,” she mentioned.

Due to the fact submitting the lawsuit, Baudoin mentioned the female she is leasing the condominium from is waiving her monthly rent. She said she continues to pay back utilities.

Two months earlier, Baudoin resolved to demolish her decimated residence, as it was starting to be a basic safety hazard in the neighborhood, she explained. Oddly more than enough, she proceeds to pay out insurance policy to State Farm on the home, which was compensated off prior to Hurricane Laura hit.

“They’re nevertheless having it out of my lender account, about $200 a month,” Baudoin reported. “I hear which is happening to other individuals, too.”

Within the previous two months, Baudoin explained been given an insurance plan payment of $100,000. She explained that doesn’t come shut to her $600,000 plan and is effectively short of the $400,000-$500,000 an architect and structural engineer mentioned was necessary to maintenance her destroyed household.

For now, Baudoin is waiting around to see what will come of the lawsuit.

“Needless to say, I never have a lot of a social existence right now,” she stated, laughing. “I’m however in purgatory. That’s what it is, just hanging on.”

A spokesperson for the Louisiana Insurance policy Commissioner’s Office environment declined to remark for this tale.