(*Note:  This Guest Blog is written by Javier Delgado, an attorney with Merlin Law Group in the Houston, Texas office).

Texas Windstorm Insurance Association says you only have 30 days to appeal its determination of damage to your property! DO NOT RUSH TO APPEAL before you learn what TWIA is not telling you; you will give up valuable legal rights and remedies.

Many people received a letter from Texas Windstorm Insurance Association explaining how TWIA determined the value of damages to their property. The TWIA letter states:

“You are hereby notified that an appeal of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s decision must be filed with the Commissioner of Insurance at the Texas Department of Insurance … no later than the 30th day after receipt of this letter.” [emphasis added]

The letter further states that a policyholder can appeal or file suit.

TWIA’s letter implies that a policyholder can appeal and file a lawsuit for violation of unfair settlement practices under Section 541.060 of the Texas Insurance Code. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Texas Statutes Section 2210.552, of the Insurance Code states that a person may appeal the decision with the Texas Department of Insurance OR file a lawsuit under Chapter 541. A policyholder cannot do both.

A person who appeals gives up his or her right to file a lawsuit against the insurance company for unfair settlement practices, such as misrepresenting a material fact or policy provision relating to covered loss, failing to attempt a prompt, fair, and equitable settlement of a claim after the insurer’s liability has become reasonably clear, unreasonably delaying a settlement, requiring a release when only a partial payment has been made, or refusing to pay a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation. There is a very good chance that you have faced one of these situations or know of someone who has.

The TWIA letter gives the false impression that if a policyholder does not appeal within 30 days, the decision is final, and the policyholder has no other options or remedies. Texas has some very good consumer protection laws:

  • Texas allows an insured to recover attorney fees and costs under Chapter 38 of the Civil Practices and Remedies Code.
  • Tex. Ins. Code Section 542.060, Prompt Payment Statute, entitles the insured to collect 18% interest plus additional attorney fees and costs if the insurance company does not promptly pay the claim in violation of the statute.
  • Tex. Ins. Code Section 541.152, punishes the insurance company by forcing them to pay the full amount of damages, attorney fees, expenses, and, if the violation is done knowingly, the damages owed by the insurance company are three (3) times the actual damages.

In addition, as some of you already know, an order has been entered in Galveston County directing that all homeowner Ike cases be stayed for 100 days to allow plaintiff and defense counsel to exchange discovery and set mediation. This order is very specific and holds the insurance company in contempt of court if its attorneys attend this mediation without full authority to settle the case or if they fail to settle in good faith. Mediation is not binding, and the insured decides whether to accept or reject the insurance company’s final offer. In my opinion, entering this order was a very wise decision by District Judge Susan Criss and will result in many more settlements. In this instance, mediation is not an alternative but a method within the litigation process, again another great example of consumer protection in Texas. Hopefully, a similar order will be entered in neighboring Harris County, helping to expedite settlements there.

Each policyholder has the right to contest TWIA’s decision through either an administrative hearing or by filing a lawsuit. Policyholders should carefully consider each option before making a decision.

It is important to note that policyholders who have already filed for an administrative hearing may, prior to the hearing date, ask to withdraw their administrative appeal, cancel the hearing and pursue remedies through the courts. A person wishing to do so would be well advised to contact an attorney to make sure that the proper procedure is followed in withdrawing the administrative appeal and preserving the policyholder’s right to file suit.

Texas provides some of the best consumer protection laws in the nation; I truly see no reason not to take full advantage of them.