A group of 2007 fire victims say they are unable to re-build their homes because of insurance issues.
"Cruel and unusual punishment" -- that's how a group of 2007 fire survivors describes the way they've been treated by insurance companies. About two dozen people gathered on an empty lot in Rancho Bernardo on Wednesday morning to make a public plea to Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. The said they want the commissioner to go after the insurance companies that have low-balled or underinsured fire victims.
Julia Erickson lost her home in Julian in the 2003 fires. Then, in a cruel twist of fate, she lost her second home last year in Rancho Bernardo. She said fighting insurance the second time around hasn't been any easier.
"So you can imagine losing things that make your heart hurt and then having the insurance company say, 'We've depreciated that to $3,' " Erickson said.
Poizner announced Tuesday that his agency has helped recover more than $9 million in aid for San Diego County fire victims.
“We are very proud of the additional $13 million the department has helped 2007 wildfire survivors recover from insurance companies.... What people are bringing up today is tactics. While we reserve the right to use enforcement actions in the future, our current strategy is a proven success.," said Poizner's deputy press secretary Molly DeFrank.
DeFrank encouraged people who need guidance to call the state's consumer hot line at 800-927-HELP.
