Doctor claims insurance company failed to provide flood coverage for beach house

GALVESTON - A Harris County physician claims his insurer failed to provide him flood coverage even though he was paying premiums.

Dr. David Singleton's lawsuit against Kurtin Insurance & Financial Services says the plaintiff's beach house on the Bolivar Peninsula suffered damages worth more than $375,000 after Hurricane Ike made landfall along the upper Texas coast in September 2008.

The original complaint, filed July 9 in Galveston County District Court, states that Singleton contacted his insurance agent to make a claim for the substantial damages to his home - which inspectors declared a total loss - but was informed there was no flood insurance.

Singleton asserts the defendant suggested he acquire flood and homeowners coverage when he purchased the beach house in May 2008. The doctor claims he placed the orders through Lindsey Smith, a co-defendant in the case.

"Now Dr. Singleton has learned that the coverage he requested was never provided," the suit says.

"When investigating further, he was informed by his agent at Kurtin that he never made the premium payment and therefore there was no coverage."

The plaintiff insists that he arranged for Kurtin to debit his credit card for his premiums, believing the prompt payments would grant him full coverage.

"As experts in the field of insurance, Dr. Singleton relied on Kurtin and its agents to provide him the full insurance services and advice he requires to properly protect his property," the suit says.

Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

Attorney Martin L. Mayo of Houston is representing Singleton, and Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the case.

Case No. 10-cv-1879