Orange Co. woman sues insurance company following fire at business

An Orange County woman claims her insurance company significantly underpaid her for catastrophic damages caused to her property during a fire. 

Danna O’Quinn filed a lawsuit June 26 in Jefferson County District Court against General Star Indemnity Co.

In her complaint, O’Quinn alleges her property at 315 Interstate Highway 10 North in Beaumont suffered damages from a fire on July 4, 2011. At the time of the blaze, O’Quinn had an insurance policy through General Star Indemnity Co., but it refused to pay adequately pay her for her losses, according to the complaint.

“The defendant’s action in failing and refusing to pay the $32,995.72 omitted from the 2011 building estimate to the 2013 estimate, the $29,042.21 not added on the 2013 proposed statement of loss, the $87,612.47 underpaid 2013 building and B.P.P. loss estimate, the $71,496.52 building depreciation improperly calculated, and the $62,799.77 B.P.P. depreciation improperly calculated were all unreasonably and without proper cause, constitutes breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealings,” the suit states.

In her complaint, O’Quinn seeks an amount within the jurisdictional limit of Jefferson County District Court, plus pre-judgment interest at the highest rate allowed by law, post-judgment interest at the legal rate, costs, attorney’s fees and other relief the court deems just.

Mel W. Shelander of Beaumont will be representing her.

The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136^th District Court.

Case No. D194-475