Insurance Agent Negligent For Failure To Renew Windstorm Policy Shortly Before Hurricane; Found Liable To Owner For $29K+, Owner's Attorney For $165K

In Jefferson County, Texas, The Southeast Texas Record reports:

• Nashib Investments landed a $29,550 jury award [...] for damages to its property on Major Drive following Hurricane Ike. However, the company also witnessed jurors award $165,000 to its attorney.

• Last August, Nashib Investments filed suit against Y.K. Man and his insurance agency, alleging the agent negligently allowed the company's windstorm insurance policy to lapse days before Hurricane Ike made landfall on Sept. 13, 2008. From Sept. 8, 2009, to Sept. 15, 2009, TWIA placed a moratorium on writing insurance policies, but Nashib Investments claims it had authorized Man to renew the policy two weeks earlier, court papers say.

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• Jurors found Man negligent in failing to expedite renewal of Nashib Investments' Texas Windstorm Insurance Policy, awarding the company $9,500 in actual damages to its property and $20,000 in exemplary damages. Jurors also awarded Nashib Investments' counsel, Houston attorney James Amaro, $165,000 in attorney's fees and court costs.

For the story, see Jury awards 5 times more to attorney than plaintiff.