Buying a home? Consider these 6 insurance tips

Time is running out. Homebuyers must sign a contract by the end of next week to take advantage of federal tax incentives. In the rush to make a deal, one detail that they'll need to weigh carefully is securing the appropriate insurance to protect their investment. Keep in mind these basics when thinking about homeowners insurance:

Read more:
http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_b8ee9715-584f-5c4c-8876-d2c4f96cb738.html

How to Review Your Homeowners Insurance Renewal Statement

For most of us, our home is our single largest and most important investment. Many of us have poured thousands of dollars and countless hours into maintaining, improving and (hopefully) paying off our homes. Many people own their homes free of any mortgage. These assets are pure equity. Certainly its worthwhile to invest 15 minutes a year to be sure it’s properly insured.

Read more:
http://www.thesandiegoinsuranceblog.com/how-to-review-your-homeowners-insurance-renewal-statement/

NO Guejito Fire Wildfire Lawsuits are being Settled or Mediated!

NO 2007 Guejito Fire cases, as designated by SDG&E, are being settled or mediated contrary to rumors disseminated to the San Diego Fire community.  This update is to continue our practice to provide accurate information to protect homeowner interests.  This CARE 2007 wildfire litigation update is generated, too, by inquiries from fire victims who are being told, wrongly, Guejito Fire cases are being mediated and will soon be settled.  (In response to complaints to CARe by the "San Diego Fire Victims Lawyers", this message is not intended to interfere with representation of any particular attorney.)

SDG&E refuses to mediate ANY case it designated as “Guejito Fire” including Escondido, The Trails and Rancho Bernardo.  While we believe the designation may be wrong, SDG&E, as we understand, is not willing to consider mediation on any of these cases until the Cox Communication liability is resolved between these two entities.  Resolution will involve extensive legal work and could take some time.

In fact, as numerous calls to CARe revealed, only one attorney has settled ALL of his Witch and Rice Fire cases.  CARe is receiving calls from people with other attorneys that indicate Witch and Rice Fire cases are settling slowly and on an individual, one-by-one basis.  This process unfortunately could take time especially for those fire victims at the end of the schedule.

To repeat prior updates, if you have not hired an attorney to settle with SDG&E and Cox Communications, CARe recommends for you to achieve your best results, you consider  an attorney with extensive experience, with appropriately documented and professionally presented cases, and with the financial resources to prosecute major litigation.

Make certain any attorney’s contingency fee contract is based on your NET award and not your GROSS award. In a NET fee agreement, you can receive a larger share of any settlement than in a GROSS fee agreement. Your attorney should also not require any “up-front” out of pocket costs to you.  This is particularly important for Guejito designated cases as costs could be considerable due to Cox Communication litigation.  In a GROSS fee agreement you will pay attorneys fees on costs.  The higher the costs the more your attorney gets of your settlement amount!  In a NET fee agreement you do not pay attorney fees on costs

If you have any questions please call CARe at 818-216-0123 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions or need to determine the best way to proceed with the approaching legal deadline. Be aware that some portions of your damages may not be available because of the expiration of some statutes of limitation.

CARe, Community Assisting Recovery, Inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation providing free educational services to disaster victims since 1994.

Important CARe Update For Those Who Have NOT Filed SDG&E Lawsuit

CARe’s most recent 2007 wildfire litigation update generated a surprising response from some Witch, Rice and Guejito wildfire victims. Astoundingly, some fire victims, for whatever reasons, did not file lawsuits against SDG&E and Cox Communications.

This update is NOTICE to any Rice, Witch or Guejito fire victims who have not filed a lawsuit regarding the 2007 wildfire against SDG&E and Cox that you must act now—ASAP!

If you had fire damages and have not sued the parties responsible for your fire losses, you MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY OR FOREVER LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO SUE FOR ANY FIRE LOSSES. Even if you think you have no discernible damages you might think again before it is too late.

Fire victims have advised CARe that the attorney who recently settled their cases, Mr. Brian Heffernan, is currently accepting new cases for the 2007 wildfires. Mr. Heffernan may be reached at 310-552-3800 ext 305 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mr. Heffernan’s clients are the only large group of whom CARe is aware to achieve a significant comprehensive Witch and Rice Fire award from SDG&E. This victory reinforces the wisdom of good legal strategies CARe has seen succeed following prior disasters.

Since the 1994 Northridge earthquake, CARe has learned that attorneys with extensive experience, with appropriately documented and professionally presented cases, and with the financial resources to prosecute major litigation achieve the following successful results:

• Earlier resolutions with better awards
• Minimal costs and stress to clients
• Clients can move on with their lives

We encourage anyone who has not filed a claim to immediately call CARe at 818-216-0123 if you have any questions or need to determine the best way to proceed with the rapidly approaching deadline. Be aware that some portions of your damages may not be available because of the expiration of some statutes of limitation.