Hurricane Ike Lawsuits Flood Courthouses on Storm’s One-Year Anniversary

Thousands of homeowners in coastal Texas communities who were devastated by Hurricane Ike in September 2008 have unleashed a fierce storm of their own on area courthouses.

In recent weeks, hundreds Ike-related lawsuits were filed in courthouses in Houston and Beaumont, prompting court officials earlier this year to consolidate the claims into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) panel, according to a report in the Southeast Texas Record. In all, officials estimate there are currently more than 1,500 lawsuits filed regarding Hurricane Ike damages.

As part of the MDL, the consolidated claims will be heard collectively and possibly tried together if the parties cannot reach settlements or other dispositions before trial. In addition to promoting fair and equitable handling of the thousands of cases, the MDL process saves taxpayers money by streamlining pre-trial hearings and rulings on matters such as expert witnesses and other trial matters.

The civil court judges presiding over the Hurricane Ike MDL are Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court; Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court; Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court; and Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, according to the Record.

Homeowners Sue Insurance Providers

The lawsuits are based on homeowners’ claims that various insurance providers failed to pay for hurricane-related claims, the Record said. Frustrated policy holders who submitted claims for repairs to their homes say they have been left high and dry, without needed cash to begin or complete necessary repairs.

Historic Storm Causes Billions in Damages

Hurricane Ike was the third-most-destructive hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States when it slammed into the Texas gulf coast near Galveston on Sept. 1, 2008. The storm was blamed for 174 deaths worldwide and an estimated $24 billion in property damage in the U.S. alone.

Lawsuits seeking damages caused by Hurricane Ike are governed by a one-year statute of limitations, which is a filing deadline imposed by courts. In order to protect their legal rights to obtain financial compensation for hurricane-related damages, plaintiffs must file their lawsuits before a year has passed, which gave rise to a flood of recently filed suits just as the September 2009 deadline approached.

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