Jackson, Miss. – Attorney General Jim Hood today announced that the state’s suit to make the insurance companies honor their policies and pay for damage caused by storm surge, has been remanded back to the Chancery Court of Hinds County. Since the State is seeking injuctive, the case will now be expedited. “As I stated when the Insurance companies moved this to federal court, their attempt was nothing but a delay tactic,” said General Hood. “The insurance industry is using delay tactics in hopes that many Mississippians will give up on their claims and take whatever the insurance companies offer. I hope people will hold on just a little bit longer and let us get a decision on this case.”
The Attorney General filed a civil action in the Chancery Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, First Judicial District on September 15 against the insurance industry to protect Mississippi’s property owners who incurred damage from Hurricane Katrina.“The insurance companies have already caused a six-month delay by taking this to federal court under a false premise,” said Hood. “I think it is shameful that the insurance industry would drag this out while people are living in limbo. I just want to know how much money they’ve saved themselves holding on to these people’s money?” The lawsuit seeks to make the insurance industry honor their contracts to pay for losses caused by Katrina, particularly their attempt to exclude damage caused directly or indirectly by water, whether or not driven by wind. “I want to reassure Mississippians who have already been victimized by Katrina that I am doing everything I can to keep them from being victimized again by the insurance companies,” said Hood. The next step for the case is a hearing in Chancery Court which the Attorney General’s office will request as soon as possible.