Reading Eagle, Pa., Jason Brudereck column [Reading Eagle, Pa.]

Dec. 18--His father died not long after his mother passed away, and while he was away mourning a few months ago, copper piping was stolen from his Reading home's basement.

That has left him without heat or running water in most of his house, but the 59-year-old man's insurance company has refused to pay for $4,000 in damage that burglars inflicted by ripping out piping worth only $250.

His fixed income of $670 per month doesn't allow him to fix the damage on his own.

He has had two knee replacements, which makes it difficult to haul buckets of water up the steps from the basement where the only working faucet remains.

The buckets of water are needed to flush his toilet and to heat water on the stove to give himself sponge baths.

On top of that, the night before I visited his frigid home, he was mugged on Penn Street. Attackers took his cell phone and a briefcase that they probably thought contained a laptop but actually contained only some household bills and family photos.

The man doesn't want his name used here for several reasons, including his protracted fight with his insurance company, the possibility of city inspectors condemning his damaged house and the fear that the robbers and burglars who made him a victim could do so again since both sets of thugs know his address.

But he is a real person facing a real tough situation, as I can attest to after walking through his house.

Mike Lazarchick, a West Reading-based insurance claims adjuster who is working with the man, noted: "This is as ridiculous a case I have seen in 20 years."

The man wanted to share his story as a warning to others. Lazarchick said the lesson is: "As a homeowner, as a renter, as a landlord, ask the questions about the 'What if,' such as 'Am I covered if -?'"

In the case of this victim, he overpaid for insurance that provided too little coverage.

The problem stems from the type of policy peddled by little-known insurance outfits, Lazarchick said.

The victim was given a "named-peril policy," which says exactly what circumstances are covered and puts the burden on the insured to prove what happened, Lazarchick said.

Lazarchick recommends an "open-peril policy," which covers anything not specifically excluded and puts the burden on the company to disprove a homeowner's claim.

Unfortunately, this excellent lesson is too late for one man facing a cold Christmas.

Contact Jason Brudereck: 610-371-5044 or [email protected].

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