Windstorm association reverses course on bait shop owner’s Harvey claim
But Thursday was a good day. "Right now, they're pouring my foundation," she said. "I've waited a long time to see this."
Until recently, it seemed as though this day might not come at all. Heiman's application for a loan from the federal
The loan finally came arrived, though. Two days after the
There was no argument that Heiman had purchased a policy for her Offshore Adventures business. She'd paid
But TWIA, which offers last-resort wind and hail insurance for coastal communities that can't otherwise afford it, denied Heiman's claim. Her insurance agent had mistakenly transposed two numbers on her policy application, listing the bait shop's address as
After receiving the policy application, the windstorm association's underwriter couldn't find the incorrect address using Google Maps. But she had approved the policy anyway, observing that "nothing seemed out of the ordinary."
Running low on money, Heiman had protested the denial to the
Administrative hearing conclusions are treated as recommendations, and on
A spokeswoman for TWIA did not respond to an email seeking comment. But Heiman said she had received a phone call from an agency executive two days later informing her that TWIA was reversing its position and that her claim would be paid. She received a follow-up email on
"On behalf of myself and the
He continued: "During our reconsideration of our position, we realized that we had been too rigid in applying our rules. We will use this experience to improve our evaluation and consideration of similar circumstances that we may encounter in the future."
Court records show that Heiman filed a request to dismiss her case a day later. Her lawyer,
"Here was a person who had insurance and had paid for her policy, and (TWIA) wasn't paying her," he said. "But they did a complete 180-degree reversal. They gave her everything she had coming."
Heiman said she had hoped to be open for business for the long
Still, Heiman said she had already ordered the dozen large tanks needed to hold her bait. A friend managed to find another sea shells-in-acrylic toilet seat for the shop's restroom. She has been speaking with the various boat captains she uses to deliver shrimp, squid, mullet, croaker, piggy perch and crabs, preparing orders to be ready for the
"A few of them had already been calling me," Heiman said. "They're asking, 'Are you ready yet?'"
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