Homeowners who had their homes damaged during Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita could have some additional insurance money coming their way. If you received a payment from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation for damage from Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita, a class action lawsuit settlement may mean extra money in your pocket.

The settlement resolves a class action lawsuit over whether Louisiana Citizens improperly withheld payments of general contractor’s overhead and profit (GCOP) from amounts paid under homeowners’ insurance claims filed after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

GCOP is an amount typically charged by general contractors who oversee repairs to a building or structure. This may include supervising, scheduling, and/or warranting work and/or materials supplied by one or more subcontractors. Under Louisiana Citizens homeowners’ insurance policies, if repairs to a policyholder’s property require the use of three or more trades (i.e.; a skilled occupation devoted to certain repairs and/or building activities, such as carpentry, drywall, electrical work, masonry, painting, plumbing and roofing), Louisiana Citizens must pay 20% for GCOP. A policyholder does not need to actually hire a general contractor or even perform the repairs in order to qualify for a payment for GCOP.

Under the terms of the class action lawsuit settlement, a fund worth $23 million has been created to pay eligible homeowners whose insurance payment did not include 20% for GCOP. Your payment from this fund will be based on the total amount of your damage as well as the number of valid claims that are filed, up to 20% of the GCOP payment you should have received.

To be eligible for the class action lawsuit settlement, you must meet the following requirements:

-        Insured under a Louisiana Citizens homeowners’ insurance policy at the time of Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita;

-        Had damage to a structure covered by a Louisiana Citizens homeowners’ insurance policy as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita;

-        Louisiana Citizens’ insurance adjustment shows three or more trades were involved in the repair of the damaged structure;

-        Payment was based on Louisiana Citizens’ adjustment of damages; and

-        Payment did not include 20% GCOP.

If you already received your full policy limits for damage to or loss of your home or other insured structure, previously settled your claim with Louisiana Citizens and signed a release, or currently have an individual lawsuit against Louisiana Citizens involving damage from Katrina or Rita, you are not included in the settlement.

Claim forms must be postmarked no later than October 20, 2010.  Requests for exclusion from the settlement or objections to it must also be postmarked by October 20, 2010. The final fairness hearing will be held November 18, 2010.

For more information on the Louisiana Citizens Insurance Hurricane Katrina & Rita Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, including downloadable claim forms, check out our Open Settlements section.