Significant Milestone: Attending a Former Client’s 100th Birthday Party

It is very rare for our firm to publish settlement results obtained for our clients, as the amounts are always confidential. That said, as lawyers exclusively handling first party property insurance disputes, our duty extends beyond winning cases and providing legal advice to commercial and residential insureds. We strive to build professional, long-lasting relationships with our clients, working diligently towards positive outcomes and communicating every step of the way—perhaps a reason we receive references from former clients.  But I was especially honored to attend the celebration of a significant milestone in the life of a former client last month, who turned 100.

As brief background on our former clients’ insurance claim, this elderly couple had been married for just over 70 years when their beautiful home in Houston experienced a catastrophic amount of water damage caused by Winter Storm Uri from seven (7) pipe bursts.  Even though they had robust insurance coverage, the carrier waited five months to send them a check for about $11,000—particularly insulting since they had a mitigation invoice for almost six figures. It is hard to fully comprehend the devastation and repeated nonsense from adjusters they experienced, especially given their ages, but being displaced for over two years from their long-time home took the largest toll of all on their physical well-being and health. 

Interestingly, the fifth adjuster on their claim elected to invoke appraisal a few months before we were retained, since the latest adjuster simply didn’t want to prepare an additional estimate on this loss. While we obtained an excellent result in appraisal, that certainly did not end their lawsuit despite the carrier’s threats to seek a dismissal. We demonstrated a number of unconscionable actions which directly led to additional losses that qualified as “independent injuries,” and thus were still owed under the “Benefits-Lost Rule” grounded in Texas common law. Armed with knowledge, dedication, and strong legal arguments, we fought tirelessly to ensure justice was served for these wonderful folks after a lengthy battle, enabling them to rebuild their property and their lives.

So along with a birthday, we celebrated another landmark together in person that evening—they received the single largest confidential seven-figure resolution in any residential claim that I have been involved with in over 20 years of practice in the insurance field.  However, in having the pleasure of meeting many of his family members, I quickly realized the settlement was trivial compared to what this gentleman had done over his 100 years for the Lebanese community in Houston.  The stories told later that evening on stage reflected a man who had lived selflessly throughout much of his life, and who had inspired countless individuals with whom he had worked. These tributes also reinforced the importance of treating clients as people or businesses with unique stories, rather than merely cases.

Receiving an invitation to a former client's centennial celebration was a humbling experience. It served as a testament to the mutual respect our firm had developed during the course of the contentious legal proceedings. The invitation also affirmed the positive impact lawyers can have, not just within the confines of our respective cases, but in the overall lives of our clients.