Maurie Backman
6 min read
In This Article:
When Cumming, Georgia, homeowner Venkat Garikapati's roof sustained heavy wind damage in 2021, he filed a claim with his home insurance company, State Farm, to have it fixed.
However, State Farm only approved the replacement of 38 shingles and estimated the cost at $1,422.15 — less than Garikapati's $2,500 deductible — and closed the claim without paying, according to Atlanta News First. But Garikapati's roofer, David Garner, disputed the insurance company's assessment.
"It was torn all to pieces," Garner told the local broadcaster of the roof's condition. "More than 70 shingles were creased or missing."
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Garner, along with a public adjuster, spent years trying to prove to State Farm that Garikapati's roof needed a full replacement to avoid further damage and leaking, reports Atlanta News First. State Farm kept denying the claim before finally approving a full roof replacement on April 25, 2024 — more than three years after the original claim.
"They are never shy on collecting the monthly premium at all, but to get this approved took quite a long time," Garikapati said.
Garner went ahead and did the work. But after the initial "actual cash value" check cleared, State Farm refused to pay the replacement cost in full, citing a clause in Garikapati's insurance policy that stipulates a repair or replacement must be completed within two years of the date of loss to receive additional payments. As a result, Garner is out $12,000 — and he blames State Farm fully.
When a contractor does work on a home and isn't paid for it, they may be able to place a lien on the home. However, Garner doesn't want to do that to Garikapati.
"It's not the homeowner's fault that this is taking place," Garner said.
Despite the clause in Garikapati's insurance policy, Atlanta News First reports an attachment to State Farm's approval estimate stated: "Replacement cost benefits will be issued contingent completed of roof replacement and submission of photos, submission of photos, certificate of completion and or signed contract agreement with service provider."
