Superstorm Sandy Victims Continue Legal Fight for Reimbursement in New Jersey

Was your property damaged during Superstorm Sandy?

A North Jersey husband and wife have chosen to continue their legal battle to be reimbursed after suffering flood damage during Superstorm Sandy.

On Wednesday, New Jersey residents Michael and Geraldine Torre officially requested that the NJ Supreme Court’s Appellate rehear en banc their recent ruling that the couple’s insurance provider – Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance – isn’t responsible for covering the cost of removing debris that was deposited on the Torre’s land during the 2012 disaster.

The couple’s petition comes in the wake of a court panel’s March decision that “insured property” as it appears in a Standard Flood Insurance Policy doesn’t include a property owner’s land, only building improvements.

The Torres are claiming that the resulting legal precedent may affect property owners statewide.

“As the court is aware, there are literally thousands of claims and lawsuits arising out of Superstorm Sandy in both New Jersey and New York, and the issue will arise again in both the Third and Second Circuit Courts of Appeal,” the Torres wrote in Wednesday’s petition.

The Torres added:

“In addition, since the flood insurance policy at issue is national, the decision will affect every jurisdiction in the United States.”

REMEBMERING: SUPERSTORM SANDY DAMAGE

• In Hoboken, more than half of the city was flooded, trapping more than 20,000 residents under water and causing more than $100 million in property damage. [See related Patch article here; See Patch photos of the damage following the storm here]
• In Montclair, trees were uprooted throughout town, causing massive power outages and property damage. [See related Patch article here; See Patch photos of the damage following the storm here]
• In Caldwell, thousands woke up to no power and closed roads. [See related Patch article]
• In Livingston, a local Patch editor was among the victims of the storm. [See related Patch article]
• In Millburn, power lines were toppled and trees were felled. [See related Patch article here; See Patch photos of the damage following the storm here]
• More than 250,000 residents lost power throughout Essex County on Oct. 30, 2012 [See related Patch article]

Photo caption: Flooding hits the streets of Hoboken during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

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