Insurer Targeted Over Quake Claims

On the eve of the third anniversary of the Northridge earthquake, some homeowners plan to gather for a candlelight vigil tonight at the Woodland Hills headquarters of 20th Century Insurance to protest the company’s handling of their quake claims.

Organizers from the group Community Assisting Recovery, or CARe, maintain that too many claims have been denied or ignored in the past three years.

The company “badly bungled many estimates of damage,” according to a CARe statement, causing homeowners to settle for less than they were entitled. “Perhaps 20th Century has decided their financial statements look better if they pay extensive legal fees rather than pay to settle claims.”

Ric Hill, 20th Century’s vice president of corporate relations, said about 94% of the 46,000 claims filed after the quake were settled within the first year. Of that original total, he said, about 1% remain unresolved and less than half a percent have gone to court.

“It isn’t a situation where we found any major problems,” Hill said.

“Our position, we believe, is the same it has always been: We are going to do whatever we can until every claim is taken care of.”

Vigil organizers see it differently, saying that three years after the Northridge earthquake, a number of Valley residents still have not settled their insurance claims to repair their damaged homes.

Hill said the company does not plan any response to the vigil.

“I’m sure they’ll be orderly,” he said of the protesters. “There’s not a problem we anticipate.”

The vigil is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. at 6301 Owensmouth Ave.

For information, call (818) 887-4882.