(Mobile, Ala.) June 6 - Willis Robinson is the owner of Nan Seas Restaurant... or, at least he
was the owner of Nan Seas. The sign on Dauphin Island Parkway pointing patrons toward Mobile Bay is still up, but when you get to the spot, all you see is the Bay. Nan Seas is gone.
Standing in one place and pointing to a few spots, Willis recently gave NBC15 News a brief tour of where his landmark restaurant used to be. "Right over that way was the kitchen and dish room area. Right there in that particular area, where the checkerboard is, was the main dining room." Turning toward the Bay he added, "Then, of course, out there was the patio and deck area." Willis said.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed Nan Seas Restaurant, but not the spirit of the man who owned it. "It's just frustrating to have to deal with the insurance companies." said Willis.
He received what he thought was a fair settlement on the flood coverage, but not on his policy for wind damage. "I was insulted with a $6,300 check, when I had almost $600,000 in damage." he told us.
Gene Warhurst is a former insurance adjustor and is now a practicing attorney in Mobile. "I think it's absurd. That's my opinion." said Warhurst concerning the amount of Robinson's settlement check. "People think when an insurance company offers an amount on their home, that's what they have to take, and it's not."
Warhurst has represented hundreds of clients against insurance companies after Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina. "We have not seen any estimate or evaluation that has not been very low compared to what is fair."
The attorney said that insurance companies in recent years have low balled the costs to repair property, and where appropriate, they have claimed the damage was from flood, not wind, which takes away their responsibility to pay. "And that's just not true. We all know, common sense, that most of these homes were destroyed if not first by the wind, at least half by the wind."
Interestingly, 2005 was the most active hurricane season in recorded history. With record damages of over 128 billion dollars, published reports indicate insurance companies made a record profit of $44.8-billion that year. That's almost a 20 percent increase over the previous year.
"I think what insurance companies are doing is, they're putting very skilled people on the front lines against folks who are not experienced," Warhurst stated.
Willis Robinson never gave up, even after exhausting all avenues with his insurance company, with regards to his commercial property policy. With a $6,300 settlement check, he hired an attorney.
Many attorney's will take on insurance cases for a contingency fee, which means they only get paid if you get more money from your insurance company, as a result of lawsuit or another settlement. And even though you may have already deposited a settlement check, it still may not be too late to contact a lawyer if you did not receive what you think is fair.
The statute of limitations on contracts in Alabama is six years. In Florida, it is five years and in Mississippi, the statute of limitations is three years.
Willis Robinson just recently received more money from his insurance company. He credits his lawyer. The check was for more than $223,000, which will be used as the foundation for the new Nan Seas Restaurant. "By golly they paid up after all." said Robinson, wearing a big smile.
NBC15 called his insurance company to discuss why their sudden change of mind? They never called back.
Willis is now looking ahead. "My employees and my customers hang in there. I'm coming back." He's coming back with a restaurant that, according to the building plans, will be bigger, better and nine feet higher.
