MOORE, Okla. – It’s a twist to a story we’ve reported many times since the May 20th Moore tornado.
We’ve told you about several homeowners suing their insurance companies for not settling fairly with them after the storm.
Well, now one of those insurance companies sued their client.
Paul Hernandez has a pending lawsuit against Liberty Mutual.
He says they offered him $40,000 to repair his home after the tornado.
“I was kind of shocked, really. I figured it was closer to the 90 to 100,000 dollar range, for sure, if not completely totaled,” said Hernandez.
Liberty Mutual’s structural engineer said the house could be repaired.
Hernandez’s own engineer said there was no way.
The City of Moore slated the house for demolition.
Then last month, Liberty Mutual pulled a move no one expected.
“To add insult to injury, they sued him. Never seen it. I’ve never even heard of it,” said Jeff Marr, Hernandez’s attorney.
Liberty Mutual sued Hernandez and the City of Moore to try to keep them from demolishing the home.
Liberty Mutual says the home is evidence.
“His home is no longer a home, now it’s evidence. I think it’s evidence of bad faith. And I would be more than happy for jurors to walk through his home,” said Marr.
Last week, a Cleveland County judge ruled in Hernandez’s favor, saying the house can be torn down.
“Everybody says ‘oh don’t worry, I have insurance.’ Well you better be careful when you say that,” said Hernandez.
Hernandez’s life has been on hold for more than a year now.
He’s hoping clearing this latest hurdle gets him a little closer to joining the ranks of those rebuilding their lives.
A spokesperson for Liberty Mutual says they won’t comment on a matter in litigation.
Hernandez has now filed another claim against the company for malicious prosecution.