SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5\/KUSI) \u2014 The City of San Diego approved a $6.3 million settlement to several insurance companies over the January 2024 floods.<\/p>\n
The settlement got its final stamp of approval in council chambers on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Seventeen insurance companies filed four subrogation lawsuits in an effort to recover the property damage claims they paid out to their clients after the floods.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t forgotten about what happened or the responsibilities we have moving forward,\u201d Councilmember Sean Elo Rivera said during Tuesday\u2019s meeting after the unanimous vote to approve the settlement, which had already been voted on in a November closed session.<\/p>\n
But many victims, including Jessica Calix, are still waiting on their own pending lawsuits and said they are frustrated that the insurance companies got paid first.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been the most devastating thing I\u2019ve experienced in my life,\u201d Jessia Calix said.<\/p>\n
She said she lost everything when her apartment flooded.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything I owned in my 41 years of life is gone,\u201d Calix said. \u201cMy father\u2019s ashes were in the flood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now Jessica and her 10-year-old son live in an RV Park, as she saves and waits.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if I got a payout today, it wouldn\u2019t put me in a house tomorrow because we\u2019re all at a deficit,\u201d Calix said. She didn\u2019t have insurance, and many victims\u2019 insurance plans didn\u2019t cover the flooding damage.<\/p>\n
On top of climbing out of the hole the flood put her in, she now has to begin repaying her $30,000 FEMA loan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever stability that you had at that point, it was lost, generational wealth was literally washed away,\u201d Calix said.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s one of about 1,500 flood victims who are suing the City of San Diego.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re suing for support to basically rebuild our lives,\u201d Calix said.<\/p>\n
Her attorney, Domenic Martini, represents about half of the 1,500 flood victims with lawsuits. He believes the claims against the city add up to hundreds of millions of dollars, and is calling the settlement with the insurance companies \u201cprogress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we appreciate that the city is taking responsibility for the floods at this point, it leaves victims wondering what happens next for them,\u201d Martini said. \u201cThis multi-million dollar payout to insurance companies, it doesn\u2019t go to the victims, and so the victims are sitting here wondering, \u2018well is the city going to take responsibility for my case? When are we going to get paid and finally be able to rebuild?’\u201d<\/p>\n
The lawsuit against the city has a trial date set for Oct. 2, but it\u2019s possible the city could settle before then.<\/p>\n
Meantime, Jessica and her son are holding onto hope for what comes next.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat breaks my heart the most is to have to see him recover,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is his future, to hear that they are valuing these insurance companies over my son\u2019s life and his future is just horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The insurance carriers are as follows, according to the city: Palomar Specialty Insurance Company, Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Company, Allied World Assurance Company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Tokio Marine Kiln Holdings, Inc., Federated Mutual Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Northbrook Indemnity Company, Esurance Property and Casualty, Encompass Insurance Company, Integon National Insurance Company, Integon Preferred Insurance, National General Insurance Company, Insurance Company of the West, Mercury Insurance Company, California Automobile Insurance Company, and Certain Underwriters of Lloyd\u2019s London.<\/p>\n
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