ustxtxb_obs_2000_11_17_50_00010-00000_000.pdf

44, tit 1. STIN, TEXAS 78754 512.323.9247 800.388.9406 htto:/ w.unionprinter. torn `; 10 THE TEXAS OBSERVER NOVEMBER 17, 2000 ney General’s Office, and attention from the news media, some landlords have finally filed insurance claims to pay for repairs, said attorney Steve Maxwell, Bar Association president. “Many of these people did have insurance provided as contractually agreed. It was just a matter of getting the claims process going. There was insurance, but there was nobody helping them make claims,” he said. “In many cases, they didn’t even know who their insurance carrier was because the landlords had taken care of that.” Volunteer attorneys have also helped some buyers change their contracts-for-deed into more conventional owner-financed mortgages. The Hernandez family finally secured a home repair loan from the SBA, and moved back into their newly renovated house last month. At least one insurance claim that had been paid but never turned over to the “buyer” was delivered after the Attorney General’s office looked into the case. Volunteers say they are still negotiating with HGU and Chester Riggs, but so far neither has paid for any of the donated work or supplies. “This situation sure has clarified for meand for a lot of peoplea lot of things I never thought about that could happen in a contract-for-deed situation,” Maxwell said. “There were a lot of little side deals, for instance, that were made that were never in writing. If anything good came out of the tornado [it] is that it brought to the attention of the city and elected officials, this contract-for-deed issue. It’s a pretty risky deal and I think it’s been made pretty clear that something, some kind of regulation, needs to be added.” P.A. Humphrey is a writer living in Ft. Worth. A Joe Garza inspects his damaged roof Kes GiMome