The City Council has denied an insurance company’s claim for $708.84 it paid for damages done when an officer backed a police cruiser into an unoccupied car belonging to a policyholder.
The …
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The City Council has denied an insurance company’s claim for $708.84 it paid for damages done when an officer backed a police cruiser into an unoccupied car belonging to a policyholder.
The action was taken Monday after the council hotly debated whether the company should have appeared before the council; whether it should have obtained three bids for the work; and whether the city should reimburse an insurance company at all.
“They accepted that premium. They accepted that risk,” argued Ward 4 Councilman Joseph Solomon.
Solomon said the council works “on behalf of the people” and that the company, USAA Insurance of San Antonio, should absorb the amount.
“How do we know it was $708.84?” asked Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson about the cost to repair the damage.
Solomon agreed.
“Let them submit three estimates, too,” he said.
While not strictly followed, the practice is that the council requires a minimum of three bids when paying for services and equipment. Solomon also cited the practice of having claimants appear before the council, adding it would have probably cost the insurance company more than its claim to send someone here from Texas.
“We have never held that as a standard, to have them appear,” countered Ward 1 Councilman Steve Colantuono.
Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci questioned Solomon’s reasoning that the council should deny the claim on the basis that the insurance company assumed the risk when it wrote the policy. He asked, what if USAA refuses to write policies for Warwick residents.
“This is the city’s responsibility,” he said of the claim.
Ward 5 Councilman Edgar Ladouceur discounted the argument that the insurance company had failed to have a representative at the meeting.
“For me,” he said, “it’s not the fact they’re not here, but that we don’t have three bids,” he said.
The vote to deny the claim was 5-3, with Ward 9 Councilman Steve Merolla abstaining.
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maggie123
Why are they going through the city council instead of the city's insurance company....PLEASE don't tell me the city insures it's self! As far as the 3 bids go...708 is not a lot of money when it comes to auto repair. If the police cruiser caused the damage then the city or the city's insurance should pay. That is what the city would expect if it was the other way around.
Thursday, May 23, 2013 Report this
maggie123
oh and btw that is scum bag behavior saying they should absorb the cost or send a representative, Solmen and Ladouceur....and these are the type of business men we have running the council. Real nice it speaks volumes of the type of people you really are!
Thursday, May 23, 2013 Report this