Brick Officials Look to Lawyer Up For Insurance Claims Following Sandy

Brick officials will seek proposals from law firms that have expertise related to storm insurance claims, after approval of a resolution on the regular agenda last night.

Councilman Domenick Brando noted that firms that have this type of experience are not "a dime a dozen" and that other towns in the area are looking at similar options to ensure that they are being given the full value of what is owed following Sandy.

Lawyers from as far away as Florida have approached local residents and town officials about advising them on flood insurance claims.

Business Administrator Scott Pezzaras said once a proposal is accepted, the firm would be paid on a contingency, and rates are running around 10 percent.

Questioned by Councilman John Ducey about why the town was going outside the normal pool of attorneys retained by the township, Jean Cipriani, township attorney, responded that the firms in the pool are paid on an hourly rate, and a request for proposal would allow work to be done on a contingency basis.

In other business, the Council held off on adopting the 2013
no-tax increase municipal budget pending review at the Division of Local Government Services.

Adoption will likely be at the next council meeting, scheduled for Aug. 6, officials said.