662 Sandy Insurance Claims Remain Open in Brick

Brick's share of Ocean County's 5,086 Superstorm Sandy-related insurance claims that remain open is 662, state officials said Tuesday.

The new numbers come as Gov. Chris Christie's administration begins a new mediation program designed to prevent costly litigation over non-flood insurance claims that are still open nearly seven months after the storm struck.

New Jersey residents with unresolved non-flood insurance claims related to the storm can have their cases mediated through the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

The mediation program will allow property owners to submit homeowner's, automobile and commercial property claims to a mediator who will review the case and assist in settlement discussions. Disputed non-flood Sandy-related claims greater than $1,000 that do not include "a reasonable suspicion of fraud and are based on policies in force at the time Sandy made landfall" will be eligible for mediation, the state Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) said in a statement announcing the program Tuesday.

Insurance carriers will pay for the cost of the mediator. Policyholders who wish to bring legal representation to the mediation session may hire an attorney at their own expense.

The mediation program will not include flood insurance claims at its inception because those claims are regulated by the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). However, the department is in discussions with NFIP over the possibility of their participation at a later time.

"Six months after Sandy insurance carriers have settled more than 93 percent of Sandy related claims," said DOBI Commissioner Ken Kobylowski. "But there is still much more work to do. We will not rest until every claim has been resolved following this unprecedented storm."

Application forms for mediation are now available online at www.adr.org, by phone at 855-366-9774 or via email at njsandymediation@adr.org.