[StBernard] Citizens takes class action to high court

[Westley Annis]

Citizens takes class action to high court
7/22/2008, 10:54 a.m. CDT
The Associated Press    

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has asked the
Louisiana Supreme Court to overturn lower court rulings that made a class
action from a lawsuit about timely payment of claims.

The lawsuit by Adrian Chalona of St. Bernard Parish was certified as a class
action for all policyholders who never got a written offer from the company
within 30 days after filuing proof of their loss. A split appeal court
affirmed the ruling.

Citizens contends there are too many differences between what happened at
each house and with each claim for a statewide class action.

It also says it's in an unfair position because a few attorneys filed
similar suits in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.

The company says it's been nearly a decade since the high court last
considered what constitutes a class action.