Personal injury and civil justice attorney Brooks Cutter is a leading advocate for consumer justice and protecting the rights of the severely injured…
Our Story
At Cutter Law, we’ve seen first hand the devastation caused by the California fires. We’ve talked to many families who have lost their homes, their possessions, and their treasured mementos. The California fires took people’s homes and devastated entire communities. We understand that recovering from the fire isn’t as simple as making the decision to rebuild a home—it’s about everything that happens in between the fire and the rebuilding.
It’s about finding reasonable temporary housing and dealing with insurance companies. It’s about coming to terms with the loss of lifelong memories and treasured possessions. It’s about figuring out whether there’s a job to go back to. It’s about picking up the pieces emotionally during one of the most stressful times a person can face.
We know this because Cutter Law attorney Casie Roussas’ parents lost their dream home in Fountain Grove to one of the California fires. Scott and Carolyn Lomax went to bed on October 8, 2017, with no idea in just a few hours they’d be evacuated. They woke up to a phone call at 2:00 a.m., alerting them they needed to get out quickly. They had time to get dressed and grab their vehicles before they left, but within hours the home they lovingly and painstakingly built—the home where they raised their children since 1992 and had their children’s friends congregate—was gone.
After staying in a hotel for two weeks, Scott and Carolyn have a rental home to move to. But now they face the difficult decision of what to do from here. And they have to come to terms emotionally with the loss of their dream home and all the memories it held.
Their story is typical of so many people whose lives have been forever changed by the California fires. Three thousand homes were lost in Fountain Grove alone, while many people also lost their jobs due to the fire damage. Countless families have had their lives turned upside down in an instant, and many don’t know how to navigate the insurance system post-fire.
That’s why it’s so important to everyone at Cutter Law that we step in to help. For many people, this is their first time dealing with a massive fire insurance claim, and filling out paperwork during a stressful and emotional time can be confusing and daunting. We believe it’s vital to ensure everyone affected by the fires properly understands their rights during this time.
Our wildfire lawyers can advise people affected by the fires of their rights under their insurance policy, what to expect from their insurance company, how to deal with assisted living, and provide support in letting policyholders know what questions to ask about their policy and what expectations to have. We will answer your questions on matters you may not even have realized were issues—such as whether to allow FEMA to be involved in debris removal.
We feel it’s vital that all residents make educated decisions regarding their insurance policy; that’s why we’re available to anyone in Santa Rosa and Sonoma who has had their life changed by the California fires. Not everyone has someone who can help them with the post-fire recovery process, but no one should go through this alone.
For thousands of people in California, life will not be normal for years. Entire communities have lost everything, and the enormity of the destruction is beyond comprehension. And while we may personally know people affected by the fire, we also know that this is about an entire community being forever changed.
If you have questions about your rights during this time or about navigating the insurance process call us today. Our attorneys are available to answer your questions and advise you of your rights. Contact us for a free consultation. We’re here to help you.
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Our Office Locations
Sacramento Office
401 Watt Avenue Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95864
Phone: 916-290-9400
Oakland Office
Cutter Law P.C.
1999 Harrison Street Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612
