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THE BRASHER
BULLETIN
June/July 2025
Beaumont Office (Main Office) 1122 Orleans St. Beaumont, TX 77701 (409) 832-3737 New Orleans Office 1555 Poydras Street Suite 1600 New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 527-8291 Lake Charles Office 2201 Oak Park Blvd. Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 284-9998 Houston Office 3555 Timmons Lane Suite 1130 Houston, TX 77027 (713) 714-5014 Dallas Office 6160 Warren Parkway Suite 100 Frisco, TX 75034 (972) 928-0517
THE STORM WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING When My Insurance Let Me Down, Brasher Law Lifted Me Up
he sounded like someone who had been there. So, I called. From the very first conversation with Christina Correia at Brasher Law, I felt a shift. She listened. She didn’t rush me. She promised to review my case, and within a day, she called back. “Jorge,” she said, “we want to help.” And from that moment forward, they never stopped. Every person I spoke to at Brasher Law treated me with dignity. Christina kept in touch constantly. Nishi Kothari explained the process clearly and guided me through every step. Paralegals like Maria and Melinda were always there, and everyone I spoke to treated me with respect and compassion. They answered every question, returned every call, and truly listened. Less than 10 months later, we reached a settlement. It was fair and just, and most importantly, it allowed me to repair my home. They resolved a process that could have dragged on for years because of their dedication, knowledge, and heart. I hope no one ever has to go through what I went through. But if they do, I hope they find Brasher Law. Because when I had no one, they stood by me. They gave me back more than my house — they gave me hope. And it’s something I’ll never forget. –Jorge Arauz
When Hurricane Beryl swept through Texas a year ago, I woke to a sound I will never forget. Just before dawn, I heard a deafening crash — so loud, so sudden that I thought something had exploded. My heart dropped. I raced upstairs to check on my two kids, who were still asleep. They’re older, in high school and college, but in that moment, they were still my babies, and I needed to know they were safe. I rushed to their rooms and, from one of their windows, I saw it: A huge tree had crashed onto the house. Miraculously, no one was harmed, but everything else changed that morning. Our roof was torn open; our outdoor patio, the space where we gathered as a family every night, was destroyed; and even the doors leading to our backyard were shattered. This wasn’t just any house. It was our home, our only home. In the middle of that chaos, I did what anyone would do: I called
my insurance company. I believed they would help. But from the very first call, it was clear I was on my own. Days passed. Then weeks. My phone calls were left unanswered, and my countless emails forgotten. They dragged their feet to remove the tree, and when someone finally came to inspect the damage, they refused to explain anything to me. I’d never filed a claim before, and I had paid every premium faithfully, but the treatment I received was cold and distant, like I was a nuisance, not a policyholder in crisis. After all that, they offered me $1,600. That didn’t even cover the broken doors, let alone the roof or structural repairs. They told me it was because of my deductible. I remember staring at that check, thinking: Is this all my home is worth to them? I called FEMA in desperation, but because I had insurance, they couldn’t help, either. I was exhausted, frustrated, and heartbroken. This house was where I raised my children. It held our memories and milestones, and now it was broken, and I was being told there was nothing more to be done. So, I did the only thing I could: I prayed. I asked God to lead me to someone honest. Someone who would care. That’s when I came across a video of Mr. Clint Brasher talking about bad faith insurance. The way he spoke, with compassion and conviction, struck something in me. He didn’t sound like a lawyer;
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Create Meaningful Holiday Memories With Your Kids Festive national holidays offer a great opportunity to strengthen family ties and traditions. While most people regard the end-of-year holidays as prime time for family get-togethers, you can make great memories in any season — including the Fourth of July! To foster traditions your loved ones will enjoy, start when your children are young. Repeat your chosen rituals year after year, but stay flexible enough to update them to suit your kids’ developmental stages. EMPHASIZE LIVE ACTION Activities that immerse your children in sights, sounds, smells, and live action can be the most memorable. Community Fourth of July parades offer a great opportunity to socialize with neighbors and friends of all ages. To make memories, don’t just watch the parade — encourage your kids to join it! Midsummer is a great time to participate in light-hearted three-legged races, an egg toss, and sack races. As kids age, consider holding a Fourth of July Family Bowl for an annual game of soccer, softball, or touch football. At day’s end, fireworks offer a chance to gather in a lawn chair or on a blanket in the grass and enjoy some favorite snacks. CAPITALIZE ON FAMILY FOIBLES Think about traditions that evoke some quirk or twist unique to your family. If your kids love water balloons, a red, white, and blue water balloon fight can leave them laughing. Your family’s favorite films about patriotism or national identity may include fantasy tales, such as the animated 1986 immigrants’ story “An American Tail,” or darker stories, such as “Born on the Fourth of July,” the 1989 film on a Vietnam vet’s struggles after the war. Whatever your preference, watching a beloved movie together as a family can reinforce shared values. For maximum fun, ban cellphones and make lots of popcorn. MAKE IT MATTER Decorating your house and yard with flags, red-white-and-blue bunting, and patriotic pinwheels can help children get into the spirit. To create a tangible memoir, take photos of the fun and print them for an album or deposit them in a “Fourth of July Memory Jar.” When you pull them out next year, those images will spark plenty of laughs! TRADITIONS START HERE
How Texas Law Protects You From Unfair Insurance Tactics A GUIDE FOR TEXAS POLICYHOLDERS When disaster strikes, most people turn to their insurance policies for help. Whether it’s damage to your home, a car accident, or a denied health benefit, you file a claim with a first-party insurance policy to seek compensation directly from your insurer. Unfortunately, even though you’ve paid your premiums on time, some insurance companies don’t Texas insurance companies have a legal duty called the “duty of good faith and fair dealing.” This means they must treat your claim honestly and fairly. When they don’t, whether it’s by delaying payment, denying coverage without a valid reason, or refusing to investigate properly, it’s considered “bad faith.” And when that happens, you have legal rights. This duty exists because of the relationship between you and your insurer. They have more power in the situation, and the law protects policyholders from being taken advantage of. KNOWING YOUR POLICY MATTERS Your insurance policy is more than paperwork; it’s a contract. It outlines what’s covered, what’s not ( called exclusions ), and what both you and your insurer must do after a loss ( called conditions ). Understanding these details can help protect your rights, especially if your claim is rejected or underpaid. APPRAISAL ISN’T THE END The appraisal process determines how much a loss is worth, not who’s liable or the scope of loss. Just because your insurer pays that appraisal amount doesn’t mean the story’s over. If they delay payment or mishandle your claim, you may still be entitled to interest. A recent Texas Supreme Court case ( Rodriguez v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Ind. ) has complicated this area, but your rights may still stand, primarily hold up their end of the bargain. THE PROMISE OF GOOD FAITH
if the insurer didn’t act promptly or fairly. YOU DON’T HAVE TO FACE THIS ALONE
Insurance law is complex, but you don’t have to navigate it by yourself. If an insurance company has denied, delayed, or underpaid your claim, it’s worth speaking to an attorney who understands the system and will fight to ensure your insurance company plays fair. Contact our experts at Brasher Law Firm to help you recover what you rightfully deserve.
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THINK YOU’RE PROTECTED? THINK AGAIN The Hidden Clauses in Your Policy That Can Cost You Thousands
Whether it’s a howling hurricane or a sudden derecho, you expect your insurance to have your back. However, for many homeowners, the real disaster begins when they file a claim and discover their policy is full of costly surprises. Turns out, it’s not just the weather you need to watch; it’s the fine print, too. DISASTER STRIKES, BUT COVERAGE HIDES In the wake of May 2024’s devastating derecho and the damaging winds of Hurricane Beryl, countless Texans found themselves battling not just roof damage or downed trees, but their own insurance companies. Why? Standard homeowners policies often don’t cover the disasters most likely to strike. Wind, hail, floods, and even water damage from roof leaks? Sometimes excluded. And unless you’ve bought special protection, you may be left footing the bill when the storm passes and the real costs roll in. WHAT YOUR POLICY ISN’T TELLING YOU Not all policies are created equal. Some only cover named perils, a short list of events spelled out in black and white. Others offer “all risk” coverage, but even those can skip essentials like a burst pipe. And here’s the kicker: Unless
you’ve double-checked, you may be stuck with a payout based on “actual cash value,” which subtracts for depreciation,
Even “all risk” policies, which sound comprehensive, often modify common coverages like hail, such that your roof may not be covered in a hailstorm! DON’T LET THE NEXT STORM CATCH YOU OFF GUARD Your insurance policy should be a safety net, not a trapdoor. Now’s the time to read the fine print, clarify what’s covered, and update your protection before the next storm hits. Think your insurance company played unfairly? You don’t have to face it alone. We stand with policyholders when the winds die down and the real fight begins. Let’s make sure your insurance works for you, not against you.
instead of full replacement cost. Then there’s the matter of sneaky
deductibles. Percentage-based? A 2% deductible on a $400,000 home? That’s $8,000 from your pocket before they pay. THE MOST COMMON EXCLUSIONS IN PROPERTY INSURANCE Here’s where policies often fall short. These are four of the most common exclusions you should check for in your policy’s fine print:
Flood damage
• • • •
Earthquakes and landslides Wind and hail damage
Sewer backups
Chocolate-Covered Banana Brownies Inspired by OMGChocolateDesserts.com
BREAK TAKE A
Ingredients Banana Brownies • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted • 1/3 cup light brown sugar • 1/2 cup sugar
Chocolate Topping • 12 oz semi-sweet baking chocolate, chopped • 1 cup heavy cream • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter • 3–4 large bananas
• 1/4 tsp salt • 1 large egg • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla • 1/2 cup mashed banana • 1 cup flour
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease an 8x8-inch pan with cooking spray. 2. In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, sugar, and salt. Add egg and vanilla and whisk. Add mashed banana and whisk, then whisk in flour. 3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until the center has set. 4. Place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. 5. Bring heavy cream to a boil, pour over chocolate, let it sit for 1–2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in peanut butter until smooth. 6. Slice bananas and arrange over cooled brownies. 7. Pour chocolate mixture over bananas and place in the fridge for 15 minutes before serving.
Solution
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1122 Orleans St. Beaumont, TX, 77701 (409) 832-3737 brasherattorney.com
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One Year Later: How Jorge Turned Hurricane Beryl’s Disaster Into a Victory Create Holiday Traditions That Last The Truth About Insurance Claims and Your Legal Rights in Texas Fire, Floods, and Fine Print: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know Chocolate-Covered Banana Brownies The Parks You’ve Never Heard Of (But Need to Visit)
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DITCH THE TOURIST TRAPS
3 National Parks That Are Worth the Detour
Whenever you hear a friend or family member say they’re going to take a road trip to visit some of America’s most beautiful national parks, they usually plan to visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains, or Yosemite. These national parks consistently attract millions of visitors every year, but they’re far from the only must-see national parks in the country. There are 429 protected national sites within the U.S., and 63 of those have obtained the official “national park” designation in their names. (The other labels are battlefields, historic sites, monuments, recreation areas, etc.) If you want to experience the beauty of America without the crowds, consider visiting these destinations during your next vacation! CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA Often referred to as the Galapagos of North America, the Channel Islands are a unique
area of the coast of Southern California. While visiting, you can expect to see seals, island foxes, and over 2,000 other plant and animal species, with 145 found nowhere else on Earth . You can reach the mainland visitor center in Ventura by car, but the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats or private boats. Make reservations in advance.
CUYAHOGA NATIONAL PARK, OHIO If you want a unique experience, visit Cuyahoga National Park. Like many other national parks, you can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and photography while exploring the park’s 33,000 acres. You can admire many of the 1,000 species of plants and animals throughout your exploration, but if you want to get the full experience, hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA Exploring a cave might not be your first thought when considering national parks, but Wind Cave is a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s one of the longest and most complex caves in the world and has many unique features, such as frostwork, cave popcorn, and boxwork, creating unique sights with every step. Once you head back outside, a beautiful mixed-grass prairie, home to bison, prairie dogs, and more, will greet you.
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