Malliotakis Launches Petition To Protect Insurance Consumers

Following Assembly hearing, Malliotakis makes extra push to change laws

March 5, 2013

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I-Brooklyn, Staten Island) recently launched a petition at bit.ly/FairPractice calling for the protection of insurance consumers. The drive seeks to garner support for Assembly bill 4699, which the assemblywoman drafted in response to a staggering number of concerns raised by constituents over the way insurance companies handled claims in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The bill would protect insurance consumers from unfair claims practices by identifying seven specific cases of such behavior and providing civil recourse for the consumer to pursue.

“Since the storm hit, my office has received a staggering number of complaints and concerns regarding the way insurance companies have handled Sandy-related claims,” said Malliotakis. “In their greatest time of need, families have been left to battle with their own insurance providers to access the assistance they deserve. It is my hope that, through a public show of support for this bill, our families will be able to make their voices heard and illustrate just how important this issue is.”

Malliotakis recently participated in an Assembly Insurance Committee hearing in Manhattan pertaining to how insurance companies are handling storm-related claims. The event was such a success that additional roundtables will be held in storm-affected communities, including Staten Island.

“The Insurance Committee hearing shed light on the problems our neighbors have had filing critical insurance claims, highlighting the need for more public input,” said Malliotakis. “Insurance Committee Chairman Kevin Cahill and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver echoed many of our community’s concerns and I believe that holding a similar event on Staten Island will lead to the legislature making the necessary changes to existing law that will begin protecting the consumer instead of the insurance company.”

Additionally, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis will be submitting written testimony to the Chairman of the Assembly Insurance Committee on behalf of her district detailing the most egregious cases of unfair claim settlement practices that constituents have reported to her office.

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