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The information provided on this post does not, and is not intended to, represent legal advice. All information available on this site is for general informational purposes only. If you need legal help, you should contact a lawyer. You may be eligible for our free legal services and can apply by calling our Covid Legal Hotline at 1-844-244-7871 or applying online here.

The Louisiana Insurance Commission created a mediation program for claims of $50,000.00 or less.

Mediation is a way to work out a dispute without going to court.

Think about these things to decide whether to mediate your claim.

• It is usually best to find a lawyer with experience with your kind of issue, if you can.
• There are deadlines to file a court case. Using mediation does not give you more time to file a court case.
• There are special penalties for insurance companies who do not act in good faith or use “fair dealing.” Often these special penalties can pay enough for a lawyer to take a case.
• Using a lawyer who knows about insurance claims may get the insurance company to agree to pay more on your claim.
• If your claim is smaller or has problems, it may hard for you to find a lawyer.
• If you can’t find a lawyer to help you, something called “mediation” might help.
• Not everyone can find or afford a lawyer.

Here are things to know about the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner’s Hurricane Ida mediation program:

• Mediation means that there will be a neutral person who will hear from both you and the insurance company cand try to help the two of you come to an agreement.
• Mediation under this program costs a flat fee of $600.00. The insurance company pays that fee, unless both parties otherwise agree.
• Mediation only happens if both you and your insurance company agree to mediation.
• The mediator will work with both sides to try to get everyone to agree on a result.
• For the result to be final you and your insurer must reach an agreement in writing.
• You are not required to agree to anything.
• If you can’t work out the dispute, you can stop the mediation.
• You can try other ways to work things out with your insurance company, including filing a lawsuit. You must file a lawsuit before any legal deadline.
• The mediation offered by the Louisiana Insurance Commission ends December 31, 2022.

To start mediation you call or email one of these companies:

• Professional Systems https://maps-adr.com (504) 831-2141 or
• Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions https://www.perrydampf.com/ (225) 389-9899.

Mediation is not the right choice for everyone.

• If you believe insurance should have paid more than $50,00.00, your case does not qualify for this mediation program.
• If you really feel you will not be able to convince the insurance company to pay more on your claim, you may need to find a lawyer to consider taking other legal action.

** Southeast Louisiana Legal Services does not represent people for insurance claim disputes.

More questions? Go to the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s website:

• Program homepage: https://www.ldi.la.gov/hurricane-ida-voluntary-mediation-program
• Mediation Tips: https://www.ldi.la.gov/docs/default-source/documents/publicaffairs/pressreleases/formatted-mediation-tips--for-consumer-advocacy-events.pdf?sfvrsn=e36e4c52_0
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs ): https://www.ldi.la.gov/docs/default-source/documents/publicaffairs/pressreleases/formatted-q-a-mediation-program---for-consumer-advocacy-events.pdf?sfvrsn=1d6e4c52_0