723 SW 7th Ave

Amarillo, TX 79101
806-373-4148 | 800-749-9025
Fax: 806-376-7525
www.diamondbusiness.net

The Honorable Kel Seliger

Texas Senate District 31
P.O. Box 9155
Amarillo TX 79105
Phone: (806) 374-8994

The Honorable Four Price

Texas House of Representatives
P.O. Box 2848
Amarillo TX 79105
Phone: (806) 374-8787

RE:SE1628andHB3646

DearSirs,

IamwritingtoaskyoutoconsideropposingSB1628andHB3646intheupcomingsessions.Ihope
theinformationinthisletterwillhelpyouunderstandthereasonIpersonallyopposethesearticlesfrom
thatofasmallbusinessownersperspective.

Iamconcernedthatiftheseitemsweretopasstheywouldgreatlylimittheneededprotection,Ifeel
aresoimportantforpolicyholderslikeme.

Weareafamilyrunbusinessthatspecializesinhardwareandsoftwareusedtopersonalizeplasticcards.
Meaningweprovideequipmentandservicesusedtopersonalizealltheinformationyouseeonthe
plasticcardsinyourwallet.Wehavebeeninbusinessforover32yearsandcurrentlyofficeina5,000
squarefootbuildingontheedgeofdowntownAmarillo.

OnMay,28,2013thiscommercialpropertywasbatteredbyhail,alongwithalargeportionofthe
structureinthecity.Thiswasestimatedtobeoneofthemostcostlyepisodesinthehistoryof
Amarillo.Afterthisevent,wecontactedoutagenttoarrangeforanestimateforrepair.

WecommissionedAndrusBrothersRoofingtoworkontheroof,andtoissueaquotationonwhatthe
costofrepairwouldbe.WorkingwithGarrettYoungofABRitwasdeterminedthatthephysical
structureoftheroofhadbeendamagedmorethantheoriginalestimatedeemed.

ABRstronglyfeltthatapatchjobwouldnotbeeffectiveasthedamagehadlessenedtheintegrityof
thesurfaceandtheamountofferedfromtheestimatewouldnotcoverthecostofpatchingtheneeded
areasofthe7,746+sq.ft.roofbutwouldalsoonlymaskthedamagewhichintheirexpertopinionwas
muchmoreextensive.Theamountofferedbytheinsurerwouldnotevenbegintocoverthecostofa
bandaidtyperepair.

Basedontheamountofferedbytheinsurerandworkingwiththesquarefootageeffectedthepayment
amountwouldhaveallowedusaround$1persquarefoottorepair.Thatamountwouldnotcover
materials,laborandanycostABRwouldhaveincurredduringthetimeofwork.Imaginewouldyou
agreetoput$1.00persq.ft.carpetdowninyourhomeorbusiness?Idoubtit,whywouldIagreeto
HOPEthatthispoorrepairwouldprotectmyfamilybusinessandtheemployeesworkingforme.

ABRattemptedtoworkwiththeinsurancecompanytohaverevisionstotheestimate,howeverthose
werenoteffective.Asaresultnearlyayearafterthedamagewefelttheneedtodisputetheclaim
withlegalaction.Ihadneverhiredalawyerbefore,anditwasthelastthingIwantedtodo.ButIhad
runoutofoptions.

Wehavehadadditionaldamageintheyearsincewecommissionedlegalassistance.Rainhasleaked
throughtheweakspotsoftheroof,andweareconstantlyconcernedabouttheprotectionofthe
electronicelementsuseddailyinourofficeaswellastheproductswesell.

Wearebackinthemistofstormseason,nearlytwoyearslater,andmyconcernofleaksandadditional
damageisonlybeingheightened.NowwiththeproposedSB1628andHB3646,Imaybeatriskof
havingtheopportunitytohaveanhonestreviewofmyclaim,andmightbestrippedofsomeofmy
rightsagainsttheinsurer.Whyaretheconcernsofthebiginsurancecompaniesanymoreimportant
thanthoseofmine?

SmallbusinessisthelifebloodoftheAmarilloeconomy,andwehaveweatheredmanyeconomic
stormsthelargerbusinesshavenotbutithasnotbeeneasy.Buthavingourrightsagainstinsurance
companiestakenaway,inthefaceofstormslikethisone,willweakenourefforts.

AllIamaskingforisafairopportunitytohavemyclaimreviewedandinvestigatedandifdeemedthat
theclaimpaymentwasunfair,thenIwouldhavetheabilitytotakelegalrecourse.Iwantallofmy
rights,includingthosetofightinstatecourt,andtopunishinsurancecompaniesthathavetreated
othersthewayIhavebeentreated.Idonotfeelcomfortablejustacceptingthatonemansoptionis
correct,especiallyoneIfeelwasdictatedtohimbyalargepowerful(andyesPROFITABLE!)insurance
company.

Irespectfullyaskyoutostronglyconsidertheeffectsthepassageoftheseitems,andconsiderhowthey
willaffectmanyofyourconstituents.Itwillweakentherightsofpolicyholderandonlyincreasethe
powerofinsurancecompaniesoverallitwillunderminetheeconomicprogressionofbusinessessuch
asmineintimesofgreatestneed.

Pleaseknowyouarewelcometocontactmeifyouneedanyadditionalinformationorcomments.Ilook
forwardtohearinghowyourvotewillbecast.

Respectfully,

CharliaD.Pence
President