Homeowner Receives Long Overdue Insurance Recovery on Thomas Fire Damage

An elderly homeowner endured mandatory evacuations and suffered significant smoke, soot, and ash damage to her home in Santa Barbara, California as a result of the Thomas Fire in December 2017 and survived the subsequent debris flows on January 9, 2018 that took the lives of 23 other community members. In her words, “the twin disasters were a period of crisis and my life was turned upside down.” 

In pursuing a claim under her homeowner’s insurance policy to recover the insurance proceeds for which she paid valuable premiums, the homeowner experienced a difficult and distressing process and significant delay as a seemingly “endless cycle” of adjusters rotated on and off her claim. She felt she was “facing impossible, insurmountable odds.” The situation changed once Jenner & Block became her pro bono counsel—ultimately recovering nearly an additional $500,000 on her claim. Those additional funds allowed the homeowner to complete necessary and long awaited remediation and repair work on her home.  “These were unachievable results on my own” said the homeowner. “When I really needed someone, you were there and I want to give you and your firm a five-star review.” Partner Jan Larson led the effort to secure the additional insurance recoveries.   

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

Homeowner Receives Long Overdue Insurance Recovery on Thomas Fire Damage

An elderly homeowner endured mandatory evacuations and suffered significant smoke, soot, and ash damage to her home in Santa Barbara, California as a result of the Thomas Fire in December 2017 and survived the subsequent debris flows on January 9, 2018 that took the lives of 23 other community members. In her words, “the twin disasters were a period of crisis and my life was turned upside down.” 

In pursuing a claim under her homeowner’s insurance policy to recover the insurance proceeds for which she paid valuable premiums, the homeowner experienced a difficult and distressing process and significant delay as a seemingly “endless cycle” of adjusters rotated on and off her claim. She felt she was “facing impossible, insurmountable odds.” The situation changed once Jenner & Block became her pro bono counsel—ultimately recovering nearly an additional $500,000 on her claim. Those additional funds allowed the homeowner to complete necessary and long awaited remediation and repair work on her home.  “These were unachievable results on my own” said the homeowner. “When I really needed someone, you were there and I want to give you and your firm a five-star review.” Partner Jan Larson led the effort to secure the additional insurance recoveries.   

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

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