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Monday, March 14, 2011
Ind. Law - Bill would permit voluntary fire departments to recover attorney fees and costs, in addition to costs of response, for reponses and cleanups
Here are snippets of three worth reviewing ILB entries:
- Feb. 19, 2010 - Environment - Superfund used to justify $28,000 bill to fight fire at couple's home
6News Indy had this story last evening: "NEW CASTLE, Ind. -- An Indiana lawmaker has pledged to investigate how a New Castle family could be charged nearly $28,000 to fight a fire that destroyed their home...
- March 23, 2010 - Environment - More on: Superfund used to justify $28,000 bill to fight fire at couple's home [Updated]
Updating this ILB entry from Feb. 19, 2010, 6News Indy, which broke the story, had an update this evening:
LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A federal court ruling could keep a company from charging fees some consider outrageous for fire services and car accidents.
A federal judge in northern Indiana ruled against Emergency Services Billing Corp. less than a month after a 6News investigation called its practices into question in a different case...
- Sept. 6, 2010 - Environment - Still more on: Superfund used to justify $28,000 bill to fight fire at couple's home
Remember this ILB entry from March 23, 2010? The ILB may have missed some more recent news on the issues raised in the entry, but was reminded of the problems when reading this lengthy Sept. 3, 2010 NY Times story by Christopher Jensen. Some quotes:
In 2008, the city’s [Salina, Kan.] fire department received permission to start billing people involved in accidents to help cover costs, said Mayor Aaron Peck.
In about two years the department has sent out bills for 63 accidents, averaging about $390 each. He said the city sent about $10,000 a year in bills and received payments amounting to about half that much. The rest of the money is lost to the city because some people refuse to pay and some of the money goes to a billing agency * * *
After adopting such programs, some jurisdictions — including Radnor Township, Pa. — later backed off in response to complaints from residents and visitors, news reports and lobbying by the insurance industry. In recent years 10 states have prohibited such collections, according to the property casualty association: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. But some of those prevent only the police, as opposed to fire departments, from charging fees.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 14, 2011 12:39 PM
Posted to Indiana Law