Yes, tomorrow marks one year, and for those of you predicting either the whole town is on its way out or that Main Street is doomed, head down to the Main Street Grind for a ribbon cutting at 11:00 a.m tomorrow morning. I plan to be there in full regalia!

And don't forget all your downtown business favorites while you are there! Take a stroll downtown on a nice spring day and see what a great town we live in.

Yes i do remember this day very well...one year ago we got a call saying that our business were on fire...it was the one of the worst days of my life..to see all of your hard work go up in flames because of someones selfishness and stupidity...i am still very bitter because of this...but life does go on and it has...but what i dont understand is WHY the man who started it is does not have any care in the world that he destroyed so many ppl lives...

a nice spring day? When's that happening?

Nik, did you or any other business owner or the insurance companies take the accused to civil court for the damages caused by his negligence?

Yeah Amorette,I remember that Monday with an unbelievable sadness and heavyness. It's the day that my world was devastated and ended by someone who has not had the decency, in one year, to pick up a phone, call and say, "I'm so sorry for what happened to you." We all know where the fire started and how it started. The Billings news came on at noon today and the fire was the top of the news. It stated that a "... spark in the basement ..." was the original cause. To see pictures of everything burning made thoses tears come gushing again. I am glad someone -- Main Street Grind -- has been able to make something good come out of such a horrible tragedy. Apparently the guys, where the fire started, have walked away with a huge insurance check, and one year later, I am still sitting here and haven't seen a dime from anyone. I know life's not fair, but it seems like the same people keep getting away with everything and they see no penalty or responsibility for ANYTHING they have done. It doesn't really matter if it was an accident or not -- accidents cost, most of the time, to someone, and all they've seen is a big paycheck. This was NOT my fault and, in fact, I was located on the other end of the block, but it still got me, and I'm the one paying for it! The fire dept. told me that they ended up putting over 2 MILLION GALLONS of water on just my building!!! I thought insurance (theirs) was to cover losses that others recieved as a result of actions on the part of the insured?
This last year has been a really tough one for me to get thru. All of us are trying to do what we can to see justice done in any of this, but again, it costs money, and mine was all burnt up a year ago. I lost absolutely everything. I don't think most people in town have understood this fact.
Yeah, you guys, why don't you pick up the phone and wish me well, OR better yet, see if there is anything I might need, to get myself back up in business, or just get thru the wreck this negligance has caused in my life? The whole thing will haunt me for the rest of my life, and the fact that no one, as of yet, has been made to be responsible, is a dirty, rotten shame.
John Laney, on the Billings news today, said that our town has bounced back and won't let this get them down. Well John, come sit down and talk with me. Let's talk about "bouncing back". Does it sound like I might be bitter? MAAAAAAAAYBEEEEEEEE!!!!!

David...im not sure about the insurance companies... but i have not...

Just a quick question for Nik and Mary. Sorry about all of your losses, but did you carry insurance on your building. I always assumed that most businesses and buildings had to carry insurance. And if the fire was caused by negligence on the part of the men in question...were they charged with anything? I would assume that if it was indeed caused by their own negligence then their insurance company would have to pay...again maybe I am completely wrong. Just curious about this whole thing.

You don't have to carry insurance unless you carry a loan on the building or inventory in which case the bank may require you to carry insurance.

These guys probably didn't do anything criminal so they wouldn't be charged with anything. However, they could be held financially liable for the losses if they were proven to have been negligent. Of course, if they don't have any money to begin with it's the blood out of a turnip principle.

I still think they are Bozo's but that's just my opinion. The town got a fine looking sandwich shop and a sleek looking new-to-the-City ladder truck out of it.

AGREED DAVID!!!!!

You have to pay for insurance in order to get reimbursed for losses. Some of the businesses involved didn't own the buildings they were in and they did not have the foresight to carry insurance on their store stock. The building owners carry insurance on the buildings, not necessarily the buildings' contents. Yes, it was a terrible day for the businesses there and suing for negligence might or might not get you anything. That's why people shouldn't hire uninsured workmen.

[This message has been edited by Wendy Wilson (3/23/2010)]

Wendy, I'm sorry, but I had the impression that you think I might possibly be an idiot, with the thought " ... you have to pay for insurance in order to get reimbursed for losses." Just so you have it coming from the horse's mouth ... I DID PAY FOR ALL INSURANCES ON THAT BUILDING --- I was the ONLY one that paid for any kind of insurance on that building. Nothing was wrong with my "foresight", except that I trusted people with exactly what they said. And yes, you are incorrect when you state that the building owners carry insurance on the buildings. People, especially business's, carry a liability on their property, and that is to pay for something just like this. It doesn't even matter HOW the fire started --- it started in this guy's building, and he is liable for my contents that I lost, whether it was insured by me or not.

You didn't own the building, Mary, so how can you have insured it?
Like I said, if the fire was started by a negligent worker you may be able to sue for damages. If you had insurance on your stuff then I don't know why you haven't been reimbursed yet. A year seems like a long time to me. Perhaps you should sue the insurer?

That's the magic question, Wendy --- If I didn't own the building, how could I have insured it? I did insure it, but as we found out too late, everything is not as simple as it seems. When all of the facts get out, it will make sense, but as of now, I can't go into detail on anything.

Mary, at one time you told me that you owned the building and that's why you put all the remodeling effort into it.

The correct term is Insurable Interest. I can carry contents coverage on my Business Personal Property, Business Interruption for when I am shut down. Most small storefront business owners carry a BOP. ( Business Owners Policy). Within this I have liability coverage so if a customer comes in the building and is hurt I am covered for my negligence or at least the suit. If I were the Building owner, I carry a policy to protect my interest in the Building only and Liability insurance for an accident on the premises. As some people will sue both the tenant and land owner to cover all of their basis.

Insurance agents and Companies do not make you prove that you have an insurable interest in the building or contents when purchasing insurance. For example, I can insure my contents for $ 100,00 and to make it easy, with replacement cost. At the time of loss, I have to prove it was my contents by an inventory of what I had. The Insurance company will pay me Actual Cash Value ACV. The value of my inventory at the time of loss. When I replace the item(s) and show proof of the replacement. I would get reimbursed.

Now if I told my local agent I owned the building and could not prove it at the time of loss. 1) Why would I do that and pay extra premium for nothing 2) I don't own the building.

Of course I have to keep my premiums paid on time each time. Some would get into the mode of letting it lapse thinking nothing will happen. But when it does they still think they are insured.

Another common flaw is. Little Johnny who has his own car on mom and dads policy. Mom and dad are not on the title of the policy for whatever reason. And Johnny is not listed on mom and dads policy as a named insured or an additional named insured. Is that a way for the insurce company not to pay if Johnny plows into someone?? Could be.

Nothing against attorneys as they are needed. But if you have a legitment claim against an insurance company. Try your agent first. Then contact the Insurance Commissioner. They have a staff for this and the Insurance Companies are all registered and regulated through them.

But dont take up their time for BS claims if you are not in the right. One year seems waaaaay to long.