primitives discuss cleaning up after a dead body

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100227286

Oh my.

The Straight Story (35,765 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail

You Can't Be Serious, Couple Tells Allstate

MIDLAND, Texas (CN) - A daughter who found her mother's decomposing body claims Allstate reneged on its promise that her mom's homeowner's policy would pay to clean up the house, telling her, "unbelievably," that the daughter's husband "represented that the deceased insured's body exploded and that is why Allstate originally indicated there was coverage."

Terri Carter and her husband Jerry found Terri's mother's decomposing body at the mother's home in Midland. They called police, who told them that a company called Aftermath specialized in cleaning up biohazards, including "the bodily fluids, microbes and stench from Ms. Manns' decomposing body."

Jerry Carter called Allstate's 1-800 number, as it was a Sunday and the local office was closed. After a series of calls, the Carters say Allstate told them that Terri's mother's homeowners policy would cover the cost of the cleanup.

"Allstate agent Shannon specifically told Mr. Carter 'yes' and gave him a claim number," according to the complaint in Midland County Court.

Aftermath, which is not a party to the complaint, charged $34,475 for the cleanup, which it completed on June 28.

On June 29, at a church brunch immediately after the mother's funeral, Allstate "contacted Mr. Carter and informed him that Allstate had now changed their mind and was not going to cover the Aftermath claim. The only explanation provided was that Ms. Manns did not name herself as a 'peril' in her homeowners policy," the complaint states.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/12/16/42297.

rurallib (26,770 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail

2. I remember reading that Allstate was taking the lead of the medical insurers and doing everything they could to delay and deny claims to lower payouts.

getting insurance with companies like that is almost like gambling.

hedgehog (25,550 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail

3. I would like to see the homeowner's policy. My home owner's policy does not cover my home against each and every hazard out there; it specifically covers damage from wind, from fire, etc. (as a matter of fact, i'm going to go review it now to see what my coverage is from damage from snow loads and trees falling!)

Allstate is running an ad implying their homeowner's policy covers damage from animals digging in the attic. I wonder if that is actually the case.

Politicalboi (5,203 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail

7. The Good Hands People

And $34,475 is an outrageous amount to pay. Granted, I could never do that work myself, but $34,475 wow.

Yeah, that does seem steep, although never having faced such a situation, I dunno.

If it is in fact high, maybe the good hands are union labor?

Blaukraut (3,140 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail

8. The question I'd like to ask is why this woman was allowed to die and rot in her house before someone looked in on her. Nice daughter!

Uh huh.  That's why franksolich is gravely concerned for the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive, but never mind.

[Gina]

I am in the wrong line of work! 
 

[GOBUCKS]

I don't think DUmmy cali will make much of mess when she shuffles off the coil.

She's a wizened, bony harridan, so there isn't a lot of mass involved.

But also, if she goes in warm weather where there could be an explosion hazard, the earwigs will consume her before detonation.

[Vagabond]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100227286

Yeah, that does seem steep, although never having faced such a situation, I dunno.

It depends on how long the body had decomposed, the location of the body, the cause of death.  It sounds like dear old mom was in the by and by a while before anyone discovered her mortal shell.

I have a friend who was paid $2500(6 hours of work) for a specialty cleaning of the interior of a truck that a woman committed suicide using a handgun to the temple in the passenger compartment.  He said her brains and other bits had very quickly became deeply embedded anywhere it could. 

[Mr Mannn]

Mrs. Manns' decomposing body."

Heh. They never suspected a thing!

[JohnnyReb]

  ....I remember something from way back about ALLSTATE.

Bob hope was building a large home ($900,000.00) yes that far back. It burned while still under construction but it was covered by ALLSTATE...or so he thought/claimed. They wouldn't pay off so one night on TV he made a joke about it burning and those people (holding out his hands as pictured in their famous ads) wouldn't pay off....they settled with him the next day....

DUmmie won't be so lucky, his fame and audience aren't big enough.

[Tantal]

$34K does seem a bit steep. A strong stomach, a few brushes, a few gallons of bleach, some paint, and new flooring are really all you need. Even if you had to repaint/recarpet a room, it shouldn't cost more than about $5K.

[AprilRazz]

$34K does seem a bit steep. A strong stomach, a few brushes, a few gallons of bleach, some paint, and new flooring are really all you need. Even if you had to repaint/recarpet a room, it shouldn't cost more than about $5K.

Depending on the size and location of the mess the disposal fees alone could run you $5k. You just can't drop that stuff off at the local dump.
I looked into working with a local outfit that does this very thing. They paid well because of the working environment.

[dutch508]

$34K does seem a bit steep. A strong stomach, a few brushes, a few gallons of bleach, some paint, and new flooring are really all you need. Even if you had to repaint/recarpet a room, it shouldn't cost more than about $5K.

Its a little more complex than that. Depending on how long the decomp was the floor may need replacing. The sheet rock may need replacing on the walls. All the furniture...

You can't get the smell out.

[Tantal]

Its a little more complex than that. Depending on how long the decomp was the floor may need replacing. The sheet rock may need replacing on the walls. All the furniture...

You can't get the smell out.

I've worked more dead bodies than you can say Grace over. Even floors and drywall wouldn't be that much. There's a steep profit built in because nobody's in any mood to haggle.

[GOBUCKS]

Depending on the size and location of the mess the disposal fees alone could run you $5k. You just can't drop that stuff off at the local dump.
I looked into working with a local outfit that does this very thing. They paid well because of the working environment.

We saw a pretty good movie not long ago called "Sunshine Cleaning". Two sisters form a company to clean up crime scenes. Pretty messy stuff.

[BlueStateSaint]

Its a little more complex than that. Depending on how long the decomp was the floor may need replacing. The sheet rock may need replacing on the walls. All the furniture...

You can't get the smell out.

I'll take yours' and Tantal's word for it.

For some strange reason, I don't really have a problem with others' blood.  It's mine that I get queasy over.

[JohnnyReb]

Solution: 5 gallons of gas and a box of matches...Cost: less than $20.

[franksolich]

I've worked more dead bodies than you can say Grace over. Even floors and drywall wouldn't be that much. There's a steep profit built in because nobody's in any mood to haggle.

You know, I never thought about that.

When I was in my early twenties, one of my older brothers, who was then 40, died of cardiac arrest at his home.

I was summoned there by the county sheriff to formally identify the body (per Nebraska law).  The body was laying on the floor.  After formally identifying it, I put a blanket over it.  I was told he'd probably died about midnight, and this was circa 9:00 a.m.

Because of Nebraska's, uh, rather unique laws, the county attorney is the county coroner, who determines the cause of death, and there was some delay in getting that done.  The body was not removed until about 4:00 p.m. that day, and when the undertakers removed the blanket, the place was filled with an awful stench or gas.

It never occurred to me that "special cleaning" would be needed (and probably was done, but I didn't know about it).  I guess I just assumed that aerosol Lysol would take care of the matter, but probably not.

[NHSparky]

$34K does seem a bit steep. A strong stomach, a few brushes, a few gallons of bleach, some paint, and new flooring are really all you need. Even if you had to repaint/recarpet a room, it shouldn't cost more than about $5K.

But the odor--my GOD, the odor.

[mamacags]

Recently my husband had his car smashed in while it was parked in a parking lot.  When I called State Farm to find out how to proceed with the fixing the first question was "Did the other guy have Allstate?"  Why did they ask this?  Because Allstate is notorious for sucking when it comes to paying out for anything.  The State Farm told me a horror story about him getting hit by a driver with Allstate.

[Traveshamockery]

What's up with The Straight Story primitive?  I haven't seen any good stories from him lately about his ex-wife, hot air ballooning, or killing kittens for his daughter's sake.  He's had no complaints about his fundie father or long-lost children. 

It seems all he does anymore is copy and paste stories about other people.  Maybe he hit the lottery.  I haven't seen any not-so-subtle hints asking for money! 

[franksolich]

I haven't seen any not-so-subtle hints asking for money!

He's been around, and was around just yesterday, but he's perfected his technique.

He's not not-so-subtle any more; he's subtle now, but it's still pretty obvious.

[vesta111]

I am in the wrong line of work! 
 

Perhaps we all are in the wrong kind of work Gina.

Toxic waste removable is big business and regulated by OSHA in most cases of industrial waste.  I worked with government asbestosis removal for a few years, still waiting for a diagnoses of Masopheloma.

Personal toxic waste is one hell of a bag of worms.    Try to sell a older home that may have asbestosis wrapped pipes in the home or Asbestosis shingles on the roof, Yikes the cost.

Most every Hotel or Motel has insurance for toxic clean up as guests do commit suicide and splatter the walls, floors and ceiling with blood.

Then there are the homes and apartments that have had a meths lab operating.   This is a huge problem, some police refuse to transport a meths maker to jail in their squad car, because they are contaminated.   I have seen photos of the police department calling in the fire department to hose down and  decontaminate  a suspect in the fricking street. 

Rent out an apartment or home, some Meths maker comes in, the poison is in the walls floors and ceiling.   The fumes may have spread to other adjoining apartments. 

To any realestate people this is a nightmare, how to sell a home that had a Meths maker in it??? Some States have disclosure laws others do not.  Sellers and landlords in some states do not have to disclose if the home or apartment had any kind of toxin's waste problems. 

When we buy a home with new wall to wall carpets, unless it is a modular home there is no warning about formaldehyde in the carpets drapes or wall boards.   

Toxic waste comes in many forms, one who has to pay an arm and a leg to clean the area has to take the company's word that all is clean.

Days past Grandpa died in bed, 2-3 days  to a month before he was found.   The mattrice was burned, new one placed and that was that.

High 5 to sparkey----it is the smell, unlike anyother one knows has ever known unless they are a licenced mortician, Cop or EMT.   


 

   

[Bodadh]

$35K is pretty steep when you consider that all they usually do is clean what can be cleaned and cut out and dispose of what can not without replaceing it. They don't even get rid of the body. Just the left overs. For that kind of money I hope they did a full restoration.

[Tucker]

$34K does seem a bit steep. A strong stomach, a few brushes, a few gallons of bleach, some paint, and new flooring are really all you need. Even if you had to repaint/recarpet a room, it shouldn't cost more than about $5K.

All of that stuff was OK 30 years ago. Why. all of a sudden. do you need all of this specialty equipment?

More of the big Government directives.

[Gina]

But the odor--my GOD, the odor.

Hubby was saying that last night when he walked into the bedroom 

[thundley4]

Hubby was saying that last night when he walked into the bedroom 

"Channeling mamacags" ~ douching?   

[Tucker]

Hubby was saying that last night when he walked into the bedroom 

 

[FlaGator]

Blaukraut (3,140 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail

8. The question I'd like to ask is why this woman was allowed to die and rot in her house before someone looked in on her. Nice daughter!

Mom was probably a conservative and her daughter was a DUer.