The magnitude-6.3 earthquake that struck the Christchurch region on February 22, 2011 caused extensive damage and loss of life. Photo / Brett Phibbs
A top Australian law firm is taking on a $300 million class action on behalf of 3000 Canterbury homeowners who feel ripped off on earthquake payouts by insurers Southern Response.
The potentially-landmark case is being launched against the Government-owned insurance company Southern Response which was launched to settle quake claims
in the wake of insurer AMI's 2011 failure.
But more than 3000 have felt short-changed in their quake insurance settlements, and now they've banded together for what could be New Zealand's biggest ever class action.
Brendan and Colleen Ross, whose home in the Avondale suburb of Christchurch was badly damaged and red-zoned after the 2010 and 2011 earthquake sequence, were delighted with the announcement a litigation funding contract has been signed with Claims Funding Australia.
"We think that the many hundreds of policyholders who didn't receive the settlements that they were entitled to, can now get access to justice, something they would never have obtained on their own. We are thrilled with this development," the couple said.
