From Vandalism to Collapse: How Premier Claims Turned a $98K Insurance Payout into $2.8M

What began as a routine roof repair turned into a nightmare for the owners of a cold-storage facility. A terminated contractor, frustrated over losing work, returned with a hatchet and slashed open the roof — the first of many acts of vandalism. Within months, severe storms rolled through, water seeped in, and the weakened structure ultimately collapsed.

The insurance company offered just $98,712, far short of what was needed to restore the property or cover lost business income. With Premier Claims’ support, the owners documented the vandalism, confirmed storm dates with HailTrace weather data, and fought for the coverage they deserved — ultimately securing $2,849,578.

The Start of the Vandalism

The first incident occurred on October 22, 2018, when a disgruntled former contractor — once hired to repair the roof — retaliated after being terminated for poor workmanship. Armed with a hatchet, he slashed the roof membrane, causing immediate water intrusion and weakening the building’s integrity.

Over the following weeks, he returned multiple times, committing acts such as:

• • • Cutting open roofing systems repeatedly
    • Breaking windows
    • Damaging fire sprinkler rooms
    • Stealing compressors and cutting refrigeration lines

Although tenants reported vandalism to police, they remained unaware of the severity because much of the damage occurred on the roof. To stop the ongoing attacks, the owners eventually hired on-site security and a private investigator, who captured the vandal on camera, leading to his arrest.

Weather Compounds the Damage

The vandalism left the building highly vulnerable to wind and hail storms that struck in the months that followed.

To establish the timeline and confirm weather impact, Premier Claims utilized HailTrace weather data, which showed:

• • • Wind events that lifted and worsened the already slashed roof membrane
    • Hailstorms that accelerated roof failure and water intrusion
    • Rain events that led to widespread interior water damage

This objective weather verification was critical. It proved that while vandalism initiated the damage, subsequent storm events compounded the destruction, ultimately causing a partial building collapse.

The Collapse and Fire Marshal Eviction

In October 2019, one year after the first vandalism and just a month after Premier Claims took over the case, it was determined that the building’s fire sprinkler system was severely compromised by the collapse.

The fire marshal ordered tenants to vacate the property, leading to:

• • • Loss of rental income
    • Business interruption
    • Additional structural deterioration

Premier Claims ensured these lost business income damages were included in the claim.

Insurance Company Pushback

The insurance carrier initially released just $98,712 and later issued a Reservation of Rights letter in an attempt to limit coverage.

Premier Claims fought back by:

• • • Documenting vandalism events through security footage, PI reports, and police records.
    • Correlating weather data from HailTrace to prove how storms amplified the damage after vandalism.
    • Engaging engineers to confirm the structural collapse and scope of repairs.
    • Challenging the carrier’s ROR, leading to its withdrawal and expansion of coverage

Appraisal and Litigation: Securing Full Recovery

Even after negotiations pushed the settlement to $2.1M, Premier Claims knew the claim was still underpaid. We advised the owners to pursue appraisal and litigation, confident that additional damages should be covered.

That strategy worked. Through continued advocacy, the final recovery was increased to $2,849,578 — nearly 30 times the original payment.

Key Takeaways for Property Owners

• • • Weather verification matters – tools like HailTrace provide independent data that can make or break a claim.
    • Linking multiple causes – vandalism, storms, and collapse should be treated as connected losses, not isolated events.
    • Challenge insurer defenses – even when a carrier issues a Reservation of Rights, coverage can be successfully reinstated.
    • Partner with claim experts – engineers, investigators, and claims professionals provide the documentation insurers can’t ignore.

Why Work With Premier Claims?

At Premier Claims, we help commercial property owners recover full insurance settlements after disasters like vandalism, wind and hail damage, and building collapse. By leveraging weather forensics, engineering expertise, and aggressive claim strategies, we maximize recovery for our clients.

If your property has suffered storm or vandalism damage, contact Premier Claims today to ensure your insurance claim is handled the right way.

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