AEGIS Law Secures $1 Million Jury Verdict for Homeowners in Historic Roof Insurance Dispute
In a five-day jury trial before Judge Henry E. Autrey in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, AEGIS Law secured a $1 million verdict on behalf of homeowners whose historic clay tile roof was damaged by a July 2021 storm—and whose insurer, Safeco Insurance Company of America, denied their claim.
The homeowners’ residence, built in 1906 and located in St. Louis’s Compton Heights Historic District, suffered extensive wind, hail, and storm damage to its original clay tile roofing system and exterior metals. Because the property’s historic designation required replacement with materials of like kind and quality, the repairs involved custom-manufactured tiles, copper metals and unique historical architectural detailing—costs that escalated dramatically between the initial estimates in March 2022 ($424,748.75) and November 2023 ($644,000) and have continued to escalate as construction costs have soared.
AEGIS Law attorneys Sheldon Korlin and Caroline Devereux, with support from Kellie Carr, presented evidence including eyewitness accounts from the homeowners, neighbors, before-and-after photographs spanning 2017 to 2020, and expert testimony from Jacob Graham of Renaissance Historic Exteriors and Susan Pruchnicki, Managing Principal of Bond Architects. Together, their testimony established both the cause of the damage and the complexity of repairing a historic structure to its original specifications.
“Juries expect insurers to honor their contracts,” said Scott Levine, Managing Partner at AEGIS Law. “This verdict recognizes the real-world costs of restoring historic homes and reaffirms that policyholders deserve the coverage they pay for. Sheldon and the team did extraordinary work demonstrating the craftsmanship, history, and value at stake.”
The case, Arindam Kar & Shanna Kar v. Safeco Insurance Company of America (Case No. 4:23-CV-00207 HEA), was tried before a jury of eight men and women from across Eastern Missouri.
Safeco is expected to file post-trial motions and potentially appeal the verdict, but for now, the judgment stands as a significant affirmation of policyholder rights and historic preservation values.
AEGIS Law continues to represent individuals and businesses in complex insurance, construction, and property damage disputes across the country—cases where attention to detail, expert collaboration, and trial experience make all the difference.
Contact: Sheldon Korlin
