Insurance Companies Always Warn Homeowners To Call Them, Not “Remediation Services.” This Is Why.
UPDATE July 11, 2025: Ryan Owen, attorney for Renee Lang, reached out to let us know that a counterclaim was filed against Servpro. Here’s what Attorney Owen wrote: “Mrs. Lang filed a Counterclaim against Servpro in which she asserted that Servpro, through a subcontractor’s negligence, caused over $935,000 in damage to her home.” The case continues in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
DELRAY BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A homeowner in Mizner Country Club is facing a lawsuit filed by Servpro — an emergency remediation service — after the service allegedly performed nearly $30,000 worth of work in the $4M home. According to the suit, homeowner Renee Lang — who records show is 86 — is refusing to pay for the work performed in her home at 8430 Delprado Drive in Delray Beach.
Servpro of Boynton Beach, owned by “Emergency Service Group, Inc.,” advertises emergency remediation services when homes sustain calamities including water leaks, fires, and mold. Typically, companies like Servpro show up quickly and tell homeowners that they’ll direct bill their insurance companies for emergency work to be performed. But those insurance companies sometimes balk at the costs — leaving a homeowner responsible for money due.
It’s unclear what Servpro representatives told the apparently elderly Renee Lang at the time service was initiated. But the contract, which you can read in its entirety, below, includes this key language with notable blanks: “Customer authorizes UNKNOWN Insurance Company, herein referred to as ‘Insurance Company’ to pay Provider solely and directly for that portion of the work covered by Customer’s insurance policy … customer agrees to pay customer’s deductible in the amount ‘to be determined’ that applies to this claim. If any amounts owing to provider for provider services are not covered by insurance, customer agrees to pay those amounts to the provider within 15 days of the customer’s receipt of invoice.”
According to the lawsuit, Servpro billed $16,810.49 for water remediation, and used a contractor to perform $4,146.29 worth of flooring work. Attorneys for Servpro — Richard and Jason Cohen of West Palm Beach — add those numbers with interest and “court costs” to reach $27,581.64. The suit was just filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
Servpro, which is not accused of any wrongdoing, is in a category of companies that often do battle with insurance providers — placing customers in the middle. Major insurance companies, including State Farm and Deerfield Beach-based People’s Trust, encourage customers to call the insurance company first — and work from a list of preferred vendors. While there are never guarantees, customers are often less likely to get into a legal battle with a remediation company and an insurance company if that insurance company told the customer who to call.
Read the complete complaint, below.
