Resilience in the Face of Adversity
The stories behind the LA fire victims, and how you can help those suffering
This week, I led a team of Humanity First USA lawyers and volunteers to set up a legal support booth for victims of the devastating LA fires. Over the course of just a few days, we’ve already served dozens of families. We expect many more to arrive throughout the coming days and weeks for legal support and counsel.
Each story we heard is a heartbreaking reminder of why we must remain relentless in our service to humanity. We met families who lost everything—homes reduced to ash, treasured belongings gone forever. Some didn’t know where they would sleep once their insurance money ran out. Others were already receiving predatory calls urging them to sell their properties at a fraction of their value. Too many were being shortchanged by insurance companies, left to navigate a confusing and often unjust system. Here’s a snapshot of those stories that I feel compelled to share.
We counseled Jamal, a small business owner desperate to get back to work. His shop burned down, and he sought legal counsel on how to ensure his equipment and supplies would not be excluded from coverage. Given that his business included carpet cleaning and restoration from smoke damage, every moment it took for the insurance company to approve his claim meant lost resources.
We met Danielle. Her and her husband’s home was ravaged with fire and smoke damage, but thankfully still standing. Yet, she approached us not for herself, but to assist a neighboring family who had endured the unimaginable: losing their father unexpectedly, only to see their home destroyed by the Eaton fire just weeks later. We were able to guide her and her neighbor on how to best protect themselves from a denied claim, maximize their owed benefits, and how to ensure their FEMA claims are processed properly.
Then there was Lana, an artist who had spent decades building her career, painstakingly creating a body of work she could be proud of. Most of her prized pieces were destroyed in the fire, leaving her not just grieving but also wondering how to rebuild? We were struck by her resilience in the face of adversity, and her commitment to continue to push forward despite seemingly losing everything. Her faith in herself was truly inspiring, and a reminder of how much strength each of us have within us, even when facing the loss of our life’s work.
Some stories were still truly depressing. For example, I met and counseled Tony, who voluntarily shared that he was undocumented. Tony’s landlord committed fraud by filing a FEMA claim under Tony’s mother’s name without her knowledge and consent. Tony felt that his landlord was exploiting his immigration status for personal financial gain, knowing Tony would hesitate to report to the authorities. Our team advised him on how to file a claim of fraud and protect his rights in the aftermath of this blatant exploitation.
We didn’t ask these families for proof of financial hardship. We didn’t inquire about their political affiliation, their religion. And we did not ask about their immigration status. We didn’t make these asks because that’s not what service to humanity looks like. Instead, we served everyone who came to us, and will continue to serve everyone we can, because human rights are sacred and inherent. Indeed, the measure of our society is how we treat one another in times of crisis. This week has been a humbling reminder that all of us are just one tragedy away from homelessness, from losing a loved one, from having to start over. And that is why we must always look out for one another.
Our work was immensely enhanced in partnership with the NAACP of Pasadena, who graciously offered their office space and resources to help us in our mission. We were also supported by Muslim Youth USA, whose mission statement is, “Serving the communities we live in isn't just a civic responsibility, it's the most important part of our faith.” Finally, we met with FEMA and Red Cross leadership to ensure they knew our legal services were available, and were grateful for their gracious and ongoing support.
As the fires continue to blaze, we remain committed to providing legal aid, resources, and support to all who need it. Service to humanity is service to all humanity, without exception. If these stories resonate with you, I invite you to join our efforts. Your support—whether through a charitable contribution or by sharing this article—allows us to stay on the ground, helping those who need it most.
Together, we can ensure that no one faces these tragedies alone. Together, we can build a more perfect union. Thank you all for your continued trust, donations, support, and partnership to elevate each other’s humanity. As always, I welcome your subscription to Let’s Address This as we continue to advocate for absolute justice and universal human rights.
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The victims of the LA fires will need lots of help navigating the insurance claims process. Following the 1991 Oakland Hills fire that destroyed 3,000 homes the insurance companies did everything they could with an army of lawyers and insurance adjusters to avoid paying claims. The dirty secret about insurance companies is that they often deny claims with the understanding that most people won’t appeal a denial or don’t understand the appeals process or policy holders don’t understand that they possess a legally enforceable contract with the insurance companies. Insurance companies can be compelled to fulfill their contactual obligations but it requires lawyers to compel insurance companies.
Insurance is the transfer of risk from an individual or business to an insurance company. Insurance companies have teams of actuaries who mathematically calculate risk. It is from those calculations that insurance companies can formulate insurance premiums for policy holders. Those premiums consider occasional payouts for insurance claims and an operational profit. The insurance companies also hedge their risk by purchasing re-insurance (insurance for insurance companies) from companies like Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway to cover unexpectedly high losses in the event of disaster or large civil lawsuit judgments. Yet, at a time like now in LA, the insurers will do their best to avoid paying claims as much as possible.
The efforts of Humanity First USA is truly commendable and needed for the victims of the LA fire victims!