Insurance policy fine print leaves homeowners surprised

HOUSTON -- Hurricane Ike was bad enough, but some homeowners soon discovered they had been set up for a second blow.

After the hurricane dozens of people, including Warren and Dolores Lisenbee, believed they had windstorm insurance coverage, but when they tried to file a claim, they learned that wasn’t the case.

“I prayed to the man upstairs obviously, but he could only do so much,” said Warren Lisenbee, remembering the night of the storm.

The Lisenbees learned certain little things really matter -- like the fine print of an insurance policy. 

“They told me I wasn't covered,” said Warren Lisenbee. “On the first phone call that I made to the insurance company, that's when I got to look at the fine print. It didn't show windstorm.”

There are more than 70 people in the Lisenbees situation. Their insurance agent Darryl Wayne Golter has been indicted of Misapplication of Fiduciary Property.

“What he would do is either pocket the check and or cash, whatever it was,” said Warren Lisenbee. “And not pay or write a windstorm policy.”

The Texas Department of Insurance investigated Golter's case, which led to an indictment in Harris County. Golter has turned himself in. 

But now a civil suit has surfaced, and it wasn't filed by his insurance policy holders.

Golter's employer is suing him for damages. The insurance company he worked for did something state authorities say is rare. It honored the premiums Golter allegedly pocketed.

“I'd been with the insurance company for three year's prior to the storm,” said Warren Lisenbee. “That's why I say I still continue with them”

But one thing has changed.

“I won't say that I read every word, but I know all the particulars now,” said Warren Lisenbee.