JURY FINDS INSURER HAS PAID ENOUGH.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Meadowbrook condominium owners have lost their lawsuit against State Farm over earthquake repairs when a jury found the company is responsible for only the $4.8 million it offered on a claim.

The jury rejected an assertion by the Meadowbrook Homeowners Association that State Farm should pay up to $15 million to cover damage that inspectors missed when they surveyed the complex after the Jan. 17, 1994, Northridge Earthquake.

Jim Robie, an attorney representing State Farm Fire and Casualty, said the jury's decision, reached this week after two days off, was fair.

``These jurors are solid citizens who very carefully listened to the evidence and were unanimous in their conclusion that State Farm had paid more than enough money on this loss,'' Robie said. ``That (there is) no way this could have amounted to $15 million.''

But attorneys for the homeowners association said they had evidence to prove that the company conducted an inadequate inspection of the property. Their suit had asserted breach of contract and fraud on the part of the insurance company.

``The jury has spoken and I respect their verdict - it is what it is,'' said one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, Zorik Mooradian. ``We obviously disagree with the outcome because we believe that there were wrongs committed.''

And Andre Sherman, another plaintiffs' attorney, said no decision had been made on whether the association would appeal the verdict.

``We are disappointed in the outcome,'' Sherman said. ``We did feel strongly that the fraud was there in dealing with the association.''

The homeowners maintained that the insurance company sent an inexperienced inspector to survey the condos two months after the quake. They said there was undetected damage that is now becoming a hazard, including major cracks in the foundation and leaking roofs. In addition, they said, most of the complex's garages had to be rebuilt.

State Farm already has paid $2.2 million for repairs, but the residents said a contractor they hired found at least $15.9 million in damage.

At the start of the trial in September in the Simi Valley courthouse, State Farm conceded to the jury there might be $4.8 million in damage, which the company was willing to pay to fix stucco and repaint.

Robie said the association has to pay a $1.4 million deductible on the policy. The company is now willing to pay the $1.2 million balance toward the cost of repairs as soon as the association retains a contractor to do the work.