Hurricane Katrina in the Courtroom

This paper will summarize some of the court cases that the author has been involved with regarding damage evaluations during Hurricane Katrina. Meteorologists and engineers were called in to render expert opinions regarding the magnitudes, direction, and timing of wind and storm surge since they have two distinct insurance coverages. Judges and juries made coverage decisions based on expert testimony. It is hoped that readers will have a better understanding of the expert issues involved in hurricanes long after the wind and water have subsided.