Rolling retaliation for State Farm
Jul 24, 2008
St. Petersburg Times–July 23, 2008
By Tom Zucco, Times Staff Writer
When State Farm denied the sinkhole claim on Dave Bowers’ Port Richey home two years ago, he decided that venting to his friends just wasn’t enough. He had to take this to the streets. A semiretired air conditioning repairman, Bowers, 65, posted his message on the sides of his 1996 Chevy pickup. "I’ve been getting angry letters from State Farm lawyers accusing me of harassment," Bowers said. "But I’m on a crusade. This could happen to anybody." Bowers, who was dropped by State Farm and did the repairs to his home himself, said countless numbers of motorists honk their horns and give him a thumbs-up when they see his truck. A State Farm spokesman said the company can’t comment on individual cases. Last week, State Farm asked Florida regulators for a statewide average 47 percent increase in homeowners insurance rates. The company also is in the midst of dropping 50,000 policyholders who live near the coast.