I help Altadena and Pasadena homeowners recover what their policy actually owes, whether the house burned or is still standing with smoke and ash damage. California-licensed public adjuster, based a short drive away in West Covina, and formerly an engineer and underwriter inside the insurance industry.
California Public Adjuster Lic. #6002396 · Free claim review · No upfront cost
The Eaton Fire began on January 7, 2025, and burned about 14,000 acres through Altadena and the edges of Pasadena. The homes in its path were valuable: Verisk puts median home values in the fire area at $1.2 to $1.3 million. That makes every underpaid line item expensive, and these are the patterns that cost owners the most.
Insurers often offer cleaning where testing shows materials need replacing: insulation, ductwork, carpet, and soft goods. California’s Department of Insurance created a Smoke Claims and Remediation Task Force in May 2025 because these disputes became so common.
Limits set years ago rarely match today’s rebuild costs. Extended replacement cost, building code upgrade coverage, and debris removal can close part of the gap, but only if they are claimed correctly.
Your policy owes housing comparable to your home, not whatever is cheapest. California law also extends living-expense time after declared disasters when rebuilding is delayed. I push back when payments stop early.
California lets total-loss wildfire policyholders collect part of their contents coverage without a full item-by-item inventory. The rest still needs a complete, well-priced list, which is where claims are often left short.
The FAIR Plan had received more than 1,300 Eaton Fire claims by February 2025. Owners with a FAIR Plan policy and a separate DIC policy deal with two companies, and losses can fall into the gap between them.
Southern California Edison launched a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program in November 2025. It is separate from your insurance. Understand how any release you sign affects your insurance claim before you sign it.
Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, La Cañada Flintridge, Arcadia, San Marino, South Pasadena, and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley. I am based in West Covina and meet clients on site.
These were not Eaton Fire claims, but they show the same problems: finishes priced too low and living expenses cut short.
The insurer priced custom Italian cabinetry and other high-end finishes as if they were standard materials. Minalya documented the true replacement cost of every finish and stayed on the claim until it was paid correctly.
A family with a 10-month-old and a 3-year-old spent months in one small hotel room after a water loss gutted their three-bedroom home. Their dog and cat were left in the damaged house. Minalya moved the family into comparable housing, found a place for the pets, and reopened the scope of the claim.
They had no contents coverage, which cost them about $30,000 more in belongings the policy could not pay for. A policy review before a loss catches gaps like this.
Results from past Minalya claims, shared without identifying details. Every claim is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
We talk through your claim and your options. No cost, no commitment.
I inspect the property and read the full policy, documenting every loss, including hidden damage.
I build the claim, handle all insurer contact, and negotiate for you.
You are paid. My fee comes only from money recovered for you.
Tell me where your claim stands. I will tell you honestly whether I can improve it.