MarkLevin

Update:

Re: cause of fire-The Hartford investigators could not make a determination.

The insurance companies have come through. I was expecting a major battle with them and initally prepared to take a very tough stance.

Within about four-five days of the fire I had put together a team of two lawyers and the owner of an accounting firm. We've known each other for 30 years and they're collectors of my work. I couldn't afford one of them, they're doing this pro-bono.

Got written permission from them to use their firm names in the CC of the emails to The Hartford. I wanted to send a soft signal and it seemed to work. We've already been paid 100% of the maximuim per my business policy for the studio and they've also paid me a good hunk for machinery and content, barely five weeks from the date of the fire. The Hartford is now waiting on me to get all the receipts for the balance of the content payment. They've come through and fast. The agent they signed to my case has been absolutely professional and has always responded within about 24 hours to any email from me, even Saturdays and Sundays.

Progressive Insurance also has been very good. I lost my new truck in the fire-I loved that truck. They arranged inspection and removal within seven business days and have been pretty fair about what it's worth and payment.

On the negative side, I know the insurance premiums will probably double or more for both the business and auto.

I was just catching up with my backlog from my medical hiatus and now the fire. Not one person has canceled a commssion, two ordered one more piece that they proably didn't need to help me out. Some of them will have waited nearly two years+ for their work. Before all this I use to be able to say I had better than a 95% success rate in meeting my shipping dates-that statistic went out the window some time ago.

So a positive story about rebuilding,the future,insurance companies and the kindness of friends, business assocciates, non-profit organizations plus numerous well wishes from strangers. A special thanks to a number of persons from the ArtfulHome.com.

Good luck to all and again thank you for the emails.

Mark Levin

I appreciate all your supportive and kind comments. Many poeple have asked how they can help. I'd ask that you consider making a donation to the Crafts Emergency Relief Fund http://craftemergency.org/. Ten or twenty dollars would help them out. They are still working with artists who went through hurricane Katrina.

I'm quite impressed with CERF. I don't know how they found out, but they contacted me within about 48 hours of the fire making me aware of their grants and loans which at this time I hopefully won't need. The director of CERF is Craig Nutt and is also a founding member of the Furniture Society, http://www.craignutt.com/. I love his work and humor. It's obvious that he has a thing about vegetables as I do about fruit. He likes to garden and I like to eat fruit.

Again, thank you all

Mark Levin
www.marklevin.com