Bob's Story: FEMA Appeal Won After Fire Loss & Denial

Published: Post-2017 Tubbs Fire (LASC Disaster Services Page) Type: Organizational Case Story Attorney Named: Kendall Jarvis, Esq.

Legal Aid of Sonoma County's disaster services program page includes a case story in which Kendall Jarvis is identified by name as the attorney who filed and won a FEMA appeal for a fire survivor named Bob. After losing his home in the Tubbs Fire and tragically losing his mother to smoke inhalation complications — and having FEMA deny his claim despite having no insurance — Kendall successfully appealed both denials and secured housing assistance, personal property replacement, and funeral expense support for her client.

Initial FEMA Decision

Both claims denied — home lost, no insurance, mother lost to smoke inhalation

After Kendall's Appeal

Both claims approved — housing assistance, personal property replacement, and funeral expense support awarded

What This Case Illustrates

FEMA denials are often not final — skilled legal advocacy can reverse them
Uninsured survivors have FEMA as a critical safety net, but navigating it requires expertise
Kendall's work extended beyond housing to securing funeral expense support — a compassionate and comprehensive approach
This case was featured on Legal Aid of Sonoma County's official program page as representative of their disaster work
Program note: LASC's disaster services program is no longer accepting new individual clients (as of 2026 page update)

legalaidsc.org/programs/disaster-services/ View Source ↗