N.Y. Attorney General Offers Grants to Legal Groups Helping Sandy Victims

New York’s attorney general says a growing number of people are seeking legal assistance for battles with insurance companies over damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday that he is awarding $743,000 in grants to 18 legal aid organizations that are trying to help thousands of homeowners navigate the insurance claim process and obtain other benefits available to disaster victims.

He says some people with damaged homes have complained that they have been shortchanged by their insurers, or had claims improperly delayed or denied.

One group getting a grant is Staten Island Legal Services. It says it has gotten requests for help from hundreds of homeowners dealing with insurance problems, including some at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure if their claims languish too long.