NEW BERLIN, Wis. — A New Berlin homeowner is suing USAA after the insurance company initially denied his flood damage claim, only to reverse course once he hired an attorney.

Chris Taber's basement flooded in August when his sump pump failed during severe storms that affected thousands of Wisconsin residents. Despite having sump pump failure coverage specifically built into his homeowner's insurance policy, USAA denied his $10,000 claim without sending an adjuster to assess the damage.

"Insurance companies are expecting you to just roll over and take it, and don't do it," Taber said.

The water destroyed three decades' worth of collector's items, movies and personal memories stored in Taber's basement.

New Berlin homeowner sues USAA after insurance reverses flood claim denial

"For me,

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