Tyler Perry Asks Allstate, ‘You Call This Being in Good Hands?’ After an 81-Year-Old Woman’s Claim Was Denied

“I have nothing, nothing at all,” Brenda Daurham, 81, told Fox 32 Chicago, adding that she wanted somebody to help her. Two days after that Aug. 31 report, Tyler Perry posted about her case on Instagram. As of Sept. 2, Daurham had been out of her Markham, Illinois, home for more than six months. A pipe burst, Allstate denied her claim, and a nearly $18,000 lien landed on the house.

A Burst Pipe on Valentine’s Day

Daurham said the fire department responded after a pipe under her sink burst on Valentine’s Day. She called her insurer, and “they said everything was covered. I didn’t have to worry about a thing,” she told Fox 32 Chicago. She said she had paid Allstate for decades, trusting the policy to protect her. Images the station reviewed showed water in the kitchen and elsewhere in the house.

Cleanup Work and a Denial

Daurham said she then called Excel Fire and Water Damage Restoration Services to handle the cleanup, expecting Allstate to cover the cost. Documents shared with Fox 32 Chicago show the insurer denied the claim instead, citing exclusions for wear and tear, deterioration, and seepage. She told the station she had “the highest of everything” on her policy, and that when something happened, the company covered nothing.

The Restoration Company Disagrees

Excel, the company Daurham had called, saw it differently. Fox 32 Chicago reported that the company disputed Allstate’s determination, saying the damage was consistent with a “sudden and accidental plumbing failure.” Excel also argued that Allstate’s own policy language includes “sudden and accidental escape of water” from a plumbing system, according to PEOPLE. Allstate continued to dispute the claim, and Excel was not paid for its work.

A Lien Against the Home

By August, the unpaid bill had become a legal claim on her house. On Aug. 20, Excel, the restoration company that did the cleanup, filed a mechanic’s lien against Daurham’s property with the Cook County Clerk, according to Fox 32 Chicago. The filing sought $17,827.96, plus potential interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. Asked if she could cover it herself, Daurham said, “By no means,” PEOPLE reported.

Fighting to Return Home

Daurham described the situation to Fox 32 Chicago as horrible and devastating, saying she could not stand it any longer. She said she went to the emergency room because she felt she was having a breakdown. The station reported that the burst pipe caused extensive water damage and that Daurham said she never imagined she would be fighting to return to a home she spent decades protecting.

A Post Aimed at Allstate

Fox 32 Chicago’s Instagram post about Daurham drew viewers who started tagging Perry. One wrote that they knew he couldn’t save everyone, but wanted him to see it, at least for awareness. On Sept. 2, Perry posted on his own account, asking Allstate to “step to the front real quick.” He added, “This woman is 81 years old. You call this being in good hands?”

What Perry Is Covering

“Ms. Daurham, help is on the way,” Perry said in his post. According to PEOPLE, his team confirmed he would pay the lien and provide additional funds to complete the remaining work on the home. A source told the outlet he was providing an additional $25,000 to help Daurham recover. Fox 32 Chicago said paying the lien would remove one major financial obstacle in her effort to return home.

Where Allstate Stands

Fox 32 Chicago said it had repeatedly asked Allstate for answers about Daurham’s denied claim. As of the station’s Sept. 2 report, the company had acknowledged the request and said a representative was “currently looking into this.” PEOPLE also contacted Allstate and Excel Fire and Water Damage Restoration Services and had not received a reply when it published on Sept. 3.

What to Do When a Claim Is Denied

Homeowners can prepare for a denial before one happens. Reading the policy shows what is covered, giving them specific language to point to if the insurer says no. Photos of the damage, taken before the formal claims process starts, can support their case later. A denied claim can be appealed, and if that fails, homeowners can hire a legal expert or file a complaint with their state’s insurance department. Here’s hoping the process is a smoother one.