KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The victims of a an Osceola County hotel fire who were left homeless fear that getting paid for their losses might cost them more in the long run.
Much of the Unno Boutique Hotel burned down a couple of days before Christmas.
“Everything I had that wasn’t in storage got burned, including my kids’ Christmas,” said resident Yonaka Smith.
[ Raw video: Firefighters battle 3-alarm fire at Kissimmee hotel ]
Smith is one of dozens of people who lived in the hotel and paid rent every month.
She and others have been living in another hotel because of the generosity of others in the community.
Some residents are trying to get reimbursed for the rent they paid before the fire.
The owners offered to pay the residents only if they sign a form.
Residents said the problem is a clause in the form that reads: “Each party agrees to indemnify, defend and hold any other party harmless from and against any and all liability suits, actions, claims and demands.”
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said that means that if a resident takes the money, he or she can’t make any future claims against the hotel.
Smith and Gustavo Carrizo didn’t sign it, but said other families who lost almost everything they own did sign, desperate to get any cash they can.
“People lost everything, and they sign and (get) $200,” Carrizo said.%
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