You’ve seen Mikado owner Umesh Mahitanni on this newscast complaining that Atlantic Insurance hasn’t settled his claim after his Ro-Mac’s Building burnt down in March of this year. And while the public pressure has brought the insurance company to the bargaining table, they haven’t dropped their hand, or at least not all the way.
And that’s why Mahitani or someone close to him has stepped up the pressure sharply with a new kind of smear campaign. It’s a banner posted in front of the former Ro-Mac’s which says “A. Insurance, You Need To Pay Us.” Now that’s in the very heart of the city and captured in neon yellow, it’s sure to grab everyone’s attention. And as Keith Swift found out, that’s just what Mahitani or whoever did the sign wants. He today denied putting up the 15 by 5 foot banner but said it speaks for itself.
Umesh Mahitani, Owner – Ro-Mac’s
“Nothing has changed since we last spoke.”
Keith Swift,
Have you heard from the insurance company, you said the last time they weren’t answering your calls or emails?
Umesh Mahitani,
“We had a meeting last Tuesday which is day before yesterday which is unfavourable to us and we just have to wait and see if we’ll proceed
in a legal manner.”
Keith Swift,
Right now we see a sign, a big sign, addressed to ‘A. Insurance.’ What’s up with that sign?
Umesh Mahitani,
“As the sign says, ‘you need to pay us.’”
Keith Swift,
And the A. Insurance is Atlantic Insurance?
Umesh Mahitani,
“Probably.”
Keith Swift,
You have a building that is half finished or quarter finished, what are you going to do?
Umesh Mahitani,
“We are going to definitely go ahead and try to finish it and try to proceed as planned. When they are going to settle with us, we don’t know. It could be years before they settle us. We don’t know.”
Keith Swift,
But can you wait for years though?
Umesh Mahitani,
“No but we have to probably borrow the money or something and try to get it finished. We’ve already started right.”
Keith Swift,
Have they told you why they are stalling?
Umesh Mahitani,
“They are not very clear. They haven’t written to me and told me in detail why they have not settled yet. we’re waiting for that document now and then we will proceed from there. For us Keith, here at Mikado we are in the middle of celebrating 30 years in business which is a big thing for us. We’re very proud. If I am to be guilty of anything, I am guilty of a lot of hard work. Myself and the family, we’re guilty of hard work and this is what has brought us here thirty years after. That’s about it.”
We were unable to reach Atlantic Insurance for comment today. We have however learnt that the insurance company has offered Mahitani a settlement but it is reportedly only about a quarter of what he believes he is due.
