By Jackelyn Barnard
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL-- Right in the middle of Ponte Vedra, right in the middle of Elizabeth Allen's bathroom, "These are mud tunnels right here."

They're signs of trouble, signs Allen says she has been spotting over and over again for the last eight years.

"Virtually every room in the house has had extensive termite damage."

And each time she says she has called a pest control company called "Orkin." Allen says she just wanted the swarms of termites to come out of her walls and the damage to go away.

She says it did go away with a patch and paint job, but that only means the damage isn't really fixed, only masked.

And it is something Wayne Cowart says he knows all about. Three years ago, Cowart was Orkin's director of Risk Management.

"If it was a customer that didn't have money to fight us I was told to deny the claim. If [they] had money to fight us, we'd pay [the] claim."

Cowart says it all boiled down to the company's bottom line. He says it is cheaper to patch and paint over damage than it is to fix it.

"I can tell you it was a routine way of handling claims when I was there."

Elizabeth Allen says it happened to her.

Orkin says that is not true. A spokesperson for the company released this statement to First Coast News. "We do not believe he (Cowart) is in a position to question Orkin's integrity or business practices. During his brief tenure with Orkin, he enthusiastically praised Orkin's commitment to its customers. Now, Mr. Cowart makes his living consulting with plaintiff attorneys and has a financial interest in attacking Orkin and other pest control operators.
Though termite damage is a very serious problem, Orkin receives claims from less than one percent of our customers each year."

Cowart's response--"I'm not saying anything that's not true. I'm not on anybody's side. I'm on the side of the truth."

Truth is all Elizabeth Allen says she wants. She's filed a lawsuit against Orkin claiming the company didn't repair damage to her home.

Elizabeth says the damage has her living in fear. "What's happening to my home is frightening...even my daughter is afraid of the Orkin man."

On Your Side's Ken Amaro says there are some things to look for if you suspect termites and are trying to treat them.

A swarm or mudhole is a tell-tale sign that the insects have found your property.

Ken says it's important to get three estimates from companies, so you can get the best deal. Also, be sure to investigate the company, and check with the state to make sure they have a good record of handling business.