The United State Supreme Court ruled that the divorced spouse of an insured under a life insurance policy had no constitutional challenge against a state statute that revoked her status as a beneficiary upon the insured's death. Sveen v. Melin, 584 U.S. ___ (2018), 2018 U.S. LEXIS 3503 (U.S. June 11, 2018).
First Party Insurance
Issues of Fact Require Denial of Insurer’s Summary Judgment Motion in Collapse Case
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The insurer's motion for summary judgment to establish there was no coverage for the collapse of the front wall in the insured's home was denied. Desvarieux v. Allstate Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2018 US. Dist. LEXIS 71230 (E.D. Pa. April 26, 2018).
After the front wall collapsed, a claim…
Battle of Experts Cannot Be Decided on Summary Judgment
By Tred R. Eyerly on
When two competing experts disagreed on the cause of the loss, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to the insurer. Garcia v. Firs Community Ins. Co., Fla. App. LEXIS 4237 (Fla. Ct. App. March 28, 2018).
Garcia, the homeowner, discovered water damage in his home, allegedly due to…
Coverage Found for Water Damage Caused by Collapsed Plumbing System
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Eleventh Circuit, following Florida law, reversed the district court's granting of summary judgment to the insurer for water damage caused by a collapse in the dwelling's plumbing system. Cameron v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 9800 (11th Cir. April 16, 2018).
A pipe in the plumbing system…
Court Adopts Magistrate’s Recommendation to Deny Insurer’s Summary Judgment Motion in Collapse Case
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The district court accepted the magistrate's recommended ruling denying the insurer's motion for summary judgment on breach of contract and bad faith claims in a case involving collapse. Jang v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51880 (D. Conn. March 27, 2018).
After purchase of their home…
Coverage for Loss Caused by The Big Island’s Volcanic Eruptions
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Spring brought to the Puna District of the Big Island numerous volcanic eruptions causing extensive loss of property. As of late May, the lava was moving at a speed to cover six football fields an hour according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Two dozen recent fissures have created lava fountains and explosions during the…
Homeowner Has No Standing to Sue Under Lender-Placed Policy
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The homeowner's suit against the insurer under a lender-placed policy was dismissed for lack of the insured's standing. Joseph v. Praetorian Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27731 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 20, 2018).
The insurer issued a lender-placed homeowners policy on the plaintiff's home. The named insured was Bank of…
“Ordinance or Law” Provision Mandates Coverage for Roof Repair
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Tennessee Court of Appeals found that the insured was entitled to coverage under the policy's "ordinance or law" provision for repairs to prevent a future collapse of both the damaged and undamaged portions of the building. Jefferson Cnty. Schools v. Tenn. Risk Mgmt. Trust, 2018 Tenn. app. LEXIS 138 (Tenn. Ct.
Water Leak Covered for First Thirteen Days
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Florida Court of Appeals recently held the the policy's exclusion for repeated water seepage over a period of fourteen days or more does not exclude loss caused by the seepage for the first thirteen days. Hicks v. Am. Integrity Ins. Co. of Florida, 2018 Fla. App. LEXIS 2616 (Fla. Ct. App.
Broad Evidence Rule Used To Determine Actual Cash Value
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Affirming the District Court, the Seventh Circuit agreed that the broad evidence rule was used under Indiana law to determine actual cash value. Thorne v. Member Select Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 3265 (7th Cir. Feb. 12, 2018).
Thorne's home burned to the ground in February 2008. Member Select…