Although the insured claimed damages to her home was caused by vibrations from nearby construction, the court held she failed to overcome the insurer's expert's opinion that the damage resulted from excluded causes such as wear and tear, cracking and settling. King v. Am Family Ins., 2017 Ohio App. LEXIS 2565 (Ohio
First Party Insurance
No Coverage for Hurricane Sandy Damage
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The magistrate recommended that summary judgment be entered in favor of the insurer, thereby eliminating coverage for property damage incurred during Hurricane Sandy. Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc. v. Great Northern Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103015 (E.D. N.Y. June 30, 2017).
Madelaine Chocolate owned a facility three blocks form…
No Collapse Coverage Where Policy’s Collapse Provisions Deleted
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The federal district court found there was no coverage for the homeowners' collapse claim because the collapse provisions were deleted from the policy. Gueng-Ho Kim v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97871 (D. Conn. June 26, 2017).
The homeowners purchased their home in 2004. They…
Home Buyer May Be Third Party Beneficiary of Property Policy
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed the trial court's grant of summary judgment to the insurer, finding that the purchaser may have third party beneficiary rights under the seller's property policy. Hensley v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2017 Okla. LEXIS 59 (June 20, 2017).
In May 2000, Hensley sold…
Loss Ensuing from Alleged Faulty Workmanship is Covered
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The federal district court found that under Montana law, water damage resulting from alleged faulty workmanship in repairing the insured's roof was covered. Leep v. Trinity Universal Ins Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86759 (D. Mont. June 6, 2017).
The insured's property was damaged in a hail storm. The insured…
New Earth Movement Exclusion Construed to Bar Coverage
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Facing an issue of first impression, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that property damage caused by either a man-made or a natural cause was excluded under the Insurance Service Office's 2013 earth movement endorsement. Erie Ins. Prop. & Cas. Co. v. Chaber, 2017 W. Va. LEXIS 430 (W. Va. June 1…
Debris Removal Not Available When Flood Damage Exceeds Policy Limits
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The court considered whether debris removal coverage in a surplus lines policy applied in conjunction with an endorsement limiting flood coverage for all losses "resulting from Flood to buildings, structures or property." Oxford Realty Group Cedar v. Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Co., 2017 N.J. LEXIS 570 (N.J. May 25, 2017).
…
Dispute Over Coverage for Snow Removal and Related Damage Survives Insurer’s Summary Judgment Motion
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The federal district court largely denied the insurer's motion for summary judgment seeking a judgment of no coverage for snow removal and related property damage. Thurston Foods v. Wausau Bus. Ins. Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74935 (D. Conn. May 17, 2017).
The insured was a food distributor with a…
Failure to Timely File Suit in Federal Court for Flood Loss is Fatal
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Although the insureds timely filed their suit for denial of flood benefits in state court, the Fourth Circuit found the lawsuit against the Insurer was untimely because it was not filed in federal district court. Woodson v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2017 U. S. App. LEXIS 7862 (4th Cir. May 3 , 2917).
…
Buyer’s Demolishing of Insured’s Home Not Barred by Faulty Construction Exclusion
By Tred R. Eyerly on
Loss of the insured's home caused by a renter who demolished the home was covered under the homeowner's policy. Fisher v. Garrison Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 2017 Idaho LEXIS 143 (Idaho May 26, 2017).
The insured, Shammie L. Fisher, entered a Purchase Agreement to sell her home to Ron Reynoso. The purchase of…