The court ordered an appraisal when the parties differed on the amount of loss to the dwelling even when the carrier contended the dispute was over the cause of the loss. Khaleel v Amguard Ins. Co., No. 21 C 992, Memorandum Opinion and Order (N.D. Ill. Feb. 11, 2022). The order
Hail Damage
Appraisal May Include Cause of Loss Issues
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The federal district court determined that an appraisal can include causation issues when determining the amount of loss. B&D Inv. Grp., LLC v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 246853 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 28, 2021).
B&D commercial building was damaged by hail. B&D submitted a claim to Mid-Century, but…
Insurer’s Late Notice Defense Fails on Summary Judgment
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The insurer's motion for summary judgment to dismiss the claim because the insurer did not provide notice "as soon as practicable" was denied. Vintage Hospitality Group LLC v. Nat'l Trust Ins. Co., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 192651 (M.D. Ga. Oct. 6, 2021).
Vintage owned hotels, one of which was…
Tenth Circuit Finds Appraisal Can Decide Causation of Loss Under Colorado Law
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Tenth Circuit determined that the Colorado Supreme Court would agree with other state courts that appraisers can decide the causation of a loss. Bonbeck Parker, LLC v. The Travelers Indem. Co. of Am., 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 29607 (10th Cir. Oct. 1, 2021).
A hailstorm damaged three buildings owned…
Eighth Circuit Affirms Finding of Bad Faith, Award of Costs and Prejudgment Interest
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's finding of bad faith and award to the insured of taxable costs and prejudgment interest. Selective Ins. Co. v. Sela, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 26062 (8th Cir. Aug. 30, 2021).
The insured suffered two hail storms that damaged his home. In 2010, the…
Endorsement Excludes Replacement of Undamaged Property with Matching Materials
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The court approved the insurer's endorsement which stated the insured would not pay for undamaged property in order to match damaged property. Noonan v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 15545 (May 24, 2019).
After hail and wind damaged part of the roof in the insureds' home…
Jury Instruction That Fails to Utilize Concurrent Cause for Property Loss is Erroneous
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Florida District Court reversed erroneous jury instructions that adopted the efficient proximate cause doctrine in determining whether the insurer was responsible for the insureds’ collapsed roof. Jones v. Federated National Ins. Co., 2018 Fla. App. LEXIS 561 (Fla. Ct. App. Jan. 17, 2018).
The insureds filed a claim for their damaged roof, …
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…
Roof’s “Cosmetic” Damage From Hail Storm Covered
By Tred R. Eyerly on
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's determination that cosmetic damage to the insured's roof was covered. Advance Cable Co., LLC v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 788 F. 3d 743 (7th Cir. 2015).
The insured submitted a claim to its insurer, Cincinnati, for damage to the metal roof of its building caused by a…
Hail Damage Requires Replacement of Even Undamaged Siding
By Tred R. Eyerly on
In a dispute over the property policy's requirement that lost or damaged property be repaired or replaced, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that the policy language called for replacement of undamaged siding panels to obtain a color match. Cedar Bluff Townhome Condominium Ass'n, Inc. v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., 2014 Minn. LEXIS…