Possibly. Many policies exclude or limit coverage for interior water damage unless there is evidence of a wind-created opening in the roof, outside wall, door or window where rain entered the home or business. I often see carriers deny coverage in a manner similar to the below scenario:… Continue Reading
At Merlin Law Group, we want policyholders to have the tools necessary to maximize recovery following a loss. Understanding when policyholders are entitled to statutory interest and knowing how to calculate it is a small trick of the trade in the property insurance industry.… Continue Reading
Florence battered the Carolina Coast with 90mph winds when it made landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina on September 14, 2018. Florence downgraded to a tropical storm Friday evening and is now crawling across South Carolina at a drastically slow rate of approximately 5mph. The Carolinas are now facing the devastating effects of catastrophic storm surge, … Continue Reading
This blog follows a telephone conversation I had with an insurance carrier representative who disputed the policyholder’s entitlement to interest under Florida Statute § 627.70131(5)(a).… Continue Reading
In Write Your Own (WYO) Bulletin W-18009, FEMA recently clarified Bulletin W-14058. Bulletin W-14058 addresses the Loss Settlement Provision of the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP).… Continue Reading
We’ll let the jury decide. Policyholders must meet post-loss obligations under their property insurance policy prior to receiving coverage for a loss. A common condition precedent requires policyholders to provide prompt notice of the loss to their carrier. The carrier must be able to conduct a reasonable investigation of the property conditions as close to … Continue Reading
Hurricane Harvey flooding affected Texas property owners (i) with sufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, (ii) with insufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, and (iii) without flood insurance. This three-part series discusses the differences in property ownership rights and two separate avenues to recovery.… Continue Reading
Hurricane Harvey flooding impacted Texas property owners (i) with sufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, (ii) with insufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, and (iii) without flood insurance. This three-part series outlines the differences in the rights of these property owners and the different avenues to recovery. My previous post was Hurricane Harvey … Continue Reading
The Hurricane Harvey floods in Texas impacted property owners (i) with sufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, (ii) with insufficient flood insurance to cover the loss, and (iii) without flood insurance all together. The different avenues of recovery and the rights of the different property owners are important issues to understand.… Continue Reading
The saying goes like this, “Say what you mean, and mean what you say.” We all know the business of contract construction is no easy task. But underwriters should go the extra mile to ensure a property insurance policy reads as the carrier intends or steep consequences may ensue. Something as minor as a misplaced … Continue Reading
