Hurricane Laura certainly caused significant damage. Insurance claim differences of opinion about these damages and their value may be resolved through appraisal.
Continue Reading Louisiana Appraisals with Causation Determinations May Still End Up in Litigation as Coverage Issues
Hurricane Sally appears headed to the Mississippi Sound and Louisiana. Adjusters already working Hurricane Laura claims will be shifting efforts to Hurricane Sally. While there is legal authority suggesting that causation can be determined in Louisiana appraisals,1 Mississippi has long held that causation issues will not be allowed in appraisal and that a lawsuit will have to determine those issues.2
Continue Reading Mississippi Does Not Allow Causation to Be Determined In Appraisal
Tennessee is a beautiful state. The powers that be even gave me a license to ply my trade in the Volunteer State. I was recently researching whether causation can be determined by an appraisal panel in Tennessee.
Continue Reading Causation in Appraisal—What is The Causation Rule in Tennessee Appraisals?
Texas has a lot of insurance claims decided by appraisal. Maybe the appraiser for one insured should have gone to Steve Patrick’s appraisal class because the umpire and insurer’s appraiser came to a zero award, which was upheld on appeal.
Continue Reading Texas Appraisal Allows Determination of Causation and Upholds Zero Award
The Iowa Supreme Court determined that “appraisers may determine the factual cause of damage to insured property to ascertain the amount of loss,” in Walnut Creek Townhome Association vs Depositors Insurance Company.1 I am proud that Ashley Smith (nka Ashley Harris) was cited by the court for her analysis of the issue.
Continue Reading Ashley Harris Cited by Iowa Supreme Court Regarding Causation Issues in Appraisal Proceedings
Plaintiffs owned a home in Arizona insured by Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company.1 The “Wallow Fire” occurred near the property and consumed the plaintiffs’ detached garage. It also burned the vegetation on a nearby hill. A month after the fire was contained, a mudslide on the hill destroyed the house.
Continue Reading Court Applies Broad Interpretation of “Direct” Causation
Earlier this month, a federal judge sitting in the Southern District of Indiana examined the scope of the appraisal clause in the property insurance policy. Relying on many of the same cases I have discussed in earlier blogs in this series, the court found that the appraisal panel must consider causation as part of the appraisal process:
While the appraisal procedure is commonly used in property insurance claims, the proper scope of appraisal is often contested. Courts across the country generally agree that coverage determinations are reserved only to the courts. However, courts are divided on whether determinations of causation should be considered by the appraisal process.
Continue Reading The Scope of Appraisal: Does It Include Causation?
"There’s a great deal of suffering in the world, Sir. We ought to do our part toward relieving it."1
New Jersey policyholders who have not been fully paid their insurance benefits following losses from Hurricane Sandy should have some optimism and hope this Christmas Eve. Their reasonable expectations of insurance coverage and benefits are solidly backed by New Jersey insurance law. Insurance company claims departments are required to fulfill their promise of relieving a great deal of suffering caused by Hurricane Sandy by fully and promptly paying insurance benefits purchased before Hurricane Sandy struck.
Every policyholder’s first question after a loss is: does my insurance policy cover this? Some policyholders have a named peril policy insuring against certain risks that are enumerated within the policy itself. Others have an all-risk policy that insures against every peril that is not specifically excluded under the terms of the policy. Regardless of which policy you currently hold, the first step in determining whether coverage exists is determining the cause and origin of the damages.