The HO Policy and Underground Leaks
A contractor built a new inground pool for the insured. After the pool was installed, an underground leak was discovered in a water line between the house and pool after…
Personal Lines
What is “Fragile”?
A large, ornate wooden bowl was scheduled on the insured’s HO policy. The bowl was accidentally broken and the insurer denied the claim citing the exclusion for “breakage of art…
Just Because It’s Not Covered Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Covered
The insured’s brother-in-law was helping him clean up some storm damage when a tree limb damaged his lawn tractor. The adjuster denied the damage as a liability claim under the…
Earth Movement or Falling Object?
A boulder dislodged from a hillside and ended up inside a home at the bottom. Is this excluded as earth movement or would it be covered as a falling object…
The Concurrent Causation Exclusion
A number of years ago, ISO added “concurrent causation” exclusionary wording to its personal and commercial lines property forms. This was done in response to several onerous court decisions that…
I See Dead People…Are They Covered?
While it’s an unpleasant topic to consider, sometimes people pass away in their homes and their bodies are undiscovered for weeks. Decomposition can lead to decay and loss of body…
Direct vs. Consequential Damage in the Homeowners Policy
Here’s the scenario: Windstorm and/or hail has damaged shingles on the roof of your insured’s home. Since the roof is over 15 years old, replacing selected shingles with new ones…
Sublimits and Deductibles
When property that is damaged is subject to a policy sublimit, does the deductible apply to the loss or the sublimit? This is an age-old question, but it recently came…
Why Buy a Renter’s Insurance Policy?
On October 4, 2009, while I was visiting my parents in Vero Beach, at 4:32 a.m. my cell phone rang and the caller ID showed it to be my daughter.…
Insuring Gift Cards – Personal Lines
Gift cards have become an increasingly popular form of giving for Christmas, birthdays, and many other occasions. Each year, BILLIONS of dollars are spent on gift cards, many of which…
