What is an Appraisal?
In Gharibian et al., v. Wawanesa General Insurance Company, the California Second District Court of Appeal found that, under California law, the insureds failed to prove smoke, soot, ash and fire debris on covered property...more
The recent fires in California had a devastating impact on various communities, with many homeowners losing or facing severe damage to their properties. As residents begin the challenging process of recovery, understanding...more
Coming on the heels of what are projected to be the costliest wildfires in California history, a new decision from the California Second District Court of Appeals could make it more difficult to obtain insurance coverage for...more
The Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal recently affirmed a lower court ruling that wildfire debris on an insured’s property did not qualify as “direct physical loss” within the meaning of a homeowners...more
California’s beauty is undeniable, but its vulnerability to wildfires is a harsh reality. If you’re a homeowner in the Golden State, the aftermath of a wildfire can be devastating, both personally and financially. Navigating...more
Our hearts are with all of the fire victims in this devastating time. This advice is not new, but it bears re-circulating due to the current crisis: Maximizing Homeowner Insurance Coverage Benefits After a Fire....more
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered losses due to the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Below we offer some guidance to those affected by these devastating fires to pursue and preserve their rights to...more
As of January 13, Southern California’s ongoing wildfires have reportedly destroyed more than 12,000 structures. Insured loss estimates exceed $25 billion, and the strong Santa Ana winds fanning the blazes are expected to...more
In December 2020, Plaintiff Erin Hughes applied for homeowners coverage for her Malibu home with her Farmers’ insurance agent. Hughes obtained a fire policy through the California FAIR Plan and a homeowners policy through...more
Property Insurance/Replacement Cost - Homeowners Did Not Substantially Meet Policy’s Condition Precedent to Recover Replacement Cost Value - Insurer Did Not Waive Conditions - Henderson v. State Farm Fire and...more
The Situation: On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall and left a path of destruction from the Florida coast through North Carolina, with total insured losses estimated in the tens of billions of dollars....more
As Winter Storm Uri swept across Texas over President's Day weekend, the temperature hit record lows and dumped snow in areas that have rarely seen snow before. Millions of people experienced several days of power outages and...more
It happens all the time – a water leak in a house or other building goes unnoticed for some period of time, and then mold appears. Insurance policies generally provide coverage to repair water damage, provided other policy...more
A year ago, we wrote about a rapidly emerging area of insurance litigation in Connecticut: crumbling foundations. As a quick recap, tens of thousands of homes in northeastern Connecticut built over a span of more than 30...more
In a recent opinion, Judge Schmehl of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denied a forced placed insurer’s Motion to Dismiss a suit brought by the assignee of a homeowner for water damage to the home. In Williams v....more