Contractor's Notice of Defect - Does it Trigger Insurance Coverage?
One court in Florida has said "No".
In Florida, Chapter 558 of the Florida Statutes provides pre-suit procedures for a property owner to assert construction defect claims against a contractor. The statutes provide a mechanism giving notice to the contractor and providing the contractor with an opportunity to cure the alleged defects prior to litigation.
In Altman Contractors, Inc. v. Crum & Forster Specialty Insurance Company, the Sapphire Condominium Association sent Altman Contractors, the general contractor, a Notice of Claim pursuant to Chapter 558, Florida Statutes, alleging defective construction of the condominium. 2015 WL 3539755 (S.D. Fla. June 4, 2015). Altman Contractor's sent this notice to its insurance company, Crum & Forster. Crum & Forster denied that it had a duty to defend Altman Contractors because the case was "not in suit".
Altman Contractors sued Crum & Forster seeking a declaration determining...
Category Archives: Insurance
Contractor’s Right to Insurance Benefits of Homeowner
Contractor's Right to Insurance Benefits of Homeowner
Does a remediation or restoration contractor have the right to sue a homeowner's insurance company for nonpayment for construction work performed?
Yes. In the case of United Water Restoration Group, Inc. v. State Farm Florida Insurance Company, a homeowner, Mr. Walker, experienced water damage to his home. 2015 WL 4111662 (July 8, 2015). Mr. Walker hired United Water to repair the damage. In connection with the construction contract, Mr. Walker executed a written assignment of 'any and all insurance rights, benefits, and proceeds' from his State Farm Policy to United Water.
State Farm refused to pay United Water's bill and United Water sued State Farm for breach of the insurance contract as assignee of Mr. Walker's rights and benefits. State Farm moved to dismiss the case on the basis that it had inspected the home which showed that the damage was consistent with a...
Vacant and Unoccupied – Insurance Claim
Property insurers often reject claims based on the vacant and unoccupied provisions in the policy. Often times the insurance company breaches its contract when it improperly rejects claims based on these provisions.
In Independent Fire Insurance Comnpany v. Butler, 362 So. 2d 980 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978), the First District Court of Appeal defined the terms "vacancy" and "occupancy". The term vacancy as used in these policies applies to inanimate objects. Therefore, a court will look to furniture or furnishings located in the property to determine whether the property is vacant. The term "occupied" referse to a dwelling which is in actual use by human beings. It is not essential that someone sleep in a dwelling in order to render it occupied. Occupancy is largely a matter of intent. A court will look to the nature and character of the building, the purposes for which it...