Articles Posted in Hail Claims

Most insurance lawyers will attempt to keep any case they are involved with, out of Federal Court. One way of doing this is to sue the local adjuster who handled the claim. The Laredo Division, of the Southern District was inclined to agree with that method except the problem was showing that the adjuster the insured sued, did anything wrong. The style of the case is, Maria Rudolph v. Nationwide General Insurance Company, et al.

This is an insurance coverage dispute arising out of hail and storm damage to Rudolph’s property. Nationwide is an out of state insurer but adjuster Catherine Brown is the adjuster and a Texas resident. Brown’s Texas residency defeats the diversity jurisdiction to stay out of Federal Court. Rudolph filed a motion to remand.

The lawsuit was filed in State Court and Nationwide removed the case to Federal Court saying that Brown was fraudulently sued in order to defeat the diversity requirements of Federal Court removal.

Lawyers who handle hail claims need to ready a McAllen Division opinion from the Southern District of Texas. The case is styled, Mirosalva Cantu v. Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Company.

Cantu filed suit in State Court and Allstate timely removed the case to Federal Court arguing that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Cantu filed a motion to remand stating that the amount in controversy did not exceed $75,000. The Court denied the motion.

The removing party bears the burden of establishing whether federal jurisdiction exists, and the Court must resolve all doubts regarding whether removal jurisdiction is proper in favor of remand. The Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 unless the parties are completely diverse and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Generally, “the sum demanded in good faith in the initial pleading shall be deemed to be the amount in controversy.” However, when the state practice does not permit a demand for a specific sum, removal is proper if the removing party proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the amount in ontroversy exceeds $75,000. Defendant can satisfy this burden by (1) showing it is “apparent from the face of the petition that the claims are likely to exceed $75,000” or (2) setting forth “summary judgment-type evidence of facts in controversy that support a finding of the requisite amount.”

Lawyers handling hail damage claims will tell you to immediately check for damage after a hail storm and immediately report any damage to your insurance company. The reasons for doing this are illustrated in an opinion from the U.S. District Court, Dallas Division. The style of the case is, Hamilton Properties v. American Insurance Company.

This case arises out of a dispute regarding an insurance company’s decision to disclaim coverage and deny its customer’s claim for property damage following a hailstorm. Plaintiffs are suing for:

(1) breach of contract; (2) violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act; (3) violations of the Texas Insurance Code; (4) breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing; (5) breach of fiduciary duty; (6) misrepresentation; and (7) common law fraud by misrepresentation. Defendant The American Insurance Company (“AIC”) has moved for summary judgment with respect to all of these claims. This Court granted the motion.

Lawyers who handle hail claims know that the quicker a claim is made, the better. Communication with the insurance company is also important. Both these points are made in Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division opinion styled, Juan Sanchez Fregoso, et al v. State Farm Lloyds, et al.

In this case, the court granted State Farm’s motion for summary judgment.

Plaintiffs’ claims arise from damage sustained to their property as a result of a hailstorm event occurring in March / April 2012. The property is insured under a State Farm policy providing replacement cost benefits. Shortly after the storm, Plaintiffs reported an insurance claim to State Farm for the damages sustained to their property. Thereafter, State Farm inspected the property on May 6, 2012, estimating the loss to the property to be $6,910.44. On that same day, State Farm issued to Plaintiffs an actual cash value payment of $3,160.27, the amount remaining after deducting the recoverable depreciation ($1,796.17), and the deductible ($1,954), from the replacement cost value ($6,910.44).

Lawyers handling hail damage claims should read this Northern District, San Angelo Division opinion. It is styled, April Munoz v. Safeco Insurance Company of Indiana, et al.

This is a homeowners hail damage claim filed by April against Safeco and the adjuster assigned to handle the claim. Munoz sued for breach of contract, violation of the Texas Insurance Code, and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

This is a summary judgment action filed by Safeco which was granted by the court.

Colleyville insurance lawyers handling bad faith claims need to read this U. S. Southern District, McAllen Division, opinion. The case is styled, Mark Dizdar, at al, vs. State Farm Lloyds, et al.

The claim arises from hail and storm damage sustained to Dizdar’s property on March 29, 2012. Shortly after the storm, Dizdar reported the claim to State Farm. Thereafter, Wallis inspected the property on behalf of State Farm on June 23, 2012, estimating the loss to the property at $1,096.76. On the same day, State Farm issued a check for $199.16, after applying depreciation and deductible.

On July 19, State Farm received an estimate from Dizdar’s contractor alleging that the damages totaled at least $24,000. Shortly thereafter, Dizdar requested a re-inspection of the property. On August 18, 2012, a subsequent inspection by Wallis resulted in an additional payment of $49.79. State Farm then closed the claim file.

Insurance lawyers in Mansfield and elsewhere should be able to explain to clients when payment is due under a claim. There are many situations and the situation determines when the claim should be paid and if a penalty applies.

The U.S. Western District Court of Texas, Waco Division issued an opinion in Cater v. State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance that needs to be read.

This is a case that was decided on two dueling motions for summary judgment.

Attorney’s who handle hail claims need to know the proper way to sue an insurance adjuster unless they want to litigate the case in Federal Court. A U.S. Western District, Waco Division opinion is worth reading. It is styled, Polansky’s Wrecker Service v. Universal Underwriters Insurance Company and William Gillis.

Polansky’s sued Universal and Giliis for violations of the Texas Insurance Code resulting after a claim for wind and hail damage was not sufficiently reimbursed. The case was filed in State Court and removed to Federal Court by Universal and Gillis on allegations of diversity and their assertion that Gillis was improperly joined in the lawsuit. Polansky’s is asking the court to remand the case stating that Gillis was not improperly joined. The Court’s job in this case is to examine whether or not Gillis was properly sued.

Polansky’s , makes the following factual allegations in regard to his claims against Gillis:

Hail claims lawyers need to read the Texas Supreme Court opinion styled, JAW The Point, L.L.C. v. Lexington Insurance Company. This is a 2015, opinion that is relevant to most hail damage claims, as well as lots of other claims. The case is written about in the State Bar of Texas Insurance Journal It is hard to believe that this case is the Texas Supreme Court’s first occasion to address the proper application of the so-called “anti-concurrent-causation” (the “ACC”) exclusion, which in this case bars coverage for:

loss or damage caused directly or indirectlyby any [excluded cause or event], regardless

of any other cause or event that contributes concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.

Fort Worth lawyers will tell you to comply with the policy provisions when making a claim. In this regard, a case from the U.S. District Court McAllen Division is a good read. It is styled, Belinda Santa Maria v. State Farm Lloyds, et al.

This a summary judgment ruling and there were other motions pending but due to the ruing in favor of State Farm, the Court deemed the other motions of no consequence.

Plaintiff’s claims arise from damage sustained to their property as a result of a storm event on March 29, 2012. Plaintiffs reported the claim on April 11, 2012, and State Farm inspected the property on May 2, 2012, estimating the loss at $7,028.04. On the same day, State Farm issued a check for $2,177.16, after adjusting for depreciation and deductible.

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