Your property insurance policy will contain post-loss policy conditions.  Examples include submitting a sworn statement in proof of loss, providing documentation to your insurer, and sitting for an examination under oath.  Insurers will require you, as the insured, to comply with post-loss policy conditions unless they elect to promptly deny coverage.  If you do not comply with such post-loss policy conditions you can forfeit coverage under the policy and/or give the insurer the argument that any lawsuit you filed against the property insurer is premature.  Thus, there really is no upside in refusing to comply with the post-loss policy conditions, which should be done in consult with an attorney or, as the case may be, a public adjuster.   

 

For instance, in Safepoint Ins. Co. v. Sousa, 44 Fla. L. Weekly D994a (Fla. 3d DCA 2019), an insured submitted a property insurance claim for hurricane damage.  The insurer requested the insured submit a sworn statement in proof of loss and provide documentation.  The insured never did although she did submit for an examination under oath.  The insurer ended up tendering insurance proceeds based on its adjustment of the claim.  Thereafter, the insured sued its insurer and moved to compel an appraisal per the terms of the property insurance policy.  In doing so, the insured provided an adjustment / estimate from her public adjuster that was approximately $100,000 more than the proceeds the insured received (which had never been provided to the insurer).  The insurer opposed the motion based on the insured’s failure to comply with post-loss policy conditions (i.e., submitting the sworn statement in proof of loss and documentation).   The appellate court agreed that the insured’s failure to comply with these post-loss policy conditions clearly spelled out in the property insurance policy rendered it PREMATURE for the insured to compel an appraisal.

 

Please contact David Adelstein at dadelstein@gmail.com or (954) 361-4720 if you have questions or would like more information regarding this article. You can follow David Adelstein on Twitter @DavidAdelstein1.