Articles by Wesley Todd

image of Wesley ToddWesley Todd is the founder of CaseGlide, LLC. Through CaseGlide’s Litigation Control System, Wesley is giving insurers the power to control their litigation costs and outcomes. If you have any questions about Wesley or CaseGlide, please visit www.caseglide.com.

Sinkhole ‘Structural Damage’ Definition Sliding in Insurers’ Favor

An ongoing debate in sinkhole claims and litigation is whether the legislature intended for Florida insurers to provide coverage for sinkhole activity that causes aesthetic damage only. In 2005, the legislature enacted Section 627.706, requiring that insurers provide coverage for …

Corporate Representative Depositions: Should the Insurance Company Have a Voice?

When litigating the insurance policy provisions, no one is surprised when an insured’s attorney requests the deposition of an insurer’s corporate representative. Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.380 (b)(6) allows a party to request a corporation to designate a corporate …

Compliance with the Examination Under Oath Request: A Must or a Maybe?

For decades, if an insured did not comply with an insurer’s request for an examination under oath (“EUO”), the insurer was entitled to summary judgment finding that there was no coverage for the claim. In 2012, however, in Whistler’s Park, …

Estop it Right There: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Property Claims

An insured’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy is an interesting and often unexplored issue that can have a large impact on an insurer’s potential liability. If an insured has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, he or she …

Making a House a Home: the ‘Residence Premises’ Definition

An insured must reside at their property to have coverage for damage to their home under an HO form policy. The defense arises out of the typical HO policy’s definition of “residence premises,” and the introductory clause in the building …

Chipped Tile Claims Meet the “Marring” Exclusion in Ergas

In Ergas v. Universal Prop. & Cas. Co., 2013 WL 1748574 (Fla. 4th DCA April 24, 2013), the Fourth District Court of Appeal issued an important order for Florida property insurers. The court held that the “marring” exclusion barred coverage …

The “Prompt Notice” Provision and Summary Judgment

Florida District Courts of Appeal recently have been very busy with cases involving the “prompt notice” provision in property insurance policies. When an insurer proves that the insured’s notice was late, courts will apply a presumption that the delay prejudiced …