If you live in an area where severe thunderstorms and hail are common, you likely have experienced or feared hail damage to your property at some point. Even if you have an insurance claim, it’s natural to be wary of these things because of the potential they have to disrupt your life and the cost involved. But just how expensive…
When you live in an area where storms are common, you know that there is a risk of hail. Hail can be very damaging, going as far as to damage your roof, rip through your siding and destroy the exterior of your home. Even smaller hail can cause damage if there is enough of it traveling at a high enough…
On May 29, 2019, a vicious storm tore through Kansas City and east-central Kansas. The storm spawned tornadoes that downed trees and power lines, damaged homes, and injured at least a dozen people. It marked the twelfth straight day that at least eight tornadoes were reported to the National Weather Service. Tornadoes and severe storms are part of life in…
Insurance companies tend to have a distinct advantage in their relationships with policyholders. Therefore, they are generally expected to act in good faith when dealing with a customer. There are many ways that states define bad faith on the part of an insurance provider. However, as a general rule, there are two elements that must be shown to prove that…
A fire can have a devastating impact on a person’s life. In its aftermath, an individual may be left without a home or business, and the fire may have destroyed many prized possessions stored within the property itself. Those who have fire insurance may be able to get help rebuilding their homes and their lives after such an event. However,…
Severe weather season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is officially off and running. On June 4, 2019, a severe wind and hailstorm pummeled numerous areas throughout the state. High winds, torrential rain, and hail affected the Twin Cities metro area. Golf ball sized hail was reported in the southern metro, including Burnsville, Eagan, Elko/New Market, Farmington, Lakeville, Monticello, Prior…
Many people around the country are likely aware of some of the deadly fires that claimed lives and property in California in 2017 and 2018. This has caused insurance costs to soar for some homeowners. Insurance claims related to wildfires that swept through the state in November 2018 are the costliest in state history at more than $12 billion. Prior…
In 2014, SJJ won a landmark case before the Minnesota Supreme Court that required American Family Mutual Insurance Company (“American Family”) to pay to repair property damage with reasonably matching building products. That case, Cedar Bluff Townhome Condominium Ass’n, Inc. v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 857 N.W.2d 290 (Minn. 2014), has been under constant attack by American Family and…
One of the primary timing limitations found in a property insurance policy is the time limit for suit. Most residential property insurance policies in Minnesota have a time limit of only two (2) years from the date of loss. The 2-year time limit is both statutory and contract based. If a claim isn’t settled and a policyholder fails to file…
Worried about roof damage after a major storm? Maybe your building got lashed with wind-driven rain for hours on end. Maybe hail tore into the shingles and then it started raining on top of everything else. Maybe it was the wind alone, ripping off shingles and causing damage that gives water a way to get in. The importance of a…
