{"id":893572,"date":"2018-02-07T10:57:52","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T17:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/?p=893572"},"modified":"2018-02-07T10:57:52","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T17:57:52","slug":"absent-specific-definition-leakage-generally-refers-low-volume-gradual-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/absent-specific-definition-leakage-generally-refers-low-volume-gradual-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Absent a Specific Definition, Leakage Generally Refers to Low Volume or Gradual Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kesha Hodge | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog<\/a> | January 15, 2018<\/p>\n

Water damage from a broken water supply line is one of the most frequent homeowner\u2019s insurances claims. Quite often, an insurance carrier will assert there is no coverage for the resulting damage by citing to a \u201cleakage\u201d exclusion. In one such instance, while the policyholder was living in Ohio, the water line separated from the wall in an upstairs bathroom in his Michigan home causing a significant amount of water to flow into his home for 27 days.1<\/sup>\u00a0The carrier denied any coverage based on this exclusion:<\/p>\n

1. \u201cWe\u201d do not insure \u201cphysical loss\u201d caused by:<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

h. Constant or repeated seepage or leakage of water or the presence or condensation of humidity, moisture or vapor, over a period of weeks, months or years unless such seepage or leakage of water or the presence or condensation of humidity, moisture or vapor and the resulting damage is unknown to all \u201cinsured\u201d and is hidden within the walls or ceilings or beneath the floors or above the ceilings of a structure.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The insurance policy did not define the term \u201cleakage\u201d or \u201cseepage.\u201d The parties were unable to resolve their differences and the matter proceeded to litigation.<\/p>\n

The trial court explained that \u201cseepage\u201d and \u201cleakage\u201d were more akin to a slow release of a small amount of water consistent with \u201chumidity, moisture and vapor\u201d and reasoned that weeks, months, or years were the periods of time it would take for a small discharge of water to cause damage. The appellate court agreed and likewise concluded that the commonly used meaning of \u201cleak\u201d refers to a gradual or low volume water event. The appellate court explained:<\/p>\n

For the exclusion to apply, the \u201cleakage\u201d or \u201cseepage\u201d is required to be \u201cconstant\u201d or \u201crepeated\u201d \u201cover a period of weeks, months or years.\u201d This time requirement of weeks, months, or years is necessary for a low volume gradual water \u201cleakage\u201d or \u201cseepage\u201d to cause significant damage to a home. As the trial court found, the terms of the exclusion demonstrate [the insurance carrier\u2019s] intent to avoid coverage for losses that are caused by a homeowner\u2019s neglect, failure to maintain, and failure to occupy a home.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The appellate court concluded that the exclusion did not apply because the amount of water that was released into the policyholder\u2019s home would have caused significant damage within hours or days because the separated pipe essentially caused flooding.<\/p>\n

While each case has its own distinct facts, if there are concerns about the denial of a water-related or other type of claim, policyholders should seek the advice of a competent professional.
\n___________
\n1<\/sup>\u00a0Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Kaeding II<\/em>, No. 332559, 2017 WL 3090600 (Mich. App. July 20, 2017).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kesha Hodge | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog | January 15, 2018 Water damage from a broken water supply line is one of the most frequent homeowner\u2019s insurances claims. Quite often, an insurance carrier will assert there is no coverage for the resulting damage by citing to a \u201cleakage\u201d exclusion. In one such instance, while… Continue reading Absent a Specific Definition, Leakage Generally Refers to Low Volume or Gradual Event<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,9721],"tags":[9895,10353,56,496],"class_list":["post-893572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insurance-claims","category-property-damage","tag-advise-consult","tag-leakage","tag-property-damage","tag-water-damage","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nAbsent a Specific Definition, Leakage Generally Refers to Low Volume or Gradual Event - 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