{"id":893981,"date":"2018-04-13T10:25:21","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T16:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/?p=893981"},"modified":"2018-04-13T10:25:21","modified_gmt":"2018-04-13T16:25:21","slug":"exception-exclusion-always-read-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/exception-exclusion-always-read-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"An Exception to an Exclusion: Always Read the Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

J. Ryan Fowler | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog<\/a> | April 9, 2018<\/p>\n

I commonly get asked coverage questions that relate to a commercial client\u2019s claim for damages. My response is always the same, \u201csend me the policy and I will take a look.\u201d I know this sounds obvious but with the multitude of policies out there it is impossible to relate a policy to a factual situation without first reading the policy.<\/p>\n

A recent ruling from the United States District Court of North Dakota points out why this is so important. The court in\u00a0Spring Glen Apartments LLP v. Arch Specialty Insurance Company<\/em>, ruled that an exception to an exclusion lead to coverage for the insured.1<\/sup><\/p>\n

The facts of the case were predominantly undisputed. A forty-year-old water pipe approximately seven feet below the complex burst due to wear and tear causing property damage and a loss of business income. The insurance company denied coverage due to an exclusion which read in part:<\/p>\n

We will not pay for loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by any of the following. Such loss or damage is excluded regardless of any other cause or event that contributes concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The specific exclusion cited to deny coverage was the \u201cwater exclusion\u201d which excluded coverage in part for:<\/p>\n

Water under the ground surface pressing on, or flowing or seeping through: (a) Foundations, walls, floors or paved surfaces; (b) Basements, whether paved or not; or (c) Doors, windows or other openings.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At this point in the opinion it sure looks like the insurance company is correct and there is no coverage for the pipe that burst under the complex. The court goes on to talk about another exclusion, the \u201cwear and tear exclusion.\u201d The wear and tear exclusion stated \u201closs or damage caused by or resulting from wear and tear\u201d is not covered. The policy goes on to say that:<\/p>\n

but if an excluded cause of loss [listed in this subsection] results in a \u2018specified cause of loss\u2019\u2026we will pay for the loss or damage cause by that \u2018specified cause of loss.\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Definitions section of the policy states \u201cspecified cause of loss\u201d is defined, in part, as \u201cwater damage\u201d and \u201cwater damage\u201d is defined as:<\/p>\n

(1)Accidental discharge or leakage of water\u2026as the direct result of the breaking apart or cracking of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or other system or appliance\u2026that is located on the described premises\u2026and (2) accidental discharge or leaking of water\u2026as the direct result of the breaking part or cracking of a water or sewer pipe that is located off the described premises and is part of a municipal potable water supply system\u2026if the breakage or cracking is cause by wear and tear.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The definitions section then explains:<\/p>\n

But water damage does not include loss or damage otherwise excluded under the terms of the Water Exclusion\u2026to the extent that accidental discharge or leakage of water falls within the criteria set forth [above]\u2026such water is not subject to the provisions of the Water Exclusion which preclude coverage for surface water or water under the surface of the ground.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The court went on to conclude that the cracked pipe is a covered cause of loss under the policy. Holding that once you\u00a0read the policy<\/strong><\/em>, \u201cWear and tear\u201d is one of the causes of loss that is excluded from coverage under the policy. The exclusion, however, states that if wear and tear \u201cresults in a \u2018specified cause of loss\u2019. . . [insured will cover] the loss or damage caused by that \u2018specified cause of loss.’\u201d The policy defined \u201cspecified causes of loss,\u201d in part, as \u201cwater damage.\u201d Water damage is then defined, in part, as \u201c[a]ccidental discharge or leakage of water. . . as the direct result of the. . . cracking of a water or sewer pipe that is located off the described premises. . . if the breakage or cracking is caused by wear and tear.\u201d The leaking water leading to the damage in this case was due to the circumstances explicitly provided for in the water damage definition. Therefore, the water was \u201cnot subject to the provisions of the Water Exclusion.\u201d The court thus concluded that the policy unambiguously provided coverage for damage caused in a situation such as this one and imposed liability on insurer.<\/p>\n

So, at the end of the day the simple answer was yes there is coverage for the damage, but it took a careful reading of the policy, the exclusions, an exception to an exclusion, and a rereading of the definitions to get there. As an insured or insurer, it is always important to\u00a0Read the policy<\/strong><\/em>.
\n________________
\n1<\/sup>\u00a0Spring Glen Apartments LLP v. Arch Specialty Ins. Co.<\/em>, No. 3:17-cv-00028 (D. N.D. April 2, 2018).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

J. Ryan Fowler | Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog | April 9, 2018 I commonly get asked coverage questions that relate to a commercial client\u2019s claim for damages. My response is always the same, \u201csend me the policy and I will take a look.\u201d I know this sounds obvious but with the multitude of policies… Continue reading An Exception to an Exclusion: Always Read the Policy<\/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":[9914],"tags":[9895,23,6198,10424],"class_list":["post-893981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insurance-coverage","tag-advise-consult","tag-insurance-coverage","tag-insurance-policy","tag-north-dakota","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nAn Exception to an Exclusion: Always Read the Policy - 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