Auto Insurance
- Ray Haas, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Richard Tiner v. Metropolitan General Ins. Co., 8:23-cv-2753-CEH-SPF (U.S. Middle District of Florida, Jan. 26, 2026 – Judge Honeywell) (denying Metropolitan’s motion for summary judgement, holding that genuine disputes of material fact exist as to whether the insurer acted in bad faith—particularly regarding its failure to timely provide the insureds’ affidavit and its months‑long lack of communication with the claimant’s attorneys, which could have caused the entry of an excess judgment against its insureds—disputes from which a jury could find Metropolitan’s conduct caused the excess judgment against its insureds.) https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2023-02753-32-8-cv
Flood Insurance
- Lesley Clack v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 2:25-cv-1019-KCD-DNF (U.S. Middle District of Florida, Jan. 26, 2026 – Judge Dudek) (granting Hartford’s motion to dismiss, holding that the complaint was untimely because the National Flood Insurance Program requires suit to be filed within one year of a written denial, and Plaintiff waited nearly three years after Hartford’s denial—well beyond the strict limitations period imposed by 42 U.S.C. § 4072 and the Standard Flood Insurance Policy.) https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025-01019-18-2-cv
Liability Insurance
- StarStone National Ins. Co. v. Gold Argonomics Supply & Handling Co., et al., 8:20-cv-02326-WFJ-CPT (U.S. Middle District of Florida, Jan. 28, 2026 – Judge Jun) (granting Startone’s motion for judgement on the pleadings, holding that StarStone’s unambiguous automobile‑liability exclusion bars coverage for all claims arising from the August 2020 motor‑vehicle accident, and Florida contract‑interpretation principles require enforcing the plain language of the exclusion.) https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2020-02326-93-8-cv
Property Insurance
- Funbar Hall LLC, et al. v. National Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 2 2:25-cv-318-KCD-DNF (U.S. Middle District of Florida, Jan. 30, 2026 – Judge Dudek) (granting in part and denying in part National Fire’s motion for summary judgement, holding that Plaintiffs are limited to actual cash value because they have not performed repairs—so replacement cost value is not yet recoverable under Florida law—and further holding that actual cash value cannot include costs to replace undamaged property because it did not sustain “direct physical loss.” https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025-00318-29-2-cv
The Fine Print:
The cases discussed are not a comprehensive list of all Florida decisions from this week. SLC may omit some, including PCAs and procedural rulings unrelated to coverage. SLC also excludes any cases in which I am or have been personally involved. These summaries are provided solely for informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Any opinions expressed are my own and are not intended as legal guidance for any specific situation.