Why do insurance companies get to play the float in some jurisdictions? After all, most regulations and good faith duties require prompt payment. Without penalties or awards of prejudgment interest, rules of promptness become meaningless because there is no accountability for claim delay.
A recent Florida case that was resolved through appraisal still resulted in an award of prejudgment interest in North Pointe Ins. Co. vs. Tomas, No. 3D08-2245.(Fla. App. 3rd DCA, August 26, 2009). The facts set indicated the following:
The Tomases made a claim with their homeowners’ insurance carrier, North Pointe, for a complete replacement of a marble kitchen floor damaged as a result of dropping a pot on October 23, 2005. After investigating the claim, North Pointe determined that the loss was excluded under the policy and denied coverage. The Tomases filed a petition to compel appraisal under the terms of the homeowners’ policy. In a letter dated September 5, 2007, North Pointe withdrew its previous denial of the claim, admitting coverage and stipulating to attorney’s fees up to the date of receipt of the letter. The claim went to appraisal and North Pointe paid the claim on May 14, 2008. On June 10, 2008, an appraisal award was entered in the amount of $115,899.52, including prejudgment interest from the date of the loss. The Tomases moved to confirm the appraisal award and for entry of final judgment. The trial court granted the motion to confirm the appraisal award, including attorney’s fees and prejudgment interest from the date of the loss.
The Court upheld the award of prejudgment interest reasoning the following:
In Lugassy, the question was from what date prejudgment interest starts to run where the insurer denies coverage and is later held liable for the claim…The general rule is that interest on a loss payable under an insurance policy is recoverable from the date payment is due pursuant to the provisions of that policy. Lugassy carved out an exception to that rule where the insured denies coverage and later admits coverage or coverage is later determined through litigation. Once the insurer denies coverage, it is deemed to have waived the policy provision for deferred payment and, should it pay, becomes responsible for prejudgment interest from the date of loss. "[I]f the insurer denies liability, interest begins to run from the date of the loss, even where the policy provides for payment at a later date." Lugassy, 593 So. 2d at 572.
North Point denied coverage for the claim. Even though it later agreed to appraisal and paid the appraisal award, it is deemed to have waived the policy provision allowing deferred payment and is responsible for prejudgment interest from the date of the loss. See Lugassy; accord State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Albert, 618 So. 2d 278 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993) (holding that prejudgment interest is payable from the date of the loss); see also Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Alvarez, 785 So. 2d 700 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001) (making distinction that, where there is no denial of coverage, prejudgment interest is payable from date of appraisal as opposed to date of the loss). We affirm the trial court’s order confirming the appraisal award and awarding prejudgment interest from the date of loss.
