LLOYD OLIVER HUNT AND DEBORAH HUNT, APPELLANTS,
v.
STATE FARM FLORIDA INSURANCE COMPANY, APPELLEE

Fla. 4th DCA | 2014-08-20
No. 4D13-272
GROSS and KLINGENSMITH, JJ„ concur.
145 So. 3d 210 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (2014) Caution
Cited by 9 cases

AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.

Synopsis

The Hunts appealed summary judgment in favor of State Farm after failing to timely submit a sworn proof of loss required by their homeowners insurance policy following Hurricane Wilma damage in 2005. The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's ruling that the untimely submission of the proof of loss, even though submitted before suit was filed, constituted a material breach of a condition precedent to coverage, and the Hunts failed to rebut the presumed prejudice to the insurer.


Holding

Yes. The court held that submission of a sworn proof of loss when required by an insurance policy is a condition precedent to coverage. When an insured fails to comply with a condition precedent before filing suit, the breach is material and the insurer is relieved of its duties. Even if the insured complies belatedly before suit, the insurer is only relieved if prejudiced by the breach, and such prejudice is presumed, placing the burden on the insured to rebut it. The Hunts failed to rebut the presumed prejudice.


Headnotes

[1] Submission of a sworn proof of loss, when required by an insurance policy, constitutes a condition precedent to coverage.

[2] An insured's failure to comply with a condition precedent to coverage before filing suit constitutes a material breach, relieving the insurer of its duties under the poli…

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Key Quotes

“It is well settled in Florida that submission of a sworn proof of loss when required by an insurance policy is a condition precedent to coverage.”

Establishes the fundamental legal principle that proof of loss is a condition precedent to coverage under Florida insurance law.

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Facts & Procedural History

The Hunts' home was damaged by Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 while insured by State Farm. Their policy required submission of a signed, sworn proof …

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Opinion of the Court
DAMOORGIAN, C.J.

DAMOORGIAN, C.J.

Lloyd and Deborah Hunt appeal the circuit court’s final summary judgment in favor of their insurer, State Farm Florida Insurance Company. The Hunts primarily argue that their untimely pre-suit submission of a sworn proof of loss did not preclude them from recovery under the policy. We disagree and affirm.

By way of background, in October of 2005, the Hunts’ home was damaged by Hurricane Wilma. At the time Hurricane Wilma hit, the Hunts’ home was insured by State Farm. Under their policy, the Hunts were required to provide State Farm with immediate notice of any loss, and to submit a signed, sworn proof of loss “within [sixty] days after the loss.” Despite this requirement, the Hunts did not provide State Farm with a signed, sworn proof of loss until almost five years later, mere days before they filed suit against State Farm for breach of contract. State Farm moved for summary judgment, arguing that the Hunts materially breached their duties under the policy by not timely submitting a sworn proof of loss. The trial court agreed, finding that the Hunts breached a condition precedent to coverage and failed to introduce any record evidence to rebut that State Farm was prejudiced by their breach. Accordingly, it entered final summary judgment in State Farm’s favor.

We agree with the circuit court’s ruling, which we review de novo. Kramer v. State Farm Fla. Ins. Co., 95 So.3d 303, 306 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012). It is well settled in Florida that submission of a sworn proof of loss when required by an insurance policy is a condition precedent to coverage. Id.; Soronson v. State Farm Fla. Ins. Co., 96 So.3d 949, 953 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012). If the insured fails to comply with a condition precedent before filing suit, its breach is deemed material, and thus the insurer is relieved of its duties under the policy. Goldman v. State Farm Fire Gen. Ins. Co., 660 So.2d 300, 305 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995). See also Starling v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co., 956 So.2d 511, 513-14 (Fla. *2125th DCA 2007). However, if the insured complies with the policy’s conditions precedent before filing suit, albeit in an untimely manner, the insurer is only relieved of its duties under the policy if it was prejudiced by the insured’s breach. Kramer, 95 So.3d at 306. In such a scenario, prejudice to the insurer is presumed and the insured bears the burden of rebutting the presumption. Id. Here, the record reflects that the Hunts did not come forward with any evidence rebutting the presumed prejudice State Farm suffered as a result of their tardily submitted proof of loss. Thus, the trial court properly entered summary judgment in State Farm’s favor. Id.

Additionally, we note that we are aware of the Florida Supreme Court’s recent decision in State Farm Mutual Auto.Insurance Co. v. Curran, 135 So.3d 1071 (Fla.2014). We have considered Curran, and do not find it instructive as there, the court clarified the standards applicable to an insured’s breach of a condition subsequent to coverage — not a condition precedent as is at issue in the instant case. Id. at 1079.

Affirmed.

GROSS and KLINGENSMITH, JJ„ concur.


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