Tiffany Bustamante, co-chair of the firm’s Bad Faith group, wrote the expert analysis column “Hurricane Coverage Ruling Clarifies Appraisal Scope In Fla.” for Law360.

The article discusses a recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Wood v. GeoVera Specialty Insurance Co. The court affirmed that unambiguous policy limits remain enforceable even when an appraisal award exceeds those limits.[1] The decision clarifies the scope of appraisals and reinforces the boundaries between valuation and coverage — a distinction that provides valuable guidance for insurers handling post-catastrophe claims.

The Wood decision underscores the importance of maintaining a clear separation between appraisal findings and coverage determinations. As the law continues to evolve, Wood serves as a critical guidepost, reinforcing that the appraisal process is a tool for loss quantification — not an override of policy-defined coverage limits.

To read the full article, click here.