NJ COURT FINDS POLICYHOLDER MUST DISPUTE BOTH ACV AND REPLACEMENT COST VALUATIONS TO RECOVER
Recently, the New Jersey Appellate Division found that an insureds acceptance of an actual cash value payment and subsequent failure to submit proof of repairs up to the replacement cost value of the loss, permitted the insurance carrier to refuse further payment. Plaintiffs presentation of a replacement cost valuation far exceeding the insurers valuation did not provide a basis for seeking further recovery.
In Lanier v. Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company , Janette Lanier insured her home with Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, with $305,000 in coverage for building damages. The policy provided for full replacement cost of damages but only after the repairs are completed. The insured alternatively could submit a claim for the actual cash value (replacement cost less depreciation) then seek recovery of the depreciation in a supplemental claim thereafter within 180 days upon the submission of proof of actual repairs made at or above the replacement cost valuation.
In December 2016, Janette Laniers home was damaged when a pipe suddenly burst. She made a claim for her loss that was accepted as covered under her homeowners insurance policy. The parties disputed the extent of damages and the cost of repairs. The insurer provided a replacement cost value of $48,997.31 and made an offer for an actual cash value of $39,163.25. Lanier provided the insurer with an estimate of replacement cost value of $174,635.00. Although disputing the replacement cost valuation, Lanier cashed the actual cash value check, did not complete repairs to her home and sued the insurer for what she contended was the full amount of replacement cost value.
Lanier acknowledged that the insurer provided an estimate of the replacement cost value, but testified that she selected another contractor, with a replacement cost value of over $200,000.00 because she believed that the insurers contractor would do bad, shoddy work. Lanier argued that, in making the claim for the full amount of replacement cost, she should be excused from showing that the repair and replacement were finished because she could not afford to make such repairs without access to the insurance proceeds for the total amount requested.
The court rejected Laniers argument, finding that she did not produce any evidence of actual cash value of building loss and she did not provide any evidence to show that such value established by the insurance company was insufficient. The court emphasized that, although the policy required the insured to front the money and seek reimbursement later, it also allowed the parties to settle for an actual cash value.
In this case, Lanier accepted the insurers proposed amount and did not present any report contravening the actual cash value valuation. The court found that Farmers Mutual Insurance Company accepted the coverage and made an actual cash value offer to Lanier, which Lanier accepted. Further, requiring Lanier to show completion of replacement or repair before making a claim for the full amount was a valid condition because Lanier had access to the actual cash value. The fact that Lanier considered such amount insufficient did not affect the courts reasoning because Lanier cashed the check, did not reject the insurers offer, and did not show that the valuation was inadequate.
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