The Johnson v. Omega Insurance case In 2010, the firm represented Kathy Johnson in a case against her insurance company, Omega Insurance. Omega had denied her sinkhole claim under the premise that there was no significant damage to her home. We hired another engineering firm who did more testing and found clear evidence of sinkhole…
Scientists have discovered a sinkhole in the ocean off the South China Sea that they believe to be the deepest ever recorded. This one called the Dragon Hole has been recorded at 300 meters or 987 feet deep. The previous record holder was the Blue Hole in the Bahamas at 202 meters. The hole appears…
Thats right, well kind of. A sinkhole opened up on the Upper West Side of New York swallowing a BMW and part of a dance studio several weeks ago. Granted the sinkhole was the result of a water main break and not necessarily natural causes like we associate with sinkholes here in Florida. In similar…
Why does Florida have so many sinkholes? With the ever-present threat of sinkholes for Florida’s property owners, it’s reasonable to ask why there are so many sinkholes in Florida as opposed to any other state. To understand the answer to this question, one must understand what causes sinkholes in the first place. Why does Florida…
Citizens sends “settlement” letters Citizens Insurance has recently executed a public relations move that may sound great to insureds but is no surprise for legal professionals. This move is sending “settlement” offers to every insured client with a confirmed sinkhole claim. This offer is three pages long and largely too good to be true. “Confidential…
When insurance companies win more sinkhole trials As of late, many insurance companies have begun to brag about how many sinkhole trials they win. This message is great for them, as it scares off unhappy insureds, making them believe they will lose a trial if they decide to sue the insurance company. However, let’s dig…
The Second DCA recently issued an opinion that held that the homeowner’s insurance company bears the burden of proof in showing that property damage did not result from the presence of sinkholes.
I am guessing I am not telling you anything you do not know if you follow sinkhole news but there was a massive sinkhole in Dunedin that opened up last week resulting in at least two homes having to be destroyed. The hole opened after several days of grouting had taken place. The hole opened…
The Miami Herald printed an article on September 21st that was soon followed up by the Tampa Bay Times the next day bashing Citizens for the litigation tactics and for denying claims. I appreciate the articles mostly because it exposes Citizens for what we see everyday in the legal community. Citizens has taken the stance…
Common questions about sinkholes With the unfortunate commonality of sinkholes in the state of Florida, you likely have many questions about the safety of your home and how to respond if a sinkhole does occur. The following are a collection of some of the most common questions about sinkholes that we hear. What is a…
