A Home Leak Led to Legal Action

On February 22, 2022, Francois and Marceline Julmis experienced a plumbing leak in their home at 245 NE 123rd Street in Miami. The leak caused sudden interior water damage to the insured property. At the time of the incident, they maintained an active property insurance policy issued by the Respondent, an insurer licensed in Florida. Believing the damage fell under their policy’s “all risk” coverage, the Julmises submitted a claim for the loss.

A Disputed Denial of Coverage

Instead of approving the claim, the company denied coverage. The denial rested on policy exclusions the insurer believed applied to the plumbing-related damage. However, the Julmises disagreed. They argued the policy did not clearly exclude the type of damage their home sustained. The dispute centered on whether the leak-triggered damage qualified as a covered loss.

No Bodily Injury—But Property Harm

This case did not involve physical injury. Instead, the harm stemmed from alleged property damage caused by water intrusion. The leak disrupted the Julmises’ home, triggering costly repairs and affecting their property’s condition and use. The legal conflict arose from the