A Florida appellate court ruled that an insured's nearly three-year delay in reporting a claim was prejudicial to the insurer and precluded coverage for the claim. The case is Arce v. Citizens Prop. Ins. Corp., 388 So. 3d 205 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2024).

What Happened

The Arce's home, including their roof, suffered damage from the winds and rains of Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Mr. Arce tried to repair some of the damages himself, but he could not complete them. The Arces finally reported the damages to their homeowners' carrier, Citizens Property Insurance, in August 2020. Citizens sent its adjuster to survey the damaged home and requested that the Arces submit "a recorded statement, a sworn proof of loss, and additional information and documentation with respect to the loss," all of which were quickly provided. In October 2020, Citizens denied the Arces' claim, stating Citizens' "ability to evaluate this claim ha[d] been prejudiced" because the Arces had waited nearly three years to report their Hurricane Irma claim.