A Massachusetts state court has ruled that, when a policy does not define materials “of like kind and quality,” matching is required. The case is New England Property Services Group, LLC v. Bunker Hill Preferred Insurance Company, No. 2284CV2019 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2024).

A Massachusetts couple suffered property damage when a motorcycle rammed into their house. They had purchased homeowners coverage from Bunker Hill Preferred Insurance Company. A claim was filed and opened. After inspecting the property, Bunker Hill came back with a property repair estimate of $57,300.15.

Shortly after the incident, the homeowners had executed an assignment of benefits for the claim with the New England Property Services Group, LLC (NEPSG). One month after the damage occurred, NEPSG submitted documents concerning the scope of work required to Bunker Hill and estimated it would cost $139,883.55 to resolve the entire claim. Bunker Hill paid a total of $57,695.14 to NEPSG.