Defense obtains appraisal award in favor of insurance company.

We successfully obtained an appraisal award in favor of a national insurer. The plaintiff, a roofing company, filed suit in state court seeking damages under an assignment of benefits. It sued to replace the roof, claiming it was damaged as a result of Hurricane Irma. Based upon its investigation, the defendant issued a denial of the plaintiff’s claim on the basis that the roof was not damaged by the hurricane. The plaintiff retained a general contractor as its expert to write a report and to create an estimate totaling $86,000. At arbitration, the defendant maintained its denial and argued the deficiencies in the plaintiff’s expert report. The arbitrator found no basis for recovery by the plaintiff from the defendant.