Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violations
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Filing Number:     795004
Filing Accepted:  12/3/2024
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Complainant
Last/Business Name *  
DELAROSA   First Name   WANDA
Street Address * 12419 LEEWOOD WAY
City, State Zip * SPRING HILL, FL 34610
Email Address * LARRYDLR@GMAIL.COM
Complainant Type: * Insured
Insured
Last/Business Name*   DELAROSA   First Name   WANDA
Policy # * 988301283 Claim #* 0764643557
Attorney
Attorney is Applicable
Last Name* STRUBLE First Name * MATTHEW Initial
Street Address* 325 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 103
City, State Zip* INDIALANTIC , FLORIDA 32903
Email Address * SERVICE@STRUBLECOHEN.COM
Violation
Insurer Type *   Authorized Insurer Unauthorized Insurer
 
Insurer Name*   CASTLE KEY INDEMNITY COMPANY
NAIC Company Code 10835
 
Name of individual responsible for violation (if any):* AND ALL ADJUSTERS, SUPERVISORS, MANAGEMENT AND INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH OR RETAINED BY CASTLE KEY INDEMNITY COMPANY RELATED TO THIS CLAIM
Type of Insurance * Residential Property & Casualty   
Reason for Notice *
Claim Denial
Claim Delay
Unsatisfactory Settlement Offer
* Statutory provision(s) which the insurer allegedly violated.
 
624.155(1)(b)(1) Not attempting in good faith to settle claims when, under all the circumstances, it could and should have done so, had it acted fairly and honestly toward its insured and with due regard for her or his interests.
626.9541(1)(i)(3)(a) Failing to adopt and implement standards for the proper investigation of claims.
626.9541(1)(i)(3)(b) Misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions relating to coverages at issue.
626.9541(1)(i)(3)(d) Denying claims without conducting reasonable investigations based upon available information.
* Specific policy language that is relevant to the violation.
Enter all words or phrases (one at a time) that should be used to filter.

There are no policy provision specifically at issue or in dispute, the policy provides coverage resulting from Wind/Water Hurricane Debby but Castle Key Indemnity Company has failed to extend coverage for repairs needed for the insured property.
 
* Facts and circumstances giving rise to the violation.
Enter all words or phrases (one at a time) that should be used to filter.

Insurer issued an insurance policy bearing policy number 988301283, which insured the property located at 12419 Leewood Way, Spring Hill, Florida 34610-6536. The policy was in effect when the property sustained damage on or about August 5, 2024, when damage was caused by Wind/Water Hurricane Debby. Castle Key Indemnity Company (“Insurer”) received notice of the claim for property damage resulting from Wind/Water Hurricane Debby, and related damages on or about August 5, 2024. The damage was reported to Insurer which assigned Claim Number 0764643557 to the claim and investigated the claim. Insurer failed to retain the experts needed to perform the inspection and needed to address the damage at issue and determine the repairs needed to restore the property. Insurer has been provided with documents establishing that the claim is covered, despite this being apparent from the condition of the property alone. Insurer has failed to extend coverage for payments owed and has refused to attempt to settle the claim with its insured. Insurer’s delay in issuing payment is causing and will cause the insured to sustain extra-contractual damages not covered by the property, including loss of use and enjoyment of the property and related damages, costs associated with hiring adjusters and experts, among other damages and these uninsured damages would not have occurred but for the insurer ’s failure to timely issue payments owed. In this claim and as a business practice, insurer fails to retain experts needed to investigate claims, ignores evidence establishing coverage and avoids covered repairs to attempt to avoid issuing payments owed pursuant to the insurance policy. Insurer can cure these violations by attempting to settle the claim in good faith and issuing payment for the remaining contractual damages owed. As Insurer is aware, issuing payment for contractual damages owed will preclude recovery of extra-contractual damages already incurred, and that will be incurred, and the contractual damages should immediately be paid and be paid within 60 days from the date of this notice. Due to applicable Florida Statutes, and the insurance policy’s payment provisions, the payment issued should also include interest. If insurer contends there is somehow more information needed that was not already provided, it should immediately advise the insured’s attorney what information is needed. Insurer has been provided with information establishing that the claim is covered but has failed to extend coverage for the claim. Insurer’s denial of the claim and refusal to issue payment is a breach of the insurance policy. This notice is being given in order to perfect the right to pursue the civil remedy authorized by this section.
Comments
User Id Date Added Comment
SARAH.WOLFER@ALLSTATE.COM 01-27-2025 Please allow this correspondence to serve as Castle Key Indemnity Company’s (hereinafter referred to as “Castle Key”) response to your Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violations filing number 795004. This response was uploaded to the DFS CRN website today’s date. Castle Key specifically denies the allegations set forth in the Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violations. At all time, Castle Key has acted in good faith. Castle Key wholly denies all allegations of wrongdoing; claim denial, claim delay and unsatisfactory settlement offer. Castle Key does not consider there to have been any manner of violation and questions the validity of the Notice as it fails to meet the requirements set forth in Section 624.155, Florida Statutes and Florida law and thus fails to perfect the insured’s right to pursue civil remedies. The potential statutory violations and information submitted are nothing more than unsupported, baseless allegations. Castle Key notes the CRN fails to reference the specific policy language relevant to the alleged violations or set forth facts in support of each of the alleged violations. The CRN also did not provide a cure amount. This information is required to be included and be correct on the statutory Civil Remedy Notice form. Castle Key was notified of the August 5, 2024, loss on the same date as the loss. Castle Key investigated this loss and coverage was extended. Mitigation was requested and a 3rd party vendor was sent to the home to provide services. Castle Key then sent a 3rd party vendor to the residence to write an estimate for damages on our behalf on Sept. 3, 2024. An estimate was provided on Oct. 2, 2024, for repairs to the roof, master bedroom and great room. The insured declined and requested mediation on Sept. 5, 2024, and completed on Oct. 16, 2024. Mediation ended with an impasse. The policyholder retained counsel. In response to your CRN and dispute over the covered damages, we had requested to reinspect the home. We requested reinspection and provided date and time options for inspection on Dec. 3, 20204, Dec. 6, 2024, Dec. 10, 2024, Dec. 13, 2024, and Dec. 17, 2024. Inspection was confirmed for Dec. 18, 2024 on Dec. 17, 2024 but was rescheduled for Jan. 6, 2025. Castle Key completed the inspection and issued a supplement payment of $6,009.80 on Jan. 11, 2025. A denial was written on Jan. 13, 2025 excluding coverage for the interior front bedroom due to long term pre-existing ground surface water damage. A settlement offer of $10,912.68 was issued on Jan. 15, 2025. Castle Key received a response in the form of two Notice of Intents on Jan. 21, 2025. Castle Key provide a response the same day with an increased offer of $15,000. Castle Key is currently awaiting a response to our offer to resolve this disputed claim. A Florida Mediation letter was also sent to the insured. At all times, Castle Key has acted in good faith in investigating and handling the claim. Castle Key has not breached any duty owed to you. Castle Key is responding to the filed CRN within sixty days as required by Florida CRN statutes. If you have any questions or if you wish to discuss this matter in further detail, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Sarah Wolfer Claims Service Representative 585-613-0401 Sarah.wolfer@allstate.com
Acknowledgement
* The submitter hereby states that this notice is given in order to perfect the rights of the person(s) damaged to pursue civil remedies authorized by Section 624.155, Florida Statutes.

Before submitting a Notice using this system, please verify that all text has been entered correctly and completely. Once the Notice has been submitted, the text cannot be changed or deleted.




DFS-10-363
Rev. 10/14/2008