Johnson v. Omega Ins. Co.

Johnson was covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy issued by Omega when she filed a claim to recover damages resulting from conditions which she believed to be sinkhole activity. After an initial sinkhole investigation determining that there was no sinkhole activity present on Johnson’s property, Omega denied Johnson’s claim. Johnson filed suit against Omega for breach of contract. In response, Omega hired another expert to perform an additional evaluation. The expert agreed that sinkhole activity was present on Johnson’s property. Omega accepted the evaluation report and provided payment for the damages. At issue before the trial court was whether Johnson was entitled to attorney’s fees. The trial court concluded that Omega’s agreement to pay money to Johnson amounted to a confession of judgment and awarded Johnson attorney’s fees under Fla. Stat. 627.428. The Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed, concluding that Omega did not act wrongfully or in bad faith, and therefore, section 627.428 and the confession of judgment doctrine did not apply. The Supreme Court quashed the decision below, holding that a recovery for attorney’s fees under section 627.428 requires an incorrect denial of benefits by the insurance company, not a bad faith denial. View "Johnson v. Omega Ins. Co." on Justia Law