Appeals Court Cancels $335,000 Jury Award in Florida Property Insurance Lawsuit
The general consensus is that juries are quite sympathetic to average homeowners in Florida. If you can get your property insurance case in front of a jury, you may have a strong chance of winning a lucrative verdict. But as a recent case shows, the appellate court can always strike down your jury award. An experienced lawyer may be able to help with your
property insurance lawsuit in Fort Lauderdale.
Verdict “Several Times Higher” Than Valuation Evidence
On July 23rd, 2026, Insurance Journal reported that the First District Court of Appeals had struck down a $335,000 jury verdict in a property insurance lawsuit. The court found that the verdict was significantly higher than the valuation evidence, sending the case back to the Circuit Court judge for reassessment.
The case stems from an incident in the Florida Panhandle in 2019. Homeowners filed a claim for a backed-up sewer pipe that affected their ability to use their washing machine and dishwasher. It eventually became clear that the entire cast-iron drainage system required replacement.
A contractor provided a quote for about $80,000. However, the insurer provided an estimate of just $12,000 in water damage coverage, leaving a cash payout of $7,000 after the deductible. Naturally, the homeowners disputed this and took the insurer to court. The jury took their side and awarded them $335,000.
Everyone seemed perplexed by how the jury had come up with that amount, including the trial judge. There just didn’t seem to be any real logic behind it. Nevertheless, the judge did nothing to push down the verdict, and awarded an amount equal to the policy limit ($140,374).
Insurance Journal notes that the cost of cast-iron pipe repair is notoriously difficult to estimate. This is due to an ongoing debate between contractors over the best way to tackle this problem. Some say that the only viable option is to tear down the entire system, including concrete slabs that might support the pipes. Others argue that a simple, affordable fix with polymer lines is possible.
Are Juries Sympathetic to Homeowners in Property Insurance Cases?
Juries are often extremely sympathetic to homeowners in Florida property insurance lawsuits. This is because of widespread bitterness and resentment toward the insurance industry, especially after decades of increasing premiums. If you manage to get your case before a jury, you will almost certainly enjoy “underdog status” when fighting the insurance industry. That said, this recent appellate case shows that jurors cannot award ludicrously high amounts with no basis in reality.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Property Insurance Lawyers Today
At Fuxa & Tyler, our legal team is made up of a diverse combination of attorneys who are well-positioned to protect the legal rights and financial interests of policyholders. If your property insurance claim was denied, we can help. For a free consultation, please call us today at (954) 990-5251. With an office in Sunrise, we represent policyholders in Broward County and throughout the state of Florida.
Source:
insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2026/07/23/878781.htm