Patterson v. Grange Mutual Casualty Co.

501 N.E.2d 691, 27 Ohio Misc. 2d 28, 27 Ohio B. 347, 1986 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 51
CourtClermont County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedFebruary 13, 1986
DocketNo. 85-CV-0472
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 501 N.E.2d 691 (Patterson v. Grange Mutual Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Clermont County Court of Common Pleas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Patterson v. Grange Mutual Casualty Co., 501 N.E.2d 691, 27 Ohio Misc. 2d 28, 27 Ohio B. 347, 1986 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 51 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1986).

Opinion

Watson, J.

This matter arises out of the following scenario. On January 18, 1985, a fire occurred at the home of plaintiffs, Charles and Mary Patterson, causing damage to the home and its contents. The home was insured by defendant, Grange Mutual Casualty Company, against fire by a policy of insurance with limits of $54,200. The Grange Mutual claims supervisor subsequently made contact with the Patter-sons in order to investigate and adjust the loss. Thomas Britton prepared an estimate for repairs totalling $44,119. Britton contacted a local contractor, Bob Gee, who confirmed that he could and would do the repairs for the amount of the estimate. Thereafter, Patterson told Britton that he was not going to repair and rebuild, but that he just wanted to have the money due him under the policy. Britton then informed the Pattersons that should they elect to take the money, without rebuilding, they would only be entitled to receive the actual cash value of the damage, which is replacement cost less depreciation. Brit-ton also stated that they would still be entitled to the full amount for repairs up to $44,119 if they began to rebuild within one hundred eighty days.

Nonetheless, the Pattersons accepted the actual cash value amount as determined by Britton, that amount be[29]*29ing $37,739.92, i.e., replacement cost of $44,119 less $6,379.08 depreciation. On February 8, 1985, the Pattersons endorsed Grange’s draft for the amount of $37,739.92 and signed a Statement of Proof of Loss that the payment of this amount as to the dwelling was in full satisfaction for that loss. Since that time the Pattersons have not notified Grange of their intent to repair or rebuild, nor have they notified Grange that the repairs have been completed.

On June 3, 1985, the Pattersons filed suit against Grange demanding, inter alia, Grange pay them $18,500 still due to them under the policy, the amount demanded representing the difference between the $37,700 already paid and the full amount for which the dwelling was insured ($54,200). Plaintiffs theorize that the insurance company still owes this amount to them under the express provisions of R.C. 3929.25. Plaintiffs further theorize that the release and settlement they executed on February 8, 1985 was a product of fraudulent representations made to them by Britton, the claims adjuster, to obtain their signatures, so that the settlement is voidable. Plaintiffs state that since the time of the settlement they have learned that “not only can the house not be repaired and rebuilt for * * * [$44,119], but also that it would cost less money to replace the entire structure than to attempt to salvage any portion of the structure which remains standing.”

Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment was found to be without merit and was overruled per entry of this court dated November 18, 1985. The matter is now before the court on Grange Mutual’s motion in limine filed November 21, 1985, that the court limit the evidence as to the amount of recovery for loss to those terms prescribed by the policy and exclude any evidence or arguments relating to R.C. 3929.25.

R.C. 3929.25 provides as follows:

“A person, company, or association insuring any building or structure against loss or damage by fire or lightning, by renewal of a policy, .shall have such building or structure examined by his or its agent, and a full description thereof made, and its insurable value fixed, by said agent. In the absence of any change increasing the risk without the consent of the insurers, and in the absence of intentional fraud on the part of the insured, in the case of total loss the whole amount mentioned in the policy or renewal, upon which the insurer received a premium, shall be paid. If, however, the policy of insurance, by its express terms, permits the policyholder to recover the full cost of repair, or replacement, of the building or structure, without deduction for depreciation or obsolescence, up to the limits of the policy in the event that the building or structure is in fact repaired or replaced, the amount of recovery for any loss under such a policy of insurance shall be as prescribed by the policy.
“The cellar and foundation walls shall not be considered a part of such building or structure in settling losses, despite any contrary provisions in the application or policy.”

Defendant states that prior to the 1980 amendment of this statute, there would have been no question of its applicability; in the event of a total loss, payment would have been made for the policy limits representing the value of the property. Defendant states that when the 1980 amendment took effect, the legislature recognized the validity of replacement cost policies and that where a replacement cost policy is in effect between the insurer and insured, the policy’s limits control the amount of a recovery for any loss, total or otherwise. Defendant argues that the policy controls since it is a replacement cost policy and therefore that R.C. 3929.25 does not apply herein to require a payment of [30]*30the total value for which the dwelling was insured, so that evidence of that value for purposes of showing R.C. 3929.25 total loss recovery is impertinent. The court would also note that defendant disputes that the loss sustained by plaintiffs was a total loss at all, so that reference to the requirement of R.C. 3929.25 to pay maximum coverage for a total loss is inapplicable.

Defendant further argues that only the policy controls. The policy at page 3, paragraph d provides that when the full cost of repair or replacement is more than $1,000, the company is not liable to pay under paragraph a or paragraph b(2).

Paragraph a provides:

“a. If at the time of loss the whole amount of insurance applicable to said building structure for the peril causing the loss is 80% or more of the full replacement cost of such building structure, the coverage of this policy applicable to such building structure is extended to include the full cost of repair or replacement (without deduction for depreciation).”

Paragraph b provides:

“b. If at the time of loss the whole amount of insurance applicable to said building structure for the peril causing the loss is less than 80% of the full replacement cost of such building structure, this Company’s liability for loss under this policy shall not exceed the larger of the following amounts (1) or (2):
“(1) the actual cash value of that part of the building structure damaged or destroyed; or
“(2) that proportion of the full cost of repair or replacement without deduction for depreciation of that part of the building structure damaged or destroyed, which the whole amount of insurance applicable to said building structure for the peril causing the loss bears to 80% of the full replacement cost of such building structure.”

Under these sections, defendant states that it is not liable for replacement cost until actual repair or replacement is completed. Because no repairs have taken place, the policy allows for payment only of the actual cash value per paragraph b(l), supra, and per page 1, where the policy states that it insures the insured “to the extent of the Actual Cash Value of the property at the time of loss * * *.”

Plaintiffs, on the other hand, argue that R.C.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
501 N.E.2d 691, 27 Ohio Misc. 2d 28, 27 Ohio B. 347, 1986 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 51, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/patterson-v-grange-mutual-casualty-co-ohctcomplclermo-1986.