(DOWNLOAD) "Bruce L. Bump and Brenda K. Bump V." by Supreme Court of Nebraska " Book PDF Kindle ePub Free

July 02, 2021

eBook details

Title: Bruce L. Bump and Brenda K. Bump V.
Author : Supreme Court of Nebraska
Release Date : January 24, 1986
Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
Pages : * pages
Size : 67 KB

Description

Firemens Insurance Co. of Newark, New Jersey (Firemens) issued a homeowner's insurance policy to Brenda and Bruce Bump, insuring their residence against damage by wind. Firemens' policy excluded loss caused by pressure or weight of water or ice, whether driven by wind or not, as well as loss caused by latent defect. While Brenda and Bruce were absent from their home in Chadron on August 3, 1981, a severe thunderstorm with a 4-inch rain and winds of 55 knots struck the city. Upon return to their home Bruce discovered that one of the basement walls had buckled, permitting mud and water to enter the basement. On August 4 Bruce contacted Firemens' local agent, who instructed Bruce to obtain an engineer's report on the loss and an estimate of the damage to Bumps' house. Sometime toward the end of August, after Bruce had obtained and forwarded his engineer's report to Firemens' agent, an adjuster for Firemens, David Johnson, came to Bumps' house, inspected the premises, and in the course of his inspection, according to a later offer of proof, stated to Brenda that were insured, and the loss was covered, and [Bumps could] proceed with the repair work. Relying on the adjuster's statement about insurance coverage for the loss, Bumps contacted a contractor who, beginning in September, repaired the damage to the house, including replacement of the damaged basement walls. In a November 4 letter to Bruce, Firemens' adjuster stated that the insurance company was obtaining a second opinion from a structural engineer concerning Bumps' wind damage claim. The adjuster hired a structural engineer, Warren Bishop, who viewed Bumps' home on November 28, after Bumps had substantially completed repairs to their home. Bishop reviewed weather service records and then reached his Conclusion that the damage to Bumps' house had resulted from excessive external pressure exerted on the outside wall when the high wind, as a catalyst, drove water against the wall. In his January 4, 1982, letter to Bumps, the adjuster stated: