Common causation disputes
- Storm vs. wear-and-tear
- Sudden plumbing failure vs. gradual seepage
- Wind damage vs. flood
- Fire damage vs. firefighting-water damage
- Collapse vs. earth movement
Florida causation rules
Efficient proximate cause
- The "predominating" cause controls
- Even when multiple causes contribute
- Analysis can favor policyholder when covered peril predominates
Concurrent causation
- Multiple causes; apportionment possible
- Anti-concurrent-causation clauses modify this
- Florida enforces ACC clauses with limits
Ensuing loss
- Damage resulting from excluded cause may be covered
- Broad policy language supports
- Florida case law develops this
Establishing causation
Physical evidence
- Damage pattern analysis
- Photographic documentation
- Preserved samples
- Moisture / chemistry analysis
Expert reports
- Forensic engineers
- Industrial hygienists (water/mold)
- Fire investigators
- Plumbers for water-source
Event correlation
- Weather data
- Time-of-event documentation
- Witness statements
- Prior-loss absence