Mechanisms to reopen
Supplemental filing
- 18 months from date of loss (Fla. Stat. 627.70132)
- New evidence or new damage
- Doesn't require reversal of original denial
- Treated as addition to existing claim
New evidence submission
- Any new evidence supporting coverage
- Expert reports, photos, documents
- Formal submission with cover letter
- Request reconsideration
Appraisal invocation
- If policy has appraisal clause
- For amount-of-loss disputes
- Binding on amount (not coverage)
- May prompt settlement discussion
CRN filing
- Statutory pressure (60-day cure)
- Cites specific bad-faith indicators
- Often produces settlement
Litigation
- Within applicable statute of limitations
- With first-party counsel
- Often after CRN
Timing
1 year
from loss: new-claim deadline
18 months
supplemental deadline
5 years
statute of limitations (contract)
5 years
bad-faith SOL (separate)
Practical approach
- Review original denial carefully
- Identify weakness or new evidence
- Choose appropriate reopening mechanism
- File within statutory windows
- Escalate if initial reopening attempt is rejected