Hurricane Endorsement Limits Insureds’ Personal Property Coverage, Fla. Appeals Court Rules

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Hurricane Coverage Endorsement in two insurance policies is unambiguous as to what constitutes a “hurricane” and thus limits coverage to 10 percent of the policyholders’ personal property coverage limit, a Florida appellate court has ruled.

In a Dec. 9 opinion, the Florida Court of Appeal, 4th District, reversed a trial court judgment entered in favor of the insureds, ruling that a hurricane caused the damage to their condominiums and, as such, the endorsement applies.

In 2004, the National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Report naming an upcoming storm Hurricane Jeanne. The center issued …