Viewpoint: Ruling Allows Insurers to Enforce Water Damage Coverage Limitations By Robert Barton | May 10, 2021 Chances are, if you live in Florida, you have seen a billboard or heard an advertisement about water damage or pipe lawsuits. For some time, insureds have filed claims and lawsuits alleging repair costs that frequently exceed $100,000. However, Rumberger Kirk’s recent success in obtaining final summary judgment for a carrier could provide a path to success for carriers seeking to enforce water damage coverage limitation endorsements in the future. In an effort to limit exposure in water damage claims, insurance carriers have (in exchange for a premium credit) been introducing various limited water damage endorsements into their policies. Most of the endorsements limit coverage to $10,000 for damage caused by water from a plumbing system, including the cost of tear out. Historically, insurance companies have had mixed results in the enforcement of these endorsements. Many trial courts have invalidated the endorsements relying upon arguments fashioned by the plaintiff’s bar that the endorsements are either vague, ambiguous, or expressly do not include the cost of tear out and/or other fringe policy benefits.