Date: 12-12-2006

Case Style: Richard Fiess and Stephanie Fiees v. State Farm Lloyds

Case Number: 03-20778

Judge: Patrick E. Higginbotham

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on appeal from the Southern District of Texas, Harris County

Plaintiff's Attorney: Unknown

Defendant's Attorney: Unknown

Description:

In June 2003, a federal district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant, State Farms Lloyds, holding, inter alia, that the Fiesses' Homeowners Form B (HO-B) policy did not cover mold contamination. The Fiesses appealed, claiming that the ensuing-loss provision did cover such mold contamination, and urging that, in any event, the mold contamination was also covered by an exclusion-repeal provision for plumbing and HVAC leaks.

On December 7, 2004, this court declined to consider the Fiesses' exclusion-repeal argument, noting that we lacked jurisdiction to address the issue due to a defect in the Fiesses' Notice of Appeal.1 In that same opinion, this court certified the ensuing-loss question to the Supreme Court of Texas, thus:

Does the ensuing loss provision contained in Section IExclusions, part 1(f) of the Homeowners Form B (HO-B) insurance policy as prescribed by the Texas Department of Insurance, effective July 8, 1992 (Revised January 1, 1996), when read in conjunction with the remainder of the policy, provide coverage for mold contamination caused by water damage that is otherwise covered under the policy?

On August 31, 2006, the Supreme Court of Texas issued its opinion in response to our certified question, holding that the ensuingloss provision did not provide coverage for mold contamination.2 In light of this decision by the Supreme Court of Texas, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.

Outcome: Affirmed

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None