Denial of Flood Claim Starts the Limitation Period Running
Post number 5324
See the video at https://rumble.com/v78t566-nfpa-strictly-enforces-conditions.html and at https://youtu.be/UyUPPtbZWOk, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
Unlike Insurance Companies the NFPA is Enforced Strictly
Unlike Insurance Companies the NFPA is Enforced Strictly
In ZOZO Investments LLC, Bertie & Neeka LLC, Foreign Limited Liability Companies v. First Community Insurance Company, a Florida Corporation, No. 25-12492, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (April 15, 2026) Zozo Investments LLC and Bertie & Neeka LLC (“Zozo”) owned property in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through First Community Insurance Company (“First Community”) and appealed the dismissal of their suit when their claim was denied..
FACTS
After the property suffered flood damage from Hurricane Ian, Zozo filed a claim. First Community initially paid the claim but later stopped payment and withdrew the funds. On March 13, 2023, First Community sent a denial letter.
Zozo responded with a sworn proof of loss to appeal, but First Community issued a second denial on October 19, 2023. Zozo filed suit on October 4, 2024, less than a year after the second denial but more than a year after the first.
LAW
The central legal issue involves 42 U.S.C. § 4072, which requires that claimants challenge the denial of “any claims for proved and approved losses” within one year after notice of denial is mailed. The question is whether the loss must be “proved” by a sworn proof of loss before the denial, or if the claim is considered “proved” upon the initial denial regardless of such proof.
DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
Congress enacted the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA), which authorized the establishment of the National Flood Insurance Program” (NFIP). The NFIP is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NFIP provides Standard Flood Insurance Policies (SFIPs) to property owners. FEMA uses private insurers-like First Community-to issue SFIPs and to process SFIP claims on FEMA’s behalf, under terms and conditions controlled the NFIA and its corresponding regulations. The claims are paid out of the U.S. Treasury.
First Community moved to dismiss, arguing that more than year had elapsed since it mailed the first denial letter, so Zozo’s action was time-barred by Section 4072.
The NFIA grants FEMA the authority to adjust and disallow any claims for proved and approved losses covered by flood insurance. Further, upon the disallowance by the Administrator of any such claim, or upon the refusal of the claimant to accept the amount allowed upon any such claim, the claimant, within one year after the date of mailing of notice of disallowance or partial disallowance by the Administrator, may institute an action against the Administrator on such claim in the United States district court.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals examined whether Zozo’s loss was “proved” for purposes of § 4072 at the time of the first denial letter, or only after Zozo submitted a sworn proof of loss. If the loss was “proved” at the first denial, the one-year statute of limitations began then, making Zozo’s suit time-barred.
If a sworn proof of loss was required to “prove” the loss, the clock started with the second denial, allowing Zozo’s suit to proceed. The district court concluded that a sworn proof of loss was not required for a loss to be “proved” under the statute, so the limitations period began with the first denial.
CONCLUSION
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision, holding that Zozo’s loss was “proved” without a sworn proof of loss, and the suit was therefore barred by the one-year limitations period in 42 U.S.C. § 4072.
The district court’s dismissal of the case with prejudice was AFFIRMED.
ZALMA OPINION
Normal insurance policies issued by corporate insurers have private limitation of action provisions that are applied with courtesy and warnings with courts giving empathy to those who fail to sue within the private limitation. Since the money to pay claims under an NFPA policy comes from the US Treasury US District Courts act differently, they interpret the private limitation of action strictly. As a result the plaintiff, who filed suit more than a year after denial, had their suit dismissed.
(c) 2026 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Policy Limits Demand Accepted Settles Claim
Post 5434
Posted on August 26, 2026 by Barry Zalma
See the full video at https://lnkd.in/g-ZtsSgK and at https://lnkd.in/ghMBdYWR
A Contingent Offer Accepted Ends the Dispute
In Farmers Insurance Exchange, a California Reciprocal Insurance Exchange, The Superior Court For The County Of San Bernardino, Kathleen Ann Wood, E087128, California Court of Appeals, (July 9, 2026) Farmers Insurance Exchange insured Doyle Archer under an automobile policy with bodily injury limits of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Archer rear-ended Kathleen Ann Wood at a red light, causing Wood to assert a bodily injury claim against him. Wood’s counsel sent Farmers a pre-litigation settlement demand offering to resolve Wood’s claim for the available policy limits, stating that if the $100,000 demand exceeded the policy, the offer was for the policy limits.
Farmers timely responded in writing, agreed to pay Wood the $15,000 per-person policy limit, and provided the requested ...
Policy Limits Demand Accepted Settles Claim
Post 5434
Posted on August 26, 2026 by Barry Zalma
See the full video at https://lnkd.in/g-ZtsSgK and at https://lnkd.in/ghMBdYWR
A Contingent Offer Accepted Ends the Dispute
In Farmers Insurance Exchange, a California Reciprocal Insurance Exchange, The Superior Court For The County Of San Bernardino, Kathleen Ann Wood, E087128, California Court of Appeals, (July 9, 2026) Farmers Insurance Exchange insured Doyle Archer under an automobile policy with bodily injury limits of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Archer rear-ended Kathleen Ann Wood at a red light, causing Wood to assert a bodily injury claim against him. Wood’s counsel sent Farmers a pre-litigation settlement demand offering to resolve Wood’s claim for the available policy limits, stating that if the $100,000 demand exceeded the policy, the offer was for the policy limits.
Farmers timely responded in writing, agreed to pay Wood the $15,000 per-person policy limit, and provided the requested ...
The Largest Residential Burglary of All Time
Post 5407
Fraud & the Fear of Bad Faith Suits
Posted on July 22, 2026 by Barry Zalma
See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gWQQEySW and at https://lnkd.in/gyhdK6wv
This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud explaining why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is one of a collection designed to help to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the Perpetrators than any Other Crime.
This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud explaining why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is one of a collection designed to help to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the Perpetrators than any Other Crime.
After ...
Crime Requires 121-151 Months of Imprisonment
Post 5486
Posted on September 9, 2026 by Barry Zalma
Mr. Baiyewu Is Liable For The Loss Resulting From Acts Directly Attributable To Him And For The Loss Resulting From The Reasonably Foreseeable Acts Of Others Taken In Furtherance of the Criminal Activity
In United States Of America v. Oluwasegun Baiyewu, CRIMINAL No. 21-395 (RAM), United States District Court, D. Puerto Rico (August 26, 2026) the court dealt with a case after on October 20, 2021, a grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a single-count Indictment charging Mr. Baiyewu with conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). About a year and a half later, on March 31, 2023, a grand jury returned a single-count Superseding Indictment charging Mr. Baiyewu and four co-defendants with conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
CONVICTION
Baiyewu was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to commit money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). The charged conspiracy, ...
Insurance Requires Fortuity to be an Insured Risk
Post 5485
Posted on September 8, 2026 by Barry Zalma
In Industrial Park Center, LLC, doing business as Mainspring Capital Group v. Great Northern Insurance Company, a foreign insurer, No. CV-25-0330-CQ, Supreme Court of Arizona (September 1, 2026).
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit certified the following question to this Court:
"Is damage to property a “fortuitous” loss when, based on the insured’s knowledge at the time the insurance policy issued, it was reasonably foreseeable that such damage was almost certain to occur if certain preventative measures were not taken?"
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Mainspring owned commercial property leased to Star Fisheries for decades. Star Fisheries’ use of water and salt allegedly caused structural damage over time. In 2010, Mainspring learned of damage and made some repairs but did not implement all recommended preventive measures. In 2021–2022, additional similar structural damage was discovered, and ...
Insurance Requires Fortuity to be an Insured Risk
Post 5485
Posted on September 8, 2026 by Barry Zalma
In Industrial Park Center, LLC, doing business as Mainspring Capital Group v. Great Northern Insurance Company, a foreign insurer, No. CV-25-0330-CQ, Supreme Court of Arizona (September 1, 2026).
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit certified the following question to this Court:
"Is damage to property a “fortuitous” loss when, based on the insured’s knowledge at the time the insurance policy issued, it was reasonably foreseeable that such damage was almost certain to occur if certain preventative measures were not taken?"
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Mainspring owned commercial property leased to Star Fisheries for decades. Star Fisheries’ use of water and salt allegedly caused structural damage over time. In 2010, Mainspring learned of damage and made some repairs but did not implement all recommended preventive measures. In 2021–2022, additional similar structural damage was discovered, and ...
