summary judgment<\/a> opinion.<\/p>\nThe Childers had coverage on their home through Allstate and later purchased another home and had it insured by a \u201cLandlords Package Policy.\u201d \u00a0This policy had exclusions for when a structure was vacant or unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days immediately prior to the loss.<\/p>\n
After acquiring the property the Childers began repairing the property and doing renovations. \u00a0Nobody was living at the property when the loss, due to burglary and vandalism, occurred. \u00a0Allstate denied the claim citing the exclusions.<\/p>\n
The Childerses argue that the Lufkin property was neither \u201cvacant\u201d nor \u201cunoccupied\u201d for over 60 days, calling it their \u201csecondary residence.\u201d \u00a0They posit that Texas election law defines \u201cresidence\u201d and must guide the Policy\u2019s meaning. \u00a0According to them, Texas election law permits a person to have multiple residences. \u00a0They further assert that the Policy does not define the terms \u201cresidence\u201d and \u201creside,\u201d rendering the Policy ambiguous. \u00a0This purported ambiguity would have us construe the Policy in their favor. \u00a0Their argument, however, is unpersuasive.<\/p>\n
Under Texas law, to prevail on a breach of insurance contract claim, the insured must prove (1) a valid contract; (2) performance or tendered performance by the insured; (3) breach by the insurer; and (4) damages caused by the breach. \u00a0The insured must also show that the policy covers her claims.<\/p>\n
Texas law treats an insurance policy like any other contract, applying general rules of construction. Interpreting an insurance policy is a question of law. \u00a0Ambiguities are interpreted in favor of coverage for the insured. \u00a0Whether a policy is ambiguous is also a legal issue under Texas law. \u00a0We presume that the parties intended what the text says, and we give terms their plain meaning unless the policy indicates otherwise. \u00a0Clear and definite language is unambiguous as a matter of law.<\/p>\n
The Policy here does not cover the Childerses\u2019 loss. It excludes coverage for theft, burglary, or vandalism if the property is \u201cvacant or unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days immediately prior to the loss.\u201d Here, \u201cvacant\u201d and \u201cunoccupied\u201d must be understood in their ordinary sense, not narrowly or technically.<\/p>\n
\u201cVacant\u201d and \u201cunoccupied\u201d are distinct. \u00a0Under Texas law, vacant means without inanimate objects. \u00a0 A house is occupied when human beings habitually live in it as a place of abode. \u00a0Conversely, a house is unoccupied when it ceases to be used for living purposes or as a customary place of human habitation.<\/p>\n
Here, the Lufkin property was not vacant as it held furniture\u2014 vanities, dressers, and mirrors.<\/p>\n
On occupancy, the Childerses misapply Texas law, conflating \u201cvacant\u201d with \u201cunoccupied.\u201d \u00a0For example, they insist that the furniture at the Lufkin property creates a genuine dispute of material fact on whether the home was unoccupied. \u00a0This point misses the mark. \u00a0 \u201cUnoccupied\u201d means that a home \u201cceases to be used for living purposes or as a customary place of human habitation.\u201d \u00a0For this inquiry, whether the home is furnished is of no consequence. \u00a0Moreover, Crystal testified that no one lived at this property, no one ever had, and no one rented this property. \u00a0No genuine dispute of material fact exists. \u00a0According to Crystal\u2019s deposition, the Lufkin property was unoccupied for at least 60 days before the loss.<\/p>\n
Further, the Policy is not ambiguous. \u00a0It defines \u201cresidence premises\u201d as \u201cyour dwelling, other structures and land located at the address stated on the Policy Declarations.\u201d \u00a0This definition addresses the insured property, not the insured\u2019s place of residence. \u00a0This is, after all, a \u201cLandlords Package Policy,\u201d implying that the Childerses do not live at the property.<\/p>\n
Finally, nothing in the Policy links \u201cresidence premises\u201d to whether a home is \u201cvacant\u201d or \u201cunoccupied. \u00a0More critically, the Childerses\u2019 theory contradicts Texas Supreme Court precedent. \u00a0Their theory urges this court to redefine \u201cunoccupied,\u201d contradict existing law, and ignores the law of the state\u2019s highest court. \u00a0We lack that power. \u00a0 On these grounds, we hold that there is \u201cno genuine dispute as to any material fact\u201d on whether the Lufkin property was vacant or unoccupied. \u00a0 Thus, we conclude that the district court did not err in granting summary judgment for Allstate.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A common reason for claim denial is when a home is not being lived in at the time of the loss. \u00a0The reason for denial will be denied due to an exclusion in most policies excluding coverage for structures that are vacant or unoccupied. \u00a0A February 2025 opinion from the United States Fifth Circuit discusses […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":116455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[4759,3767,11693,14667,2538,14077,11034,13466,30885,54931,11288],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-206980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insurance","tag-april","tag-blog","tag-claims","tag-dallas","tag-fort","tag-homeowners","tag-insurance","tag-lawyer","tag-unoccupied","tag-vacant","tag-worth"],"yoast_head":"\n
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