Speth v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Six, J.:

This appeal arises out of State Farm Fire & Casualty Company’s (State Farm) denial of coverage on a homeowner’s policy for physical damage sustained to the insured’s home due to vandalism. Coverage was denied by State Farm under a policy exclusion for vandalism losses that occur when a house has remained “vacant” for more than 30 consecutive days. Plaintiff Steven Speth, Executor of the Estate of Gertrude Swesh, alleged that the term “vacant” was ambiguous and that State Farm improperly denied coverage for the insured’s vandalism loss. The…