Margie Thomas Hendley v. American National Fire Insurance Company

HILL, Circuit Judge:

In 1984, a major storm damaged Margie Hendley’s home in Statesboro, Georgia. Hendley gave notice of the loss to her insurance company, American National Fire Insurance Company, and demanded adjustment of her claim. American National refused to pay the claim, maintaining that Hendley had no cause of action against it because she had failed to comply with terms of her insurance contract requiring her to give timely notice of claims and to make repairs to protect her property from additional damage.

Hendley sued American National, claiming $117,583.48 in damages. The judge…