Murray v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.

Opinion

WIENER, Acting P. J.

In January 1986, plaintiffs Leonard and Mary Murray discovered a water leak in their home caused by a break in a one-half inch conventional L grade copper pipe carrying hot water from the hot water heater in their garage to a bathroom in the house. The pipe was about 23 inches below the concrete slab floor. As a result of the leak, the ground underneath the pipe settled, causing a crack in the slab perpendicular to the pipe.

Experts agreed that the leak was caused by a process known as electrolysis, precipitated when the pipe was exposed to a combination of moisture…