(1) APPLICATION.—This section applies exclusively to all suits not brought by an assignee arising under a residential or commercial property insurance policy, including a residential or commercial property insurance policy issued by an eligible surplus lines insurer.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Amount obtained” means damages recovered, if any, but the term does not include any amount awarded for attorney fees, costs, or interest.
(b) “Claimant” means an insured who is filing suit under a residential or commercial property insurance policy.
(c) “Disputed amount” means the difference between the claimant’s presuit settlement demand, not including attorney fees and costs listed in the demand, and the insurer’s presuit settlement offer, not including attorney fees and costs, if part of the offer.
(d) “Presuit settlement demand” means the demand made by the claimant in the written notice of intent to initiate litigation as required by paragraph (3)(e). The demand must include the amount of reasonable and necessary attorney fees and costs incurred by the claimant, to be calculated by multiplying the number of hours actually worked on the claim by the claimant’s attorney as of the date of the notice by a reasonable hourly rate.
(e) “Presuit settlement offer” means the offer made by the insurer in its written response to the notice as required by subsection (3).
(3) NOTICE.—
(a) As a condition precedent to filing a suit under a property insurance policy, a claimant must provide the department with written notice of intent to initiate litigation on a form provided by the department. Such notice must be given at least 10 business days before filing suit under the policy, but may not be given before the insurer has made a determination of coverage under s. 627.70131. Notice to the insurer must be provided by the department to the e-mail address designated by the insurer under s. 624.422. The notice must state with specificity all of the following information:
1. That the notice is provided pursuant to this section.
2. The alleged acts or omissions of the insurer giving rise to the suit, which may include a denial of coverage.
3. If provided by an attorney or other representative, that a copy of the notice was provided to the claimant.
4. If the notice is provided following a denial of coverage, an estimate of damages, if known.
5. If the notice is provided following acts or omissions by the insurer other than denial of coverage, both of the following:
a. The presuit settlement demand, which must itemize the damages, attorney fees, and costs.
b. The disputed amount.
Documentation to support the information provided in this paragraph may be provided along with the notice to the insurer.
(b) A claimant must serve a notice of intent to initiate litigation within the time limits provided in s. 95.11. However, the notice is not required if the suit is a counterclaim. Service of a notice tolls the time limits provided in s. 95.11 for 10 business days if such time limits will expire before the end of the 10-day notice period.
(4) INSURER DUTIES.—An insurer must have a procedure for the prompt investigation, review, and evaluation of the dispute stated in the notice and must investigate each claim contained in the notice in accordance with the Florida Insurance Code. An insurer must respond in writing within 10 business days after receiving the notice specified in subsection (3). The insurer must provide the response to the claimant by e-mail if the insured has designated an e-mail address in the notice.
(a) If an insurer is responding to a notice served on the insurer following a denial of coverage by the insurer, the insurer must respond by:
1. Accepting coverage;
2. Continuing to deny coverage; or
3. Asserting the right to reinspect the damaged property. If the insurer responds by asserting the right to reinspect the damaged property, it has 14 business days after the response asserting that right to reinspect the property and accept or continue to deny coverage. The time limits provided in s. 95.11 are tolled during the reinspection period if such time limits expire before the end of the reinspection period. If the insurer continues to deny coverage, the claimant may file suit without providing additional notice to the insurer.
(b) If an insurer is responding to a notice provided to the insurer alleging an act or omission by the insurer other than a denial of coverage, the insurer must respond by making a settlement offer or requiring the claimant to participate in appraisal or another method of alternative dispute resolution. The time limits provided in s. 95.11 are tolled as long as appraisal or other alternative dispute resolution is ongoing if such time limits expire during the appraisal process or dispute resolution process. If the appraisal or alternative dispute resolution has not been concluded within 90 days after the expiration of the 10-day notice of intent to initiate litigation specified in subsection (3), the claimant or claimant’s attorney may immediately file suit without providing the insurer additional notice.
(5) DISMISSAL OF SUIT.—A court must dismiss without prejudice any claimant’s suit relating to a claim for which a notice of intent to initiate litigation was not given as required by this section or if such suit is commenced before the expiration of any time period provided under subsection (4), as applicable.
(6) ADMISSIBILITY OF NOTICE AND RESPONSE.—The notice provided pursuant to subsection (3) and, if applicable, the documentation to support the information provided in the notice:
(a) Are admissible as evidence only in a proceeding regarding attorney fees.
(b) Do not limit the evidence of attorney fees or costs, damages, or loss which may be offered at trial.
(c) Do not relieve any obligation that an insured or assignee has to give notice under any other provision of law.
(7) TOLLING.—If a claim is not resolved during the presuit notice process and if the time limits provided in s. 95.11 expire in the 30 days following the conclusion of the presuit notice process, such time limits are tolled for 30 days.
(8) ATTORNEY FEES.—
(a) In a suit arising under a residential or commercial property insurance policy not brought by an assignee, the amount of reasonable attorney fees and costs under s. 626.9373(1) or s. 627.428(1) shall be calculated and awarded as follows:
1. If the difference between the amount obtained by the claimant and the presuit settlement offer, excluding reasonable attorney fees and costs, is less than 20 percent of the disputed amount, each party pays its own attorney fees and costs and a claimant may not be awarded attorney fees under s. 626.9373(1) or s. 627.428(1).
2. If the difference between the amount obtained by the claimant and the presuit settlement offer, excluding reasonable attorney fees and costs, is at least 20 percent but less than 50 percent of the disputed amount, the insurer pays the claimant’s attorney fees and costs under s. 626.9373(1) or s. 627.428(1) equal to the percentage of the disputed amount obtained times the total attorney fees and costs.
3. If the difference between the amount obtained by the claimant and the presuit settlement offer, excluding reasonable attorney fees and costs, is at least 50 percent of the disputed amount, the insurer pays the claimant’s full attorney fees and costs under s. 626.9373(1) or s. 627.428(1).
(b) In a suit arising under a residential or commercial property insurance policy not brought by an assignee, if a court dismisses a claimant’s suit pursuant to subsection (5), the court may not award to the claimant any incurred attorney fees for services rendered before the dismissal of the suit.
History.—s. 12, ch. 2021-77.