Costly Omissions: Dog Bite Claim Denied After Agent Fails to Disclose Pet

A homeowner in Connecticut is facing a dog bite claim that will not be covered by insurance after his agent allegedly failed to disclose the dog on his Homeowners Insurance application. Antonio Laires, who is being sued over an incident in which his dog reportedly bit a woman on her face, claims he did not realize that his pet was left off his insurance application because his agent completed it for him, Insurance Journal reported on July 12.

Laires’ insurance company, Providence Mutual, denied the claim, stating the policy would not have been issued if the company was made aware of the dog — a decision backed by a U.S. district court in Connecticut this month, where the judge pointed out that insurance companies could rescind coverage due to material misrepresentations on applications, and noted that the homeowner had a responsibility to read his insurance policy before signing it, the publication reported.

“It really reinforces how important it is to know your policy — know what is covered and what is not,” said Danielle Alessandrini , Associate Vice President, Underwriting Director, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox , Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan. “On the agent’s side, they also need to be having those conversations with the homeowner about whether they have a dog and going over those coverages. All parties should know what their policy covers.”

In addition to the costs the homeowner may incur, the insurance agent responsible for the apparent mistake could also have a legal battle ahead. If an agent is sued over an alleged error, their Errors & Omissions Insurance, also known as Professional Liability Insurance, could respond.

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