--- title: "Jury Awards $60K in Florida Home Insurance Dispute" meta: "og:description": "A Miami jury awarded $60,853.50 to Sophie Baillet in a roof leak insurance dispute. Jurors found her insurer failed to fully compensate her for storm damage." "og:title": "Jury Awards $60K in Florida Home Insurance Dispute" description: "A Miami jury awarded $60,853.50 to Sophie Baillet in a roof leak insurance dispute. Jurors found her insurer failed to fully compensate her for storm damage." --- July 11, 2025 # **Jury Awards $60K in Florida Home Insurance Dispute** A Miami jury awarded $60,853.50 to Sophie Baillet in a roof leak insurance dispute. Jurors found her insurer failed to fully compensate her for storm damage. [**Property damage**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute/jury-verdict/category/property-damage) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) **Angad Chatha****Angad Chatha is a law graduate from Amritsar, Punjab, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. He has developed a strong niche in working with expert witnesses, providing critical support in preparing legal research and case studies. Known for his analytical mindset and attention to detail, Angad consistently delivers thorough and well-grounded insights that enhance case summaries. His commitment to accuracy and a deep understanding of legal frameworks make him a valuable asset in complex legal sector.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp) In a homeowner insurance dispute stemming from a 2018 roof leak, a Miami jury awarded $60,853.50 to plaintiff Sophie Louise Monique Baillet. The case centered on wind-related property damage that the insurer allegedly underpaid or denied. Baillet claimed she met all policy requirements, while the insurer argued exclusions and noncompliance. On June 4, 2025, the jury found in favor of Baillet, concluding that the insurer breached its contract under Florida law. ### Homeowner’s Coverage: Setting the Scene Sophie Louise Monique Baillet resided in North Miami, Florida, and held a homeowners insurance policy issued by Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc. The policy covered her residence at 2250 Arch Creek Drive. It provided protection for the dwelling, other structures, personal property, and loss of use. The policy was in full force at the time of the incident, and the insurance company operated lawfully within Florida, maintaining agents in Miami-Dade County. ### The Dispute: What Triggered the Lawsuit On August 28, 2018, strong winds reportedly caused a roof leak in Baillet’s home. She promptly notified her insurance provider and filed a claim under her active policy. According to the complaint, she fulfilled all conditions required for coverage. However, she alleged the insurance company either failed to pay or significantly underpaid the claim. This disagreement over the handling and valuation of the damage triggered the legal action. ### The Impact: Property Damage and Legal Action The storm caused water intrusion that damaged Baillet’s property. She claimed this event led to significant loss and damage within the home. Because she allegedly received insufficient compensation or none at all, she sought legal representation to pursue recovery. The dispute forced her to take legal action to obtain full payment under the policy and address ongoing financial consequences. ### The Losses: Financial and Legal Consequences Baillet sought compensatory damages for unpaid or underpaid benefits. She also demanded prejudgment interest, court costs, and attorney’s fees under Florida Statutes §§ 627.428 and 626.9373. The complaint emphasized ongoing financial hardship due to the denied or reduced payout. She claimed that the insurer’s breach caused continuous and compounding damage. ## Key Arguments and Proceedings ### Legal Representation - **Plaintiff:** Sophie Louise Monique Baillet - **Counsel for Plaintiff:** Sol G. Velasquez | Adry Polo | Jasiel Tabares | Melissa A. Giasi - **Expert Witness for Plaintiff:** Grant W. Renne - **Defendant:** Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Co. - **Counsel for Defendant:** Andrea Newport-Jones | E’leese D. Manrique | Francella Guido | Antonio Pena, Jr. - **Expert Witness for Plaintiff:** [Loren Pittack](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Loren-Pittack/1565749) | [Dana D. Race](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Dana-Race/1565750) ### The Allegations: Breach of Contract and Legal Relief The Plaintiff accused Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company of breaching the insurance contract by failing to pay the full value of the valid claim. The complaint included a single count of breach of contract and requested a jury trial. Baillet demanded all relief permitted under Florida law, including damages, costs, and legal fees. ### Defense Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc. denied the allegations in Sophie Louise Monique Baillet’s complaint, asserting that the claimed damages were either not covered or excluded under the insurance policy. The insurer admitted issuing the policy and acknowledged its active status during the alleged loss period but denied liability for the wind-related roof damage. The Defendant claimed that the Plaintiff failed to comply with policy conditions, including removing kitchen cabinets before inspection and failing to provide a sworn proof of loss, which they argued caused prejudice to their ability to investigate the claim. The Defendant raised multiple affirmative defenses, citing exclusions in the policy for damage from rain unless preceded by storm-created openings, and for losses due to wear and tear, deterioration, or faulty construction. They also emphasized the Plaintiff’s failure to follow post-loss obligations, such as showing damaged property and submitting required documentation. These lapses, according to the defense, barred or limited any potential recovery under the policy. ### Jury Verdict On June 4, 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Plaintiff, Sophie Louise Monique Baillet, awarding her $60,853.50 in damages. The jury found that Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc. breached its obligations under the homeowner’s insurance policy by failing to adequately compensate the Plaintiff for wind-related roof damage sustained in August 2018. ### Court Documents [Complaint](https://www2.miamidadeclerk.gov/ocs/ImgViewerWF.aspx?QS=B6%2f9EwnZlIiih%2bgqiU8rawLJW%2bj4E30XGWoN6L%2b82Tkh1iyK9zlrBQy2F%2fEll7b6YB3v%2ff1XbQUom%2fgjiOLjD9Acs%2bO5yxkW1oCGn9sJs9wbThSARgXGa266hjWM6IIydTu9b1Li1djUZG7tjGsPyKEG7qsggOVaNF4RKShjBRiiLkQEQL9ZqEN5hFde68Kgkifl3YHUV3jr7WfiLA5IkSmgxHQxC7SFMcta5Ntt4K8xf1h5h0iCUquLTILbP6tA1bSnzm9cvmCodO7VNVHwhRnjANUnX7m63syW%2b994q0TZVzJTKvB05Q%3d%3d) [Verdict](https://www2.miamidadeclerk.gov/ocs/ImgViewerWF.aspx?QS=B6%2f9EwnZlIiih%2bgqiU8rawLJW%2bj4E30XGWoN6L%2b82TmjJJJP%2fSvm4Bg710EcPBp7Usp6m8acC09FTGb9vxcfzkWpmacyJpFjwCFHw1Hv%2bNF%2fIDQvZ5a46AwGRCxbFGdFc6FvYvurIME8xiey0wRf9%2fKaezlMX5IuHFqIUWCQ57uUN8XAdrJbzS7NH%2fBdg1RfER%2bbbYjwXPkjaPjn4bbZTdh0saZ2FbqQ1iK7BiNViOc1vxjOrMEvYtfsSb0dmFQ9ngMh2M3SdC52oZrraHKIxnMBgZHaI6PBHY6gKp31jCeVudJrkK3mCGzHa9o8P0%2bv2lZFnh%2bWrG0%3d) [Share with Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute) [Share with X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute&text=x) [Share with LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute) [Share with Email](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute/mailto:?body=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute&subject=email) [Share with WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute%20whatsapp) ### **Find your next Expert Witness today** ![Sanjay Adhia](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Sanjay Adhia** Forensic Psychiastry ![George Reis](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **George Reis** Forensic Imaging ![Maria Babinetz](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/jury-awards-60k-in-florida-home-insurance-dispute/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Maria Babinetz** Vocational Rehabilitation Find and retain experts without brokerage or upcharge. ### Looking for more? 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