CLAIRE V. EGAR, District Judge.
Now before the Court is Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Brief in Support (Dkt. # 10). Defendant argues that plaintiffs have failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted because plaintiffs' alleged damages and/or the cause of the damages are not covered by or are excluded from coverage under the insurance policy. Plaintiffs oppose the motion and argue that they have alleged sufficient facts to state a claim against defendant.
Plaintiffs Robert Myers and Mary Myers allege that defendant Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company issued a homeowner insurance policy to plaintiffs, which was effective for the policy period of March 24, 2011 to March 24, 2012. Dkt. # 2 at 7. Plaintiffs allege that, on April 25, 2011, they suffered a loss that is covered under the policy. Plaintiffs allege that they filed a claim with defendant immediately following the loss and that defendant has wrongfully refused to pay any benefits due under the policy.
Plaintiffs filed the complaint on February 9, 2012, alleging breach of contract, bad faith and breach of the duty of good faith claim handling, and negligence and gross negligence. Plaintiffs attached the following documents to the complaint: (i) the insurance policy; (ii) correspondence between plaintiffs' attorneys and defendant; and (iii) the report of an independent engineer conducted after the alleged loss.
The engineer's report states that the "visible portions of the site conditions" at plaintiffs' home included: "Exterior concrete cracks, i.e. driveway; Downspouts need splash block; Hairline veneer cracks (1/4" or smaller); Separation of the wall from ceiling on the south central part of the house; Buckled tape/joint separation at wall corner(s)."
In considering a motion under Rule 12(b)(6), a court must determine whether the claimant has stated a claim upon which relief may be granted. A motion to dismiss is properly granted when a complaint provides no "more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action."
Defendant argues that plaintiffs' alleged damages and/or the cause of plaintiffs' alleged damages are not covered by the insurance policy or are excluded from coverage under the policy. Specifically, defendant seizes on plaintiffs' allegation that certain damages were caused by a "plumbing leak," and argues that damages caused by a leak are not covered or are excluded from coverage under the policy. Defendant also argues that any damages caused by movement of the earth are not covered or excluded from coverage under the policy.
"The interpretation of an insurance contract is governed by state law and, sitting in diversity, we look to the law of the forum state."
The parties argue that these contractual interpretation principles and this burden shifting analysis should be applied to the facts of this case. However, the cases cited above articulate a burden of proof to be applied at the summary judgment stage or at trial. They do not articulate a pleading standard that must be met in order to state a claim under which relief can be granted. At this stage of the litigation, plaintiffs are merely required to state a claim that is "plausible on its face."
In order to determine whether plaintiffs' damages and/or the cause of those damages are covered, and not excluded from coverage, under the policy, it is necessary to know the precise nature and cause of those damages. The complaint alleges only that some of the damages were caused by a plumbing leak or were the result of earth movement. There is no allegation in the complaint or in the engineer's report that the entirety of the damages were caused by a plumbing leak or earth movement. The Court has carefully reviewed the policy provisions cited by the parties and, even if damages caused by a plumbing leak and earth movement were excluded from coverage, which the Court does not decide at this time, the Court cannot find as a matter of law that all damages alleged in the complaint are entirely excluded from coverage. Plaintiff has made factual allegations sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief that rises above a speculative level and the motion to dismiss is denied.