Opinion ID: 146176
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Loss of Contents of the Home

Text: The Bradleys initially filed a loss of contents claim for $36,378, which included loss of jewelry, two flat-screen televisions, digital recording equipment, DVD equipment, VCRs, computers, leather jackets, and a mink coat. The claim relied upon the original purchase price of these items rather than their ACV as required under the policy.17 Mr. Bradley signed a “Personal Property Inventory Loss Form” for that amount on February 20, 2006. Mrs. Bradley testified that 17 The section of the policy, “What You Must Do After A Loss,” provides in part: (c) separate damaged from undamaged property. Give us a detailed list of the damaged, destroyed or stolen property, showing the quantity, cost, actual cash value and the actual loss claimed. (d) give us all accounting records, bills, invoices and other vouchers, or certified copies which we may reasonably request to examine and permit us to make copies. 24 Case: 09-30035 Document: 00511105306 Page: 25 Date Filed: 05/10/2010 No. 09-30035 they were unable to obtain verification for many of the items on the list. Allstate determined that only $14,877.39 worth of the claimed contents were recoverable without further documentation. After deducting for depreciation, Allstate paid the Bradleys $10,632.43, and requested additional documentation as to the remaining contents. During the discovery process, Allstate propounded the following interrogatory: Interrogatory No. 13 Provide an itemized statement of all damages sought against Allstate Insurance Company in this action of any kind or nature whatsoever, including, but not limited to, any and all compensatory damages, penalties and otherwise, and identify all documents relating thereto. With respect to their contents claim, the Bradleys answered “contents in the amount of $14,877.16.” The Bradleys never attempted to amend their answer pursuant to Rule 26(e), nor have they argued that this response was error. Based on the Bradleys’ failure to put forth any summary judgment evidence of the value of the specific items claimed and the answer to Interrogatory No. 13, the district court concluded that there was no genuine issue of material fact regarding uncompensated loss of contents, and granted summary judgment in Allstate’s favor on this issue. Allstate asserts that the district court correctly held that no material facts are in dispute regarding the Bradleys’ claim for uncompensated loss of contents. The Bradleys claim that the original, handwritten two-page loss of contents list totaling $36,878 establishes a genuine issue of material fact regarding their recovery under the homeowners policy. 25 Case: 09-30035 Document: 00511105306 Page: 26 Date Filed: 05/10/2010 No. 09-30035 Ordinarily, an affidavit in conjunction with a list of lost contents suffices to raise a genuine issue of material fact. Lambert, 568 F. Supp. 2d at 709. In response to Allstate’s motion for summary judgment, however, the Bradleys did not offer even an affidavit as to the value of their lost contents. The failure to advance any Rule 56(c) proof, together with the concession in their interrogatory response,18 demonstrates that no genuine issue of material fact exists as to the value of the lost contents. Therefore, the district court did not err in concluding that Allstate was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the claim for loss of contents.