Opinion ID: 2054434
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Policy Limitations Provision Binding

Text: Since the Farm Family policy is unambiguous, we must decide if its terms are enforceable. One-year periods of limitations in insurance contracts have been upheld by this Court. In Ottendorfer v. Aetna Insurance Company, [11] we stated that [t]here is no doubt but that a one-year period of limitation[s] of suit contained in an insurance policy is reasonable and binding upon the insured. [12] The policy provision that was construed in Ottendorfer is not only similar to the limitations period at issue in this case, but is also similar to the policy time-limitation periods that have been upheld repeatedly by this Court in other subsequent cases. [13] Accordingly, the Superior Court properly held that the one-year limitations period in the Woodwards' Farm Family homeowner's insurance policy is valid and constitutes the controlling period of limitations for the timely filing of a complaint. [14] The alleged damage to the Woodwards' home occurred in early May 1998. The Woodwards' complaint was not filed until August 31, 2000. Therefore, the Woodwards failure to comply with the policy's one-year period of limitations bars their cause of action against Farm Family unless other legal reasons exist which prevent its application.