CLEARWATER — A Dunedin property owner is suing a licensed insurer, alleging breach of an insurance policy.
Dalton R. Jones filed a complaint Nov. 27 in Pinellas County Circuit Court against Avatar Property and Casualty Insurance Company, alleging the insurer refused to pay the plaintiff's claim.
According to the complaint, during the policy period between July 13, 2016 and July 13, 2017, Jones' insured property at 1064 Glenwood Drive, Dunedin, suffered structural and physical damages due to a neighbor's sinkhole. Jones said he timely made a claim for the damage under the Avatar policy.
The plaintiff alleges Avatar Property and Casualty Insurance, despite being aware of sinkhole activity at a neighboring property, has refused to investigate the cause of the damage.
Jones seeks trial by jury, an order requiring Avatar Property to perform a geotechnical investigation to determine the presence or absence of a sinkhole loss, damages of more than $15,000, exclusive of interest, court costs and attorney fees. He is represented by attorney Morgan Barfield of Corless Barfield Trial Group in Tampa.
Pinellas County Circuit Court case number 187695CI