Great Lakes Insurance SE Bad Faith Claims in Florida

Florida homeowners who purchase coverage through Great Lakes Insurance SE expect their insurer to handle claims fairly and in good faith. When Great Lakes denies a legitimate property damage claim, delays payment without justification, or offers a settlement far below the actual loss, the company may be engaging in insurance bad faith under Florida law. Understanding your rights and the legal remedies available can make the difference between recovering nothing and receiving full compensation for your losses.

What Is Insurance Bad Faith Under Florida Law?

Florida Statute § 624.155 establishes the legal framework for bad faith insurance claims against first-party insurers like Great Lakes Insurance SE. Under this statute, an insurer acts in bad faith when it fails to attempt in good faith to settle claims when it could and should have done so, or when it fails to promptly investigate and pay valid claims.

Bad faith is distinct from a simple coverage dispute. A coverage dispute arises when there is a legitimate disagreement about whether a loss is covered under the policy. Bad faith occurs when the insurer knows a claim is valid but still refuses to pay, stalls the process unreasonably, or engages in deceptive practices designed to minimize its payout.

Common examples of bad faith conduct by Great Lakes Insurance SE include:

• Denying a claim without conducting a proper investigation
• Misrepresenting policy provisions to discourage a claim
• Failing to acknowledge or respond to communications within a reasonable time
• Offering a settlement amount that the insurer knows is inadequate
• Requiring burdensome documentation not required under the policy
• Ignoring evidence submitted by the policyholder or their public adjuster

Florida's Civil Remedy Notice Requirement

Before filing a bad faith lawsuit against Great Lakes Insurance SE, Florida law requires policyholders to submit a Civil Remedy Notice (CRN) to the Florida Department of Financial Services. This notice formally identifies the specific violations committed by the insurer and gives Great Lakes 60 days to cure the alleged bad faith conduct.

The CRN process is procedurally critical. Filing it incorrectly or omitting required information can forfeit your right to pursue a bad faith claim entirely. The notice must identify the specific statutory violations, the factual basis for each violation, and the amount needed to resolve the dispute. An attorney experienced in Florida insurance law can ensure the CRN is properly drafted and filed to preserve your legal rights.

If Great Lakes Insurance SE fails to cure the violation within the 60-day window — meaning it does not pay the claim, correct its conduct, or otherwise resolve the dispute — the policyholder may then file a civil bad faith lawsuit in Florida state court.

Damages Available in a Bad Faith Lawsuit

A successful bad faith claim against Great Lakes Insurance SE can yield damages that far exceed the original policy limits. This is one of the most significant remedies available to Florida policyholders. Under Florida § 624.155, recoverable damages include:

• The full value of the underlying claim, including any amount that exceeds policy limits in certain circumstances
• Consequential damages caused by the insurer's delay or denial, such as additional repair costs, temporary housing expenses, or property deterioration
• Attorney's fees and court costs, which Florida law allows policyholders to recover against insurers who act in bad faith
• Punitive damages in cases involving particularly egregious or deliberate misconduct

The availability of extracontractual damages is a powerful tool. Great Lakes Insurance SE, like other surplus lines carriers operating in Florida, is not exempt from these provisions simply because it is a foreign insurer domiciled in Germany. Florida courts have consistently applied bad faith statutes to surplus lines insurers operating within the state.

Steps to Take After a Claim Denial or Underpayment

If Great Lakes Insurance SE has denied your property damage claim or offered an unreasonably low settlement, acting quickly and strategically is essential. The following steps can strengthen your position:

• Request a written explanation of the denial, including the specific policy language the insurer is relying upon
• Document everything — keep copies of all correspondence, emails, inspection reports, adjuster notes, and settlement offers
• Hire a licensed public adjuster to conduct an independent assessment of your property damage and provide a counter-estimate
• Preserve the damage to the extent possible; make only emergency repairs and photograph all damage thoroughly before full remediation
• Review your policy carefully for deadlines such as the Examination Under Oath provision, proof of loss requirements, and suit limitation clauses
• Consult an attorney before signing any releases or accepting any payment described as "full and final settlement"

Florida's statute of limitations for first-party property insurance claims is five years from the date of loss under recent legislative changes. However, internal policy deadlines and proof of loss requirements often impose much shorter windows. Missing these internal deadlines can be used by Great Lakes as grounds for denying or limiting payment, making prompt action critical.

Why Great Lakes Insurance SE Claims Are Particularly Complex

Great Lakes Insurance SE is a surplus lines insurer, meaning it operates outside the standard admitted market regulated directly by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Surplus lines carriers are permitted to write coverage on risks that admitted carriers decline, and their policy forms are not subject to the same pre-approval requirements. This flexibility often means Great Lakes policies contain non-standard exclusions, higher deductibles — including separate hurricane or wind deductibles — and claims-handling procedures that differ from what homeowners typically expect.

Additionally, because Great Lakes is domiciled in Germany and operates as a European insurer, its adjusters and internal claims protocols may reflect practices inconsistent with Florida law. Policyholders sometimes encounter adjusters who are unfamiliar with Florida-specific requirements or who apply claims standards that would be permissible in other jurisdictions but violate Florida's insurance code.

An attorney familiar with surplus lines insurance disputes in Florida understands these nuances and can identify when Great Lakes Insurance SE's conduct crosses the line from legitimate claims handling into actionable bad faith. This includes scrutinizing internal claim notes, adjuster instructions, and communication logs — materials obtainable through the discovery process in litigation.

Florida homeowners do not have to accept a denial or lowball offer as the final word. The law provides meaningful remedies, but exercising those rights requires a clear understanding of the procedural requirements and the strength to challenge a sophisticated insurer.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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