Broad Evidence Rule: Meaning, Pros and Cons, Example

What Is the Broad Evidence Rule?

The broad evidence rule outlines the guidelines that insurers must go about in determining the value of lost, stolen, or damaged property. It does not specify any one method to value any one piece of property, only that the method which most accurately represents the true cash value of the property should be used. The broad evidence rule means that all facts and circumstances that bear on the value of property can be considered.

Understanding Broad Evidence Rule

The broad evidence rule is used by insurance companies to determine the dollar amount to be paid out to the insured in the event of a claim. As opposed to using the traditional actual cash value approach of replacement cost minus depreciation, the broad evidence rule can take into account many factors, including market value, original cost, replacement cost, age and condition of the property, location, frequency of use, durability of the item, assessed value, number of users in the household or business, offers to sell, offers to purchase, and rarity. Because of this, each actual cash value determination must be assessed on a claim-by-claim basis.

States use three different approaches to calculate actual cash value when a property policy fails to adequately define the term: the fair market value, replacement costs minus depreciation, and the broad evidence rule. By the mid-2010s, the broad evidence rule had been accepted in many states, including New York and New Jersey. It has become more commonplace in recent years, although some states like California specify that actual cash value equals market value.

Key Takeaways

  • The broad evidence rule, which is different from the actual cash value approach used by insurers, establishes a loose framework for valuing lost, stolen, or damaged property.
  • While it allows for inclusivity and flexibility, the broad evidence rule is criticized for lacking predictability and certainty because it is not a definite formula.
  • Not all states use the broad evidence rule in determining valuation of insured properties.

Pros and Cons of the Broad Evidence Rule

The broad evidence rule’s strength is its inclusiveness and flexibility. It has been praised for indemnifying an insured party through a fairer distribution of insurance proceeds than results from other approaches. This is because the insured is able to present evidence showing the inadequacy of the market value or replacement cost less depreciation approaches in certain cases.

Some criticisms of the broad evidence rule include that it lacks certainty or predictability because it is not a definite formula. When insurance is purchased, no calculations as to the value of the property is available. The rule, therefore, imposes an additional burden on insurers and court systems, since it requires more administrative complexity and time than the other approaches. Further criticism of the broad evidence rule is that insurers can take advantage of collateral issues to escape liability. Another complaint is that the consideration of an indefinite number of factors can lead to speculation and a clouding of the issue of actual loss.

Example of Broad Evidence Rule

The McAnarney v. Newark Fire Insurance Company case of 1919 is often credited as establishing a precedent for implementation of the broad evidence rule in the insurance industry.

In the case, McAnarney purchased an old brewery for $8,000 in 1919 and insured it with multiple insurance agencies for $60,000. The Newark Fire Insurance company was one of the insurers. The building was destroyed by fire in 1920 but insurance agencies refused to pay McAnarney the full insurance amount i.e., $60,000, and only credited him with $55,000.

He sued them in court but the lower court sided with the insurers because they had used the actual cash value method to arrive at their liability figure. The method took into account the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919, which implemented prohibition, and the fact that the building was not suitable for anything else besides brewing beer. McAnarney had also tried to sell the building for $8,000.

The New York Court of Appeals reversed the lower court's decision, observing that insurance agencies are liable for indemnifying the insured, "that is, save him harmless or put him in as good a condition, so far as practicable, as he would have been in if no fire had occurred." 

Article Sources
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  1. California Legislative Information. "Article 2: Measures of Indemnity." Accessed Dec. 12, 2020.

  2. Case Text. "McAnarney v. Newark Fire Ins. Co." Accessed Dec. 12, 2020.

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