A Colorado property owner is accusing Westfield Champion Insurance Co. of dragging its feet and dodging responsibility for more than $790,000 in storm-related hotel damage, sparking a federal court battle that reads like a showdown between a battered mountain lodge and an insurer allegedly determined to shut its doors to coverage.
Hotel Owner Says Insurer Ignored Clear Evidence of Damage
In a complaint initially filed in state court and removed to federal court Monday, Lazier Tivoli LLC, owner of the Tivoli Lodge in Vail, claims Westfield breached its policy obligations and operated in bad faith by failing to pay a penny for extensive roof and water damage caused by a brutal winter storm.
The suit alleges that despite receiving “satisfactory proof of damage,” Westfield either denied or stalled the claim, attributing the destruction to routine wear and tear—an explanation the plaintiff says crumbles under scrutiny.
Ice, Snow and a Failing Roof: The August 2023 Storm
According to the complaint, an August 2023 storm packed with heavy ice and snow compromised the hotel’s roof. The breach allowed water to seep into the property, triggering further destruction throughout the lodge.
A public adjuster’s June 2024 inspection estimated that repairing the roof and resulting damage would exceed $791,000, a figure Lazier says is well within the hotel’s policy limits—$38.9 million in building coverage and $1.7 million for business personal property.
