August 6, 2025 | Mark Luis Foster

One of our fine sponsors, SJJ Law, was recently involved in a decision that helped the Supreme Court of Minnesota find in favor of Minnesota homeowners on an insurance related matter.

The change that was made now requires that insurance providers pay for code-required repairs, even if the homeowner policy language indicates otherwise. So, if a contractor is unable to install new materials such as shingles without conducting additional work (e.g., sheathing) due to building code requirements, the insurer must cover the full scope of that work.

The case—Great Northwest Insurance Company v. Campbell, decided July 30, 2025—clarifies when insurance companies must pay for code-compliant repairs, even if the damage wasn’t directly caused by the storm.

According to a recent blog from SJJ Law:

Under Minnesota Statutes § 65A.10, homeowners with replacement cost insurance are entitled to repairs that meet “minimum code” requirements. That means if local or state building codes require a certain method of repair, your insurance must cover it—even if your policy seems to exclude it.

The Minnesota Supreme Court agreed. Because Campbell couldn’t replace his shingles without first installing the sheathing required by code, the court ruled that the insurer must cover the sheathing cost—even though the policy excluded it. The court explained that insurance contracts cannot override state law when it comes to code-compliant repairs.

Their full blog on this topic is HERE.