In what sounds like the set up for and episode CSI: Miami or some other show of that ilk (hell it probably has been) a Florida woman, Judy Rodrigo, is dealing with a very messy neighbor. It isn’t a case of a pack rat that has gotten out of control or someone with 100’s of cats. No, this is a case of an explosion in one apartment causing extensive damage in another. The catch here is the explosion was actually the body of the other neighbor.
As the story goes, an elderly neighbor passed away and went undetected for 2 weeks. During this time, gasses inside her body began to build, so much so that the abdomen burst, releasing gasses and fluids that ultimately leaked into the unit below hers which belongs to Judy.
It turns out that cleaning up the goopy remains of people that have soaked into the floors and ceilings of buildings is not easy or cheap. Rodgiro wanted the full clean up to be covered under her personal property damage policy, but her insurer (State Farm) would only grant partial recompensation. The reason that the full claim was denied: the buildup and subsequent release of gas and fluid from the body were not “tantamount to an explosion” and thus not covered by her policy.
They always get you with the fine print. I am going to now go check and make sure I am covered for spontaneous combustions.
Source: Broward/Palm Beach New Times