Veterinary hospital sues its insurer in dispute over the definition of an 'animal'

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Animal Eye Consultants of Iowa (AECI), in Hiawatha, is suing Sentinel Insurance Co. for breach of contract and bad faith following an incident on November 7, 2024. The lawsuit claims that a deer crashed through the hospital's window, causing extensive damage to veterinary equipment and supplies. AECI's CEO, Dr. Sinisa Grozdanic, filed an insurance claim, but the insurer's adjuster allegedly lacked the expertise to assess the damages accurately. Sentinel later said that parts of AECI's claims were excluded under a supplemental policy, which stated: “We will not pay for loss or damage caused by or resulting from . . . insects, birds, rodents, or other animals.” AECI argues that this exclusion does not apply to large wild animals like deer. The dispute remains unresolved. Sentinel has not yet responded to the lawsuit, which was moved to federal court after being filed in Linn County.