Our insured suffered a loss to the roof of his rented dwelling when a raccoon burrowed a hole in the roof. The insurance company has denied the claim, citing the exclusion of “vermin” in the all risks dwelling form.

Vermin is defined by the Webster's Unabridged Dictionary as: 1) any of a number of small animals with filthy, destructive, troublesome habits as flies, lice, bedbugs, mice, rats, and weasels; 2) any bird or animal that kills game; 3)(a) a person who is vile, worthless, or objectionable; (b) such persons collectively.

It is our position that this description does not include a raccoon.

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