Read Your Insurance Policy Carefully: Insured Bound to Terms of Policy Despite Alleged Representations by Insurer’s Agent

In Laurent v. Johnson, 2017 IL App (3d) 160627, the Illinois Appellate Court held that an insured’s failure to read an insurance policy bars reliance on alleged representations inconsistent with the policy’s terms. Applying the “discrepancy rule,” the court rejected claims based on statements suggesting broader coverage where the policy clearly imposed a $100,000 limit, underscoring that policyholders bear a strict duty to read and understand their insurance contracts.