Water Damage & Wired Lies

Sypnosis

A family filed a claim with their homeowner’s insurance, alleging that a water supply line to an upstairs toilet unexpectedly failed while they were away—working together at their family-owned restaurant. The resulting flood caused extensive damage to both the upstairs bathroom and the kitchen below, and the claim sought reimbursement for full renovations.

The insurance company denied the claim, prompting the family to file a lawsuit. We were retained to examine whether the reported timeline and absence from the home could be supported by call detail records.

Our Role

We analyzed call detail records from the mobile phones of the husband, wife, and their adult children to assess their locations and usage patterns at the time of the reported incident. Our goal was to determine if the devices were in use at or near the residence when the flooding occurred.

Technology Involved

Carrier-issued call detail records (CDRs)

Sector-level location analysis from historical tower usage

Voice and SMS activity pattern review

Device-to-device communication mapping

Key Findings

Records showed that both spouses were not at the restaurant together, as claimed. One spouse remained at or near the home during the time of the flooding.

The phone located at home was actively used throughout the critical time window, including calls and texts with the other spouse, who was verified to be at the restaurant.

The consistent activity contradicted sworn testimony and raised serious concerns about the timeline provided in the lawsuit.

Outcome

Our findings were presented during litigation and contributed to the defense’s successful challenge of the plaintiffs’ credibility. The jury decided the case in favor of the insurance company.