The renter and prospective owner of a Philadelphia Main Line estate destroyed by fire may move forward with her claim that the insurance company tried to keep from paying her the entire cost of rebuilding.

While U.S. District Judge William Yohn Jr. of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania dismissed the bulk of plaintiff Julie Charbonneau's claims against Chartis Property Casualty Co., he allowed Charbonneau's case to proceed on the single remaining claim of intentional interference.

According to Yohn's memorandum, Charbonneau, who was attempting to buy and rebuild the Villanova estate Bloomfield, alleged Chartis convinced former owner Jerald Batoff to settle his insurance claim for less than the full coverage amount without Charbonneau's consent—Charbonneau's lease/option agreement stipulated that she approve any insurance settlements. Prior litigation between Charbonneau and Batoff resulted in Charbonneau being paid $11 million of the $18.5 million Chartis agreed to pay Batoff for the fire damage.