The insurance company only cares about defending you properly when they have plenty to lose.

After defending my dissertation recently, I suddenly found myself in the confines of a cubicle, working a 9-5 in order to live in the same place as my military husband.

I am a petite female which leads some to believe that I may not be able to defend myself in an unfortunate situation - forgive me as I was raised by a Police Officer - these thoughts are simply ingrained in me.

They may not have the resources to defend against your suit.

One time expenses I can 100% defend go there.

I'm not defending the agent, rather making an assumption of how this agent is handling it (poorly).

Secondly the defendant doesn't know you misplaced your signed lease and may bring theirs there for evidence. 

So you'll be fighting a war on two fronts, defending yourself from the plaintiff, and trying to get your insurer to pay.

If you have done everything correctly a lawsuit can be successfully defended, but there are legal fees involved. 

No judge here would overlook a complaint where the plaintiff says they owe $1000 and the defendant has proof that they owe only $500 because they made a partial payment.....that was accepted.