Greedy Trial Lawyer
Delay, Deny And Underpay - Is This Any Way To Run An Insurance Company?
Category: The Latest Baddest
I am trying to picture the new ads that State Farm may be running after a recent verdict in Oklahoma. Should the company try something like, Hey, Hey, Hey - Delay, Deny and Underpay? Or, maybe, With Malice Toward All.
Jury penalizes State Farm over tornado claims
State Farm acted "intentionally and with malice" in handling the insurance claims of dozens of families whose homes were damaged in the May 3, 1999, tornado outbreak in south central Oklahoma, a Grady County jury decided.After five weeks of testimony, jurors awarded $12.9 million in damages to the lead plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit, comprising $3 million in actual damages and $9.9 million in punitive damages.
Donald L. Watkins Jr. and Bridget Watkins alleged in July 2001 the insurance company "engaged in a wrongful scheme to delay, deny or underpay claims" by engaging the services of Haag Engineering Co. to inspect brick and other structural damage to policyholders' homes, knowing Haag was predetermined to disagree with the policyholder as to the nature and extent of the covered losses.
The jury ruled that State Farm "recklessly disregarded" its duty to deal fairly and act in good faith with the Watkinses and that it "intentionally and with malice" breached its duties as the couple's insurance company.
The jury further found "clear and convincing evidence" that State Farm recklessly disregarded its duty to act fairly and in good faith with members of the class action by employing Haag Engineering and its independent adjusters from E.A. Renfro Co.
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