Insurance – Bad Faith, Claims Handling

Insurer delays payment after business loss; $5 million bad-faith verdict after $250K offer. Riverside County.

Defendant insurance company delays payment on a valid claim. Jury verdict for over $5 million.

Case Name: Palm Springs Pump v. Peerless Insurance Company, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, April 12, 2013
Type of Case: Insurance – Bad Faith, Claims Handling

UM excess-limits carrier refuses to pay wrongful death, then interpleads policy limits. $451,112 bad-faith judgment. Los Angeles County.

Family sues for bad faith when insurer refuses uninsured motorist claim for wrongful death; insurer further claims that Medicare lien had to first be satisfied, and so interpleads disputed policy limits.

Case Name: Diane Murray, Howard Murray and Celia Murray v. United States Liability Insurance Company
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, November 05, 2012
Type of Case: Insurance – Bad Faith, Claims Handling

$8 million verdict for insurance bad faith after elderly man’s home is destroyed by fire. Los Angeles County.

Insurance company delayed and low-balled payment for re-building of home after fire; also intervened in plaintiff's case against a separate defendant, attempting to recover more for itself at plaintiff's expense.

Case Name: Robert Christopher v. Residence Mutual Insurance Company
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, March 16, 2012
Type of Case: Insurance – Bad Faith, Claims Handling

Child hit by car after leaving ice cream truck; ice cream seller said negligent. $21.1 million verdict. Fresno County.

Ice cream truck vendor said contributorily negligent for girl's catastrophic injury; $1 million policy is opened up.

Case Name: Moua v. Vardayan, Akers
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Type of Case: Insurance – Bad Faith, Claims Handling, Vehicles - vs. Pedestrian