Insurance – Bad Faith, Claims Handling

Defense verdict in insurance bad-faith case. San Mateo County.

Plaintiff claimed that defendant breached the contract of insurance and breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing by failing to pay the amounts due under the policy of insurance arising from storm damage to his home.

Case Name: Julio Avina v. Pacific Specialty Insurance Company Inc.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Type of Case: 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