Insurance Bad Faith (case law)

http://www.friedmanrubin.com/verdicts-settlement/insurance-bad-faith.php

Burns v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co. and UnumProvident Corp. – Confidential Settlement – U.S. District Court, Honolulu, Hawaii, May 2003. Disabled lawyer sued insurers for breach of contract and bad faith after his benefits were denied following disabling mental illness. Confidential settlement. FR’s Co-Counsel – John O’Neil, Wailuku Maui, Hawaii.

Merrick v. Paul Revere and UnumProvident (Unum Group) – $61,647,355 Verdict for bad faith denial of disability benefits – U.S. District Court, Las Vegas, Nevada, 12/13/2004 (compensatory award) and 6/26/08 (punitive damage award). Disabled venture capitalist sued insurer for denial of disability benefits and bad faith. Jury verdict of $1,147,355 in back benefits, $500,000 for emotional distress and $60 million in punitive damages. See our News page for further details. This award was # 7 in the Top Ten Jury Verdicts of 2008 FR’s Co-counsel – Julie Mersch, Las Vegas, NV and Mac Sasser, Charlotte, NC.

McKendry v. General American, Paul Revere – $17,300,000 Verdict for bad faith denial of disability benefits – Maricopa County Superior Court, Phoenix, Arizona. 6/1999. Man whose disability insurance benefits were terminated sued for bad faith. $350,000 compensatory damages, $17 million punitive damages. Confidential settlement pending retrial. FR’s Co-counsel – Steve Dawson, Phoenix, AZ.

Ace v. Aetna – $16,500,000 Verdict for bad faith denial of disability benefits – U.S. District Court, Juneau, Alaska. 5/1996. Woman whose disability insurance claim was denied sued for denial of benefits and bad faith. Jury verdict of $127,000 compensatory damages, $16.5 million punitive damages. Remitted post appeal. Case settled for confidential amount.

Fisher v. Aetna – $8,600,000 Verdict for bad faith denial of disability benefits – Anchorage Superior Court, Alaska, 7/9/1998. Man whose disability insurance claim was denied sued for denial of benefits and bad faith. Jury verdict of $292,000 compensatory damages, $8.4 million in punitive damages. Settled for a confidential amount.

Greenberg v. Paul Revere Life Ins., Co., et al. – $2,950,000 Verdict for bad faith denial of disability benefits – US District Court, Phoenix, Arizona, 1/2002. Disabled stockbroker sued for bad faith arising out of termination of benefits under own occupation disability insurance policy. $547,445.42 compensatory damages; $2.4 million punitive damages. Affirmed, 2004 WL 74630 (9th Cir. 2004). FR’s Co-counsel – Calvin C. Thur, Scottsdale, AZ.

Jakway v. UnumProvident and Paul Revere Life Ins. Co. – Confidential Settlement – U.S. District Court, C.D. California, January 2003. Disabled hospital administrator sued when disability insurer arbitrarily terminated benefits. Confidential Settlement. Co-counsel – Tom Curtis, Pasadena, CA.

Leak v. Unum Life Ins. Co. – Confidential Settlement – U.S. District Court, S.D. California, April 2004. Disable electrical worker injured in rock slide on Mt. Rainier sued when disability insurer arbitrarily terminated benefits. Confidential Settlement. FR’s Co-counsel – Howard Bennett Hellen, Vista, CA.

Prabucki v. UnumProvident – Confidential Settlement – Western District of Washington, 2001. Insured sued for bad faith arising out of termination of benefits under disability insurance policy. Confidential settlement.