Comments on: Deep pocket files: Highway 101 crash

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:30:31 +0000

Ack, “the paralyzed state trooper,” that should have been.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:29:46 +0000

The Parras’ lawyer, John Gerard of Los Angeles, said had White’s insurance company written a $14,999 check to the Parras family months ago the couple’s lawsuit would have been settled. White’s insurance coverage was a limited liability policy of $15,000. Instead, they “played games.”

Cranert had argued that this was a good faith offer on the part of the insurance company.

If the insurance company only offered $14,999 to settle with the paralyzed , at any point, “bad faith” is putting it mildly on these facts.

“Insulting,” “repulsive,” and “in such horrifically poor taste that it would get a man’s teeth punched out if he did it in a bar rather than in a legal proceeding” all come to mind.

This was an easy case.

By: Ron Miller

Ron Miller — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:51:30 +0000

I think this story has been corrected since this was published (see bottom of article). But I still don’t think it makes any sense.

By: Brat Magursky

Brat Magursky — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:20:34 +0000

Similar to a case in South georgia where a drunk plumber driving his ex wife’s car (when he wasnt on her policy) by himself collides head on with a couple just driving to a local restaurant. The wife wasn’t seriously injured but her husband was. Plumber’s ex had a $50,000.00 limit but his plumbing company had a policy with 1 million + coverage. A jury awarded 6 Million to husband. So the pltf atty knowing he can’t get that out of a drunk plumber has drunk plumber assign the judgment to his client & then sues insurance co for bad faith. Jury finds for insurance co but pltf appeals. Ga Supreme Court says verdict is reversed but case settles….http:\\askjims.chathamcounty.org (civil action # stcv0503367)

By: Harry Lime

Harry Lime — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:39:55 +0000

I’m not a fan of insurance bad faith law, but why the heck did the insurance company not offer to settle up to the policy limits, which was a measly $15,000? It sounds like a no-brainer as White killed one person and seriously injured another. His insurance company should have just agreed to pay the policy limits immediately and then they could wash their hands of this mess. I’m hoping this gets appealed and we get an appellate decision on the bad faith issue; the article was not very clear on the progression of events. Also, you would think that the driver would have some type of underinsured motorist coverage.

By: John Rohan

John Rohan — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:37:02 +0000

I am really confused how any legitimate insurance policy could have a limit of only $15,000.

By: PointOfLaw Forum

PointOfLaw Forum — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:15:53 +0000

Around the web, February 1…

Conservative and libertarian alternatives to originalism? [Kerr @ Volokh reposting Fed Soc panel] Manatt pays $25M to settle malicious prosecution suit. One place where liability should be expanded: more law firms should be sued for bringing bad lawsui…