Jury finds that Allstate Wrongfully Disregarded Its Insured’s Interests

Mr. O’Donnell recently successfully concluded an insurance “bad faith” case against Allstate Insurance Company. After a two-week trial, the jury found that Allstate had failed to disclose and pay Mr. O’Donnell’s client $100,000 in Underinsured Motorist Coverage that was available from a prior class action settlement. The jury not only awarded Mr. O’Donnell’s client the underlying $100,000, but also awarded an additional $300,000 for financial distress resulting the delayed payment of the claim. The jury further found that Allstate had acted with reckless disregard of its insured’s interests. In Alaska, a jury can only hear evidence of the defendant’s financial condition, and determine the amount of a punitive damage award, after first finding that the plaintiff is entitled to an award of punitive damages. In that situation, the jury reconvenes to hear evidence of the defendant’s financial condition. The case settled here for a confidential amount the morning that the punitive damage phase of the trial was to begin with plaintiff’s CPA expert witness about to testify that Allstate made $2.4 billion last year. Mr. O’Donnell has handled, and continues to handle, numerous insurance “bad faith” cases against Allstate. The attorneys at the Alaska Personal Injury Law Group, including Mr. O’Donnell, have extensive experience with claims against insurance companies for failing to fulfill the special fiduciary duties they owe their insureds.