State Farm Loses Katrina Claim Case

[AnglRdr]

Hopefully, this will help others who were insured but are being jerked around by their insurance companies over what is considered "flood damage," versus "water damage caused when hurricane-force winds blew in windows, which then allowed rain to pour into the building." Story found at the ChiTrib:

A jury awarded $2.5 million in punitive damages against State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. for a Mississippi couple for denying their Hurricane Katrina claim. The decision could benefit hundreds of other homeowners challenging insurers for refusing to cover billions of dollars in storm damage.

State Farm said it will likely appeal.

[snip]

Senter ruled Thursday morning that State Farm is liable for $223,292 in damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to the Broussards' home. Senter left the punitive damages to the jury.

I am a little concerned about the judge's reasoning behind the directed verdict for the plaintiffs (rather than letting the jury rule), and hope he was procedurally in the right.

[Nightfall]

The link is now pointing to a different story, namely one about the stock market. Do you have another link for it?

[AnglRdr]

See if this one works.

I think Google news' aggregator does some funkiness to links when you click through.