A Northern District of Alabama judge recently asked federal prosecutors to charge Mississippi plaintiff’s attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs with criminal contempt.  It is alleged that Scruggs violated a preliminary injunction issued in December 2006, which ordered him to turn over all documents secretly copied by two whistleblowers, Corgi Rigsby Moran and Kerri Rigsby. 

…
Read More Scruggs In the News – Criminal Contempt Charges and Filing of a RICO Civil Action against State Farm

Princeton Insurance Company recently agreed to pay $20 million to settle a bad faith claim related to a dram shop lawsuit brought against their insured.  In the underlying lawsuit, a highway construction flagman sued Princeton’s insured, a tavern, after he was struck by a car driven by the tavern’s patron. 

…
Read More Princeton to Pay $20 Million to Settle Bad Faith Claim

Investment fund managers may be forced to pay higher tax rates on income from their investment funds if a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on Friday, June 22, 2007 becomes law. 

…
Read More Congress Begins Move Against General Partners’ Carried Interests

After the first two weeks of the Brocade trial that may last up to two months, the sole development of note remains the potentially damaging testimony of a former human resources employee that  Brocade exec Greg Reyes told her that “it’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.” 

…
Read More The Brocade Trial: The First Two Weeks

In January 2007, the Florida Legislature froze the rates of Florida’s state sponsored property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, until the end of the year.  On June 26, 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed a bill extending the rate freeze until January 1, 2009. 

…
Read More Florida Governor Charlie Crist extends Citizens Property Insurance Rate Freeze

We are following a unique case pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, where Universal Health Care Insurance Company (UHCIC) has attempted to remove to federal court the receivership proceedings commenced in Florida state court by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS).  The DFS has moved to remand the matter to state court, briefs have been filed, and the matter awaits a ruling from the court. 

…
Read More Florida Insurer’s Removal of Receivership Proceeding to Federal Court Under Review

On June 11, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a civil action again State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. in the Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, alleging breach of contract, bad faith breach of contract, and breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing.  The suit arises out of State Farm’s alleged failure to honor an agreement for a mass settlement of claims arising out of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. 

…
Read More Mississippi Attorney General Sues State Farm Again

Both houses of the New York State legislature passed a bill proposing to reverse the longstanding New York rule that an insurer need not establish prejudice in order to disclaim coverage based upon late notice. 

…
Read More Pending Legislation May Change New York Law of No-Prejudice