The Mississippi Supreme Court denied USAA’s Motion for Rehearing last week in the landmark bad case involving USAA arising out of Hurricane Katrina. This has the effect of making the judgment and bad faith law final in Mississippi. I previously reported on this case in Hurricane Katrina Claim Leads to Significant Punitive Damages Award—Mississippi Recognizes Common Law Obligations of Good Faith, and USAA Slammed For $10 Million Bad Faith Award.
The ruling made news in Mississippi’s local media. MS Supreme Court Declines to Rehear Landmark USAA Katrina Insurance Case, noted:
A 2022 jury found that USAA refused to pay multiple legitimate claims for property damage loss caused by Hurricane Katrina. In the case, USAA illegally denied the claims for years, concealed engineering reports favorable to the homeowner, and delayed paying even those claims it acknowledged owing for years.
‘USAA’s conduct was egregious,’ stated attorney Jim Reeves, who prosecuted the case alongside attorney David Baria. ‘USAA took advantage of vulnerable homeowners who lost their home and had paid premiums for years and intentionally and repeatedly denied claims it knew were legitimate. . . .’
USAA could appeal any federal due process issues related to the punitive damage award to the United States Supreme Court. My prediction is that it will do so. I will keep readers abreast of those developments. If USAA does not do so, this will finally put an end to Hurricane Katina litigation.
Thought For The Day
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
—Thomas Edison
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