Prevailing Against a Large Insurance Company

Insurance companies's refusal to provide alternative housing breached their contractual obligations, was in bad faith, and violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act and Insurance Fair Conduct Act.

We recently prevailed in a trial in the Western District of Washington regarding a claim against our client's home insurer, State Farm. Our client was the victim of a severe kitchen fire. Repair of their home was delayed for a year due to a gross underestimation of repair costs by State Farm’s adjuster. The same adjuster refused to provide temporary housing for our client, even though the home’s kitchen was unusable during the year between the fire and when repairs got underway. During that year, our client had to rely on a wet bar sink and a hot plate to prepare the family’s food.

After a bench trial, the court found that State Farm’s refusal to provide alternative housing breached their contractual obligations, was in bad faith, and violated Washington’s Consumer Protection Act and Insurance Fair Conduct Act. In addition to awarding our client the value of alternative housing, the court also ordered State Farm to pay attorneys' fees.