Cyrus Dugger

Katrina Victim: “When All Else Fails the People Have the Court System to Protect Them”

More success for Katrina victims after a day that was already a success as described in the next post below:

Jury awards $2.5 million in punitive damages By ANITA LEE

GULFPORT - A jury awarded Norman and Genevieve Broussard $2.5 million in punitive damages in their case against State Farm Fire and Casualty on Thursday afternoon.
The Broussards left the court arm-in-arm.
"It's a great day for South Mississippi," Norman Broussard said.
Today's ruling is considered a sweeping decision for policyholiders along the Coast but State Farm doesn't see it that way. (link)

......

Another policyholder with a major lawsuit pending against State Farm, attorney Judy Guice of Ocean Springs, broke down in tears at the judge's words.
"This is a great day," Guice said. "This is a great day for the people of the Mississippi Coast. When all else fails, the people have the court system to protect them." (link)

.......

Earlier in the day, U.S. District Court Judge L.T. Senter Jr. ordered State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. to pay policy limits to a Biloxi policyholder because the company failed to prove how much damage was caused by Hurricane Katrina's storm surge. Senter also denied State Farm's motion to dismiss the possibility of punitive damages against the company. Although attorneys for the Broussards were only able to establish that wind may have damaged the property and State Farm conceded there could have been wind damage to the roof, the Broussards will be able to argue State Farm should be punished for not meeting its obligation to fully investigate what was owed under the policy. The couple's State Farm policy included total coverage of $223,292 for a house, dwelling extension and contents. The Broussards also asked for $5 million in punitive damages. (link)

Cyrus Dugger: Author Bio | Other Posts
Posted at 4:24 PM, Jan 11, 2007 in
Permalink | Email to Friend | Comment on this post