On March 6, 2017, the Georgia Supreme Court answered certified questions regarding the application of Georgia’s Pre-Suit Offer statute concluding that O.C.G.A. § 9-11-67.1, the statute dealing with the formation of settlement agreements pursuant to pre-suit offers to settle tort claims arising from the use of a motor vehicle, does not prohibit a claimant from conditioning acceptance of a pre-suit offer upon the performance of an act, such as timely or prompt payment. Grange Mutual Casualty Co. v. Woodard, 797 S.E.2d 814 (2017). In doing so, the Court clarified that the statute sets forth the minimum requirements for pre-suit offers. Beyond those required terms, the Court explained, parties are free to add additional terms. This includes presenting a pre-suit offer…
Monthly Archives: May 2017
Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies Pre-Suit Offer Requirements
Posted in Bad Faith, Uncategorized
Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms There Is No Bad Faith Unless the Settlement Offer Fully Protects the Insured
Recently, the Eleventh Circuit, applying Georgia law, reaffirmed that an insurer cannot be liable for negligently failing to settle a case unless the settlement demand provides protection to the insured against all potential claims, even those which have not been asserted. Linthicum v. Mendakota Insurance Company, No. 16-16593 (11th Cir. May 3, 2017) arises from truly tragic circumstances. While driving intoxicated, Bobby James Hopkins, II, struck and killed the Linthicums’ 11 year old son. Hopkins fled the scene, and attempted to have his car repaired. The child lived a short time before dying. When the claim was reported, Mendakota Insurance Company (Insurer) noted that there was a “probable recovery” and set the reserves for the $25,000 policy limit of Hopkins’…
Florida Alert: Can a Liability Carrier be Sued for Bad Faith when Its Insured Was Not Exposed to Liability In Excess of the Policy Limits?
The Third District Court of Appeals finding recently held that in certain circumstances, a third party can maintain a bad faith claim against an insurer even if the insured is not exposed to liability in excess of the policy limits. The insurer, claiming that the decision is in direct contradiction to established Florida Supreme Court precedent and other precedential decisions, petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to review the decision. See Infinity Indemnity Insurance Company v. Delia Reyes, et al., Case No. SC17-659 (Florida, April 26, 2017). The bad faith lawsuit arose out of an auto accident case. Delia Reyes was involved in a car accident with Jorge Arroyo, Jr., who is now deceased. Reyes filed a personal injury lawsuit against…
Posted in Bad Faith
