Richard A. Vazquez secures an insurer-favorable ruling

Contact: Richard A. Vazquez

SCM attorney Richard A. Vazquez recently secured an insurer-favorable ruling in State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Inevat, LLC, 2018 WL 2768661 (D. Utah Jun. 8, 2018). United State Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead, sitting by consent, dismissed as premature a bad faith claim filed against State Farm by the policyholder while State Farm was in the middle of defending the policyholder in the underlying liability lawsuit under a reservation of rights. Judge Pead also found that State Farm was not required to pay for Cumis-type independent counsel for the policyholder under Utah law, despite defending under a reservation of rights. The Court further ruled that State Farm had no duty to reimburse the policyholder for attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in contesting the declaratory judgment action.

Our insurance coverage and bad faith lawyers are ready to help.  For more information about the services SCM provides in this area, contact Richard A. Vazquez.