- September 22 2017
- | Firm News
Reimers, et al. v. Everest Indemnity Insurance Co. – $4.5 million verdict in class action bad faith insurance case
Plaintiff attorneys: Robert Maddox of Robert C. Maddox & Associates and Patrick Leverty of Leverty & Associates Law Chtd.
Link to video of the trial:
http://cvn.com/proceedings/elizabeth-reimers-et-al-v-everest-indemnity-insurance-co-trial-2015-02-02
Why it made the cut:
Getting a class action all the way to a jury trial is no small feat, but a class action that (almost) goes to a punitive damages phase is certainly enough to land this case arising from a bad faith insurance dispute on our Top 10 list. The class consisted of hundreds of homeowners who suffered flood damage after a levee collapse, which Everest denied coverage for under an earth movement exclusion.
The case settled on the eve of a punitive damages phase after the jury returned a $4.5 million compensatory award. Prior to the settlement being announced, plaintiffs’ attorney Bob Maddox told CVN his team would be pursuing a “substantial” punitive damages award but declined to comment on the potential amount.
Everest’s close call with a class action punitive damages award could have an impact on when other insurers similarly invoke earth movement exclusions to deny coverage.
With his master’s in insurance law, Patrick routinely helps individuals and businesses who are having issues with their insurance company. He also has extensive experience with personal injury actions, complex tort actions, product liability matters, and class actions. Patrick Leverty is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell (the highest rating) and has been granted membership in the Million Dollar Advocate Forum, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum. Patrick Leverty has been certified as a Personal Injury Specialist by the State Bar of Nevada. [ 
