You can sue a bad adjuster in Washington state. The Court of Appeals made a new law that opens the door for bad faith lawsuits naming individual adjusters.
In the case that went to court, a motorist ran into the plaintiff’s truck but the defendant’s insurance company, Allstate, failed to offer the $25,000.00 policy limits.
Allstate failed to pay the claim despite the plaintiff family having a good police report. Allstate offered $1,600.00 then $5,000.00. Plaintiff Keodalah refused and went to trial.
The jury found plaintiff Keodalah was 100% innocent. Then Keodalah sued Allstate and the adjuster for bad faith. The Court of Appeals ruled against Allstate and the adjuster. Furthermore, they ruled that the innocent plaintiff can sue the adjuster for bad faith to settle the case, which was filled with open and obvious facts.
Keodalah vs. Allstate et al: Court of Appeal Washington State.
PRACTICE TIP
This case should serve as a warning to adjusters to give fair offers instead of thoughtless denials.
