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Article: State to review awards. (California Supreme Court's review of an insurance bad faith case)
- Article from:
- Business Insurance
- Article date:
- January 29, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Punitive award at issue in bad faith case
SAN FRANCISCO - California courts may receive some long-awaited guidance on punitive damages when the state Supreme Court reviews an insurance bad faith case.
The eventual decision in West American Insurance Co. vs. Freeman, which is not expected for another year or two, might also influence courts in other states.
In accepting the case for review, the California high court said it would focus on the $12 million punitive award made by a jury and later upheld on appeal. It is the largest punitive award to be upheld by a state appellate court in a published decision.
Previous high court rulings on punitive ...