Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has reached a settlement of the state’s breach of contract suit against State Farm. The suit was filed after State Farm refused to comply with a January 2007 Hinds County Chancery Court settlement. As a result of the state’s suit against several insurance companies, State Farm paid an additional $74 million and Nationwide paid an additional $40 million to coastal policyholders, according to the Attorney General. Under the settlement with the Attorney General, State Farm will send out new notices to the remaining 148 slab- and/or pier-only policyholders, who have not yet sued, settled or already participated in the reevaluation process.

The settlement in the Hinds County Chancery Court required that State Farm establish an administrative procedure under a federal court’s approval to reevaluate policyholders’ claims in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. It also required State Farm to make new offers to its policyholders for no less than 50% of coverage limits to slab- or pier-only claims, subject to policy limits and prior payments.

Eligible policyholders who completed their reevaluation forms by August 29th were to receive an offer from State Farm. Those policyholders will have 21 days from the date the offer is mailed to accept the offer, or it will be deemed rejected by the policyholder. The policyholder will still have 30 days from the date of actual or deemed rejection to pursue legal action, if desired.

Source: Office of the Attorney General of Mississippi

Other Related Articles

• State Farm Settles Another Katrina Case In Mississippi
• The Shredding Of Records By State Farm Looks Bad
• State Farm Settles Katrina Cases
• More On State Farm and Katrina-Related Litigation
• Policyholders Settle State Farm Katrina Lawsuits