Jury Verdicts & Settlements

Latest jury verdicts, settlements, and legal outcome analysis

Jury Sides With Insurer in $213M Post-Judgment Interest Fight

Federal Express Corporation sued three excess insurers — National Union, Great American, and Liberty Mutual — over their refusal to cover more than $213 million in pre-judgment and post-judgment interest that piled up during a seven-year appeal of a massive personal injury verdict in New Mexico. FedEx argued the insurers actively participated in and benefited from the appeals while interest compounded at 15% per year, then walked away from the bill. The jury found National Union did not breach its duty of good faith and fair dealing.

Breach of Contract

Jury Awards $110,000 in Law Firm Insurance Payment Dispute

A Miami-based law firm and its lead attorney, George Lambert, successfully sued National Union Fire Insurance Company after the insurer stopped paying for the legal defense of a high-profile corporate executive. Despite the insurer’s claim that the $5 million policy limit had been reached, a federal jury found that an implied contract existed and ordered the carrier to pay $110,000 in outstanding fees.

Breach of Contract

Hinds v. Citizens: $33K Verdict in Water Damage Dispute

In Herold Hinds and Jacqueline Hinds v. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, a Florida jury held the state-backed insurer liable for a plumbing failure at a Miramar residence. Despite the homeowners reporting the accidental water discharge nearly six months after the event, the jury determined that the delay did not prejudice the company's investigation. The verdict, delivered in January 2026, awarded the plaintiffs $33,557.45 in total damages, overcoming the insurer's defense that the repair estimates were excessive and the evidence was discarded prematurely.

Insurance Law

Ex-Adjuster Wins Big After Firm Withholds Commissions

What started as a commission dispute between a Connecticut public adjusting firm and its former adjuster ended with a Jury delivering a sweeping verdict in that adjuster's favor in January 2026. Juliana R. Castro claimed The Public's Adjuster, LLC owed her earned commissions and then spent months trying to destroy her career after letting her go. The firm, which had its own grievances — including allegations that Castro deleted its Facebook account and poached its clients — left the Courtroom with just $10. The verdict drew a sharp line between a company's right to protect its business and the obligations it owes the people who built it.

Consumer protection

Allstate Settlement: California Overcharge Class Action

Since at least January 2019, Allstate has been overcharging California policyholders by inflating the square footage of their homes in premium calculations. Specifically, the company allegedly included built-in garages in the 'Total Finished Living Area'—space typically meant for human occupancy—and then added it again to reach the 'Total Living Area'. This 'double-counting' method led to thousands of policyholders paying higher premiums than required by their actual home size. For the lead plaintiff, this resulted in her 1,154 square foot home being billed as 1,438 square feet.

Breach of Contract

$14.4M Jury Verdict for Property Damage

In a significant first-party insurance dispute, Carlex Glass America, LLC secured a $14.4 million jury verdict against Sompo America Insurance Company following a trial in the Middle District of Tennessee. The case stemmed from a tornado that struck the area surrounding a Carlex manufacturing facility, causing extensive damage to specialized float line equipment. While Carlex operated under a "Comprehensive All Risk" policy, Sompo denied full compensation, leading to claims for breach of contract and declaratory relief. The jury deliberated on whether Sompo had failed its obligations regarding both physical property damage and "time element" losses. Ultimately, the jurors found Sompo liable for the equipment damage but ruled in favor of the insurer regarding the business interruption claims, as Carlex did not sufficiently prove those specific financial losses were caused by the covered peril. The final judgment, entered on January 30, 2026, awarded Carlex the full $14.4 million for its property damage claims.

Contract

Jury Rejects Citizens Insurance Defense in $79K Storm Claim

In the matter of Brayan Yarini Villasante, et al. v. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, homeowners successfully challenged a claim denial involving their Pompano Beach property. The plaintiffs alleged that a windstorm on June 30, 2023, caused significant physical damage covered under their "all risk" policy. Despite an estimated repair cost of $79,343.00, Citizens Property Insurance refused to pay, citing several exclusions. The insurer's defense rested on the claim that the interior damage was the result of long-term wear and tear, age-related deterioration, and surface water seeping through foundation cracks rather than a storm-related opening. However, during the December 2025 trial, the jury found that the plaintiffs sufficiently proved the loss was caused by a windstorm. Crucially, the jury also ruled that the defendant failed to prove that flood or surface water was responsible for the interior damages, leading to a verdict in favor of the homeowners.

Breach of Contract

Barbara Corsale LLC v. Universal Property & Casualty Verdict

A Broward County jury ruled in favor of Barbara Corsale LLC in a breach of contract lawsuit against Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. The dispute arose from a June 2022 water damage incident at a Deerfield Beach condominium. While the insurer argued that the damage resulted from long-term seepage or faulty maintenance—both of which were excluded under the policy—the jury rejected these defenses. The verdict confirmed that the loss was a direct, covered event and that the homeowner had fully complied with all post-loss obligations. The Court ordered the insurer to pay the actual cash value of the damages, reinforcing homeowner protections against wrongful claim denials based on unsubstantiated policy exclusions.

Consumer protection

Savalli v. People’s Trust: Florida Bad Faith Jury Verdict

Following a 2017 plumbing failure in Coral Springs, Frank and Barbara Savalli entered an eight-year legal battle with People’s Trust Insurance Company. The conflict centered on the insurer’s "Option to Repair" clause, which the homeowners alleged was used as a tactic to "low-ball" restoration costs. In December 2025, a Broward County jury reached a unanimous verdict, finding that People’s Trust acted in bad faith, made purposeful misrepresentations, and failed to uphold its duty to restore the property to its pre-loss condition.