Nichols v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

Paul M. Moore, Acting Associate Justice:

This is a tort action for bad faith refusal to pay first party benefits under an insurance policy. The jury awarded Nichols (Respondent) ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars actual damages and ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars punitive damages. We affirm.

Resondent’s 1969 Chevrolet Corvette automobile was stolen from a parking lot. When the car was recovered it had sustained substantial damage to the exterior and to its high performance engine. The car was insured against theft loss through appellant State Farm (Insurer). Respondent filed claims for…