Trinity Universal Insurance Co. v. Bleeker

This ease concerns Ronnie Dale Bleeker’s claim for damages from Trinity Universal Insurance Company (Trinity) under the Stowers doctrine and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). Bleeker alleges that Trinity is liable because it did not settle third-party claims against him, thereby exposing him to a judgment in excess of his policy limits. Because we hold that the third party did not offer to release Bleeker fully, we reverse the court of appeals’ judgment on these two issues and render judgment that Bleeker take nothing.

I. Facts

Tragically, on July 14, 1990, Bleeker was drunk and chose…