Lazaris v. Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance

Wilkins, CJ.

It is an unfair settlement practice, and also an unfair or deceptive act or practice under G. L. c. 93A, § 9 (1), if an insurance company fails “to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear.” G. L. c. 176D, § 3 (9) (/). We are presented, for the first time, with the question whether an insurance company violates § 3 (9) (f) if it insists that a claimant against *503one of its insureds release all claims against its insured before it will pay a claim in which liability has become reasonably clear.1 We shall answer the…