Shahrokhfar v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

Defendant State Farm Mutual (State Farm) appeals an award of damages to the plaintiff. Plaintiff cross-appeals a District Court ruling that reduced a punitive damage award by the percentage that the plaintiff was found to be contributorily negligent. We affirm the award of damages to the plaintiff and reverse the reduction of punitive damages.

A State Farm insured had an automobile accident with one Bah-ram Shahrokhfar, brother of the plaintiff. State Farm paid the property damage of its insured and then, through an exercise of subrogation rights, filed an action to collect damages from the…