Pistorius v. Prudential Insurance Co.

Opinion

REGAN, J.

Plaintiff brought this action upon a disability insurance policy for (a) declaratory relief to determine disability; (b) bad faith breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (c) unpaid disability benefits under the policy; (d) general damages; (e) punitive damages; and (f) attorney’s fees. The case was tried to a jury which brought in a special verdict that defendant handled plaintiff’s claim in an “unreasonable” manner and in “bad faith,” as a result of which plaintiff sustained compensatory damages in the amount of $45,000; and punitive damages were assessed…