Kern v. Progressive Northern Insurance Co.

GILBERTSON, Chief Justice..

[¶ 1.] Troy Kern was involved in a rear-end collision in 2005. The other driver was at fault but did not have sufficient insurance to cover Kern’s injuries. Kern thus filed an underinsured motorist claim with his insurance provider, Progressive. After months of unsuccessful negotiations, Kern sued Progressive for bad faith alleging that its settlement offers had been intentionally inadequate. He also sued for unpaid underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits. A jury subsequently awarded Kern $18,650 in UIM benefits but did not find that Progressive acted in bad faith.…