Independent Life & Acc. Ins. Co. v. Parker

The issue before the Court is whether the trial court erred in refusing to grant the defendant's motion for new trial on the ground that the verdict was against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence in a suit for bad faith refusal to pay an "insurance claim." The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded damages of $16,000. We reverse and remand.

In 1977, Parker was a "crop duster" airplane pilot. Because of the hazardous nature of his occupation, he wished to purchase a hospitalization insurance policy and a term life insurance policy. D.E. Turrentine, the local agent for…