Lichte v. Government Employees Insurance Co.

On Application foe WRIT of ERROR to the Court of Appeals for the Eighth District of Texas

Gabriele L. Lichte alleges that the car she was driving was struck by a vehicle driven by Gary John Hayes, who she says was negligent, intoxicated and uninsured. Lichte sued her insurer, Government Employees Insurance Co. (GEICO), to recover under the uninsured motorist coverage of her policy. Lichte also joined Hayes as a defendant. Hayes was served but failed to answer, and Lichte obtained a default judgment against him for $100,000 actual damages and $400,000 punitive damages. The trial court severed…