Employers Equitable Life Insurance v. Williams

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

This appeal involves the first party tort of bad faith committed by an insurance company against its insured. The jury found that the appellant, Employers Equitable Life Insurance Company, breached its contract by failing to pay benefits to appellee, J. C. Williams, in the amount of $2,050.00. The jury also found that appellant committed the first party tort of bad faith by declaring appellee’s health and accident policy had lapsed and could not be reinstated. The jury awarded $25,000 for compensatory damages and $75,000 for punitive damages. The two points of appeal…