National Union Fire Insurance Co. v. Dominguez

in which PHILLIPS, Chief Justice, and HIGHTOWER, HECHT, CORNYN, ENOCH and SPECTOR, Justices, join.

This workers’ compensation case concerns an allegation by the worker that the compensation carrier breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing. Justo L. Dominguez, Jr. filed a compensation claim with the Industrial Accident Board for “repetitious, traumatic injury to his back and body as a whole.” The Board awarded him $6,559.48. He appealed to the district court. Before trial, Dominguez and the insurance carrier settled the suit for $28,000.00, and an agreed judgment was signed by the trial…