CENTRAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY v. KICKLIGHTER Et Al.

Peterson, Judge.

Leslie and Kathy Kicklighter’s house burned down. Central Mutual Insurance Company, with whom they had a homeowners’ insurance policy, paid them several hundred thousand dollars under the policy The Kicklighters contended they were owed still more; when Central Mutual did not pay, the Kicklighters sued them for bad faith. Central Mutual responded to the lawsuit by filing a motion to dismiss, but not an answer. So far, so good for the Kicklighters. But then the Kicklighters’ counsel obtained an ex parte default judgment against Central Mutual, and then intentionally withheld…