Britton v. Farmers Insurance Group

We determine principally in this case that an insurer must meet the standard of a lawful basis for refusal to decline payment of an insured’s claim for an insured’s loss; and that reliance by the insurer on inadmissible evidence of arson by the insured in declining payment of an insured’s loss does not meet the standard of a lawful basis for refusal of the insured’s claim.

Farmers Insurance Group (FIG) appeals a judgment granting Bill E. Britton compensatory damages of $214,748.54 and punitive damages of $400,000.00, following a jury verdict rendered in the District Court, Fourth Judicial…