Campbell v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.

INTRODUCTION

DURHAM, Justice:

¶ 1 On August 24,1989, plaintiffs Curtis B. and Inez Preece Campbell, sued State Farm *1141Mutual Automobile Insurance Company for damages arising from State Farm’s decision to try a third-party automobile accident case in which Mr. Campbell was the defendant, rather than accepting offers to settle for the policy limits of Mr. Campbell’s insurance policy. The jury found in plaintiffs’ favor, awarding them $911.25 in out-of-pocket costs, $2.6 million in compensatory damages, and $145 million in punitive damages. State Farm filed several post-verdict motions challenging…