State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Sharkey

Appellant, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (“State Farm”), appeals a final order denying its motion for attorney’s fees and costs. This case began with a car accident in which Appel-lee, Patricia Sharkey, was struck from behind. Sharkey sued the owner of the vehicle that had struck her and eventually settled for a sum in excess of $200,000. Alleging that her injuries exceeded this amount, Sharkey sued State Farm to recover under her Uninsured Motorist/Un-derinsured Motorist policy. Based on Sharkey’s prior settlement and its belief that its exposure to liability was minimal,…