Legal Opinion
Poston v. National Fidelity Life Insurance
Supreme Court of South Carolina
Decided November 26, 1990No. 23294PublishedCited by 17 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Chandler, Justice:
National Fidelity Life Insurance Company (Fidelity) appeals a jury verdict of $400,000 actual and $200,000 punitive damages in favor of Respondents (The Postons/Beneficiaries) for breach of contract and bad faith refusal to pay a life insurance policy.
We affirm the award of actual damages, and reverse the award of punitive damages.
FACTS
A detailed review of the facts is necessary to an understanding of the issues.
David A. Lowe (Lowe), an insurance agent, proposed to sell B. Stafford Poston (Poston), age 65, a $500,00 life insurance policy with Fidelity. Lowe sought to obtain…
2Cases cited11 opinions
- Collister v. Nationwide Life InsuranceSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1978
- Nichols v. State Farm Mutual Automobile InsuranceSupreme Court of South Carolina · 1983
- Smith v. Westland Life InsuranceCalifornia Supreme Court · 1975
- Toevs v. Western Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.Idaho Supreme Court · 1971
- Hyder v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.Supreme Court of South Carolina · 1937
6 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by17 opinions
- Crossley v. State Farm Mutual Automobile InsuranceSupreme Court of South Carolina · 1992
- Rickborn v. Liberty Life InsuranceSupreme Court of South Carolina · 1996
- Hansen Ex Rel. Hansen v. United Services Automobile Ass'nCourt of Appeals of South Carolina · 2002
- Episcopal Church v. Church InsuranceDistrict Court, D. South Carolina · 2014
- Goldston v. State Farm Mutual Automobile InsuranceCourt of Appeals of South Carolina · 2004
12 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.