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Steven M. Maurice v. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company
Date: 02-11-2026
Case Number: 25-cv-01519
Judge: William J. Crain
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Orleans Parish)
Plaintiff's Attorney: James Vinturella
Defendant's Attorney: Gordon Guthrie, Delaney Norton
Description:
New Orleans, Louisiana, insurance law lawyer represented the Plaintiff who sued on a bad faith breach of contract theory.
The case was filed in the 24th JDC, Jefferson Parish, 862-277 F, and was removed to federal court by the Defendant.
Louisiana bad faith breach of insurance contract law penalizes insurers (under Revised Statutes §22:1892 and §22:1973) for failing to pay claims within statutory deadlines—typically 30 days—when that failure is "arbitrary, capricious, or without probable cause"
. Common violations include unreasonable claim denials, lowballing, or failing to properly investigate.
Key Aspects of Louisiana Bad Faith Law
Definition: Bad faith occurs when an insurer intentionally fails to fulfill its contractual obligations, violates duty of good faith, or acts with dishonesty.
Statutory Basis:
LA R.S. §22:1892 (formerly 22:658): Requires insurers to pay within 30 days of "satisfactory proof of loss." Violations can lead to a 50% penalty on the amount found due, plus attorney fees.
LA R.S. §22:1973 (formerly 22:1220): Addresses the insurer's general duty of good faith. It allows for damages up to two times the actual damages or $5,000, whichever is greater, for knowingly breaching this duty.
Common Bad Faith Behaviors:
Failing to initiate or conduct a prompt, thorough investigation.
Denying a claim without a valid, reasonable explanation.
Unreasonably misinterpreting policy language or definitions.
Delaying payments to pressure the insured into accepting a lower settlement.
Requiring unreasonably burdensome documentation for proof of loss.
New "Cure Period" for Catastrophic Loss: Recent changes (as of Oct 2024) require insureds to provide a 60-day "cure period notice" for claims involving catastrophic loss to immovable property before filing a lawsuit.
If found in bad faith, insurers may be liable for the initial claim amount, penalties (up to 50% or more depending on the statute used, and attorney fees.
The case was filed in the 24th JDC, Jefferson Parish, 862-277 F, and was removed to federal court by the Defendant.
Louisiana bad faith breach of insurance contract law penalizes insurers (under Revised Statutes §22:1892 and §22:1973) for failing to pay claims within statutory deadlines—typically 30 days—when that failure is "arbitrary, capricious, or without probable cause"
. Common violations include unreasonable claim denials, lowballing, or failing to properly investigate.
Key Aspects of Louisiana Bad Faith Law
Definition: Bad faith occurs when an insurer intentionally fails to fulfill its contractual obligations, violates duty of good faith, or acts with dishonesty.
Statutory Basis:
LA R.S. §22:1892 (formerly 22:658): Requires insurers to pay within 30 days of "satisfactory proof of loss." Violations can lead to a 50% penalty on the amount found due, plus attorney fees.
LA R.S. §22:1973 (formerly 22:1220): Addresses the insurer's general duty of good faith. It allows for damages up to two times the actual damages or $5,000, whichever is greater, for knowingly breaching this duty.
Common Bad Faith Behaviors:
Failing to initiate or conduct a prompt, thorough investigation.
Denying a claim without a valid, reasonable explanation.
Unreasonably misinterpreting policy language or definitions.
Delaying payments to pressure the insured into accepting a lower settlement.
Requiring unreasonably burdensome documentation for proof of loss.
New "Cure Period" for Catastrophic Loss: Recent changes (as of Oct 2024) require insureds to provide a 60-day "cure period notice" for claims involving catastrophic loss to immovable property before filing a lawsuit.
If found in bad faith, insurers may be liable for the initial claim amount, penalties (up to 50% or more depending on the statute used, and attorney fees.
Outcome:
Settled and dismissed.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of Steven M. Maurice v. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insura...?
The outcome was: Settled and dismissed.
Which court heard Steven M. Maurice v. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insura...?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Orleans Parish), LA. The presiding judge was William J. Crain.
Who were the attorneys in Steven M. Maurice v. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insura...?
Plaintiff's attorney: James Vinturella. Defendant's attorney: Gordon Guthrie, Delaney Norton.
When was Steven M. Maurice v. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insura... decided?
This case was decided on February 11, 2026.