William Hightower, et al. v. Washington National Insurance Company

Youngstown, Ohio insurance law lawyers represented the Plaintiffs who sued the Defendant on a bad faith breach of insurance contract theory.



Ohio is a bad faith breach of insurance contract law state. This means that insurance companies in Ohio have a duty to act in good faith when handling their customers' claims. If an insurance company fails to act in good faith, it may be liable for bad faith breach of contract.



There are a number of factors that can be considered when determining whether an insurance company has breached its duty of good faith. These factors include:



Whether the insurance company has denied or delayed a claim without good reason.

Whether the insurance company has failed to investigate a claim properly.

Whether the insurance company has offered a settlement that is not fair or reasonable.

Whether the insurance company has engaged in other deceptive or unfair practices.



If you believe that your insurance company has breached its duty of good faith, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the company. In a bad faith breach of contract lawsuit, you may be able to recover damages for your losses, including the amount of your insurance claim, plus interest and attorney's fees.



Here are some examples of bad faith breach of insurance contract cases in Ohio:



In the case of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Johnson, the Ohio Supreme Court held that an insurance company can be held liable for bad faith breach of contract if it denies a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation.

In the case of Cunningham v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., the Ohio Court of Appeals held that an insurance company can be held liable for bad faith breach of contract if it offers a settlement that is not fair or reasonable.

In the case of Froelich v. Erie Insurance Exchange, the Ohio Court of Appeals held that an insurance company can be held liable for bad faith breach of contract if it engages in other deceptive or unfair practices, such as delaying payment on a claim or failing to respond to a customer's inquiries.



If you have any questions about bad faith breach of insurance contract law in Ohio, you should consult with an attorney.

Joint Motion to Seal Transcript of August 14, 2023 Mediation Follow-Up Status Conference filed by Defendant Washington National Insurance Company. (Huffer, Steven) (Entered: 10/26/2023)