Florida law allows policyholders to pursue bad faith claims against the insurer when an insurance company refuses to honor its policy obligations. However, before filing such a lawsuit, the policyholder must submit a Civil Remedy Notice (CRN) outlining the alleged violations and allowing the insurer to correct its conduct. A recent appellate decision overturned a lower court’s ruling that dismissed a bad faith lawsuit against Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, finding that the insurer had waived any objections to the adequacy of the CRN.
Florida Court Reverses Dismissal of Bad Faith Claim
A Florida driver sustained injuries in a 2011 rear-end collision caused by another motorist with a $10,000 insurance policy through GEICO. The driver had underinsured motorist (UM) coverage with Travelers and sought additional compensation under that policy. Travelers refused to provide benefits, prompting the insured to file a CRN in 2012, a necessary step in pursuing a bad faith claim under Florida Statutes § 624.155.
Under Florida law, a policyholder must submit a detailed CRN to both the insurance company and the Department of Insurance before filing a bad faith lawsuit. The insurer then has 60 days to correct the issue or pay the claim, thereby avoiding litigation. After Travelers did not resolve the dispute, the insured filed suit in 2013, leading to years of litigation over the insurer’s handling of the claim.