Girl pays insurance company to defend her own killer in court

[Arr MiHardies]

Not sure if you've heard about this yet. But...
Basically, a girl gets in a car accident and dies. The other party was at fault. The other party was underinsured, but their insurance did pay. The girls insurance was through progressive, and they weren't paying out the amount they should have unless they took the other party to civil court to prove it was not the girls fault. They didn't want to do this as they harbored no I'll will towards the other driver, but did it anyways. During that trial, Progressive provided defense for the defendant. They defended their own policy holders killer to avoid having to pay out what they were obligated to! Then lied about it! At which point official court records were dug up to prove it! Things like this make my blood boil... And it happens all the time! I know I'm still trying to get money out of my insurance company for an accident that occurred a year ago when I was stopped at a light and plowed into from behind by a drunk driver! Insurance companies are the scum of the earth., (no offense Bob)

http://www.mediaite.com/online/prog...al-is-a-textbook-example-of-a-pr-catastrophe/

http://mattfisher.tumblr.com/post/29338478278/my-sister-paid-progressive-insurance-to-defend-her

 

[Bob Denman]

None taken! :thumbup:
This isn't so much of an insurance deal, as it is a deal amongst the lawyers so that they can get as many of them to the trough as possible... :gaah:
And if we have any lawyers in here; well I'll apologize now! :shocked:

 

[Firefly]

I read up on this case too.. and it's not quite as cut and dry as it's being made out to be. Progressive didn't actually defend, or pay for the defense of the 'killer'.. but it does appear their was a breach of ethics pertaining to a lawyer previously under their employ offering some 'consulting' to the defendants legal team.

This situation isn't that odd. In many states (maybe most), you cannot sue the insurance company... you must sue the other party.. and then after you get a decision of guilt and an award amount.. the insurance companies step in and pay. I've unfortunately been through this before. The hardest part was the 'formula' they use to determine the $$$$$ worth of the deceased.....never fun trying to put a price tag on what a loved ones life was worth as no amount will be enough.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

I read up on this case too.. and it's not quite as cut and dry as it's being made out to be. Progressive didn't actually defend, or pay for the defense of the 'killer'.. but it does appear their was a breach of ethics pertaining to a lawyer previously under their employ offering some 'consulting' to the defendants legal team.

This situation isn't that odd. In many states (maybe most), you cannot sue the insurance company... you must sue the other party.. and then after you get a decision of guilt and an award amount.. the insurance companies step in and pay. I've unfortunately been through this before. The hardest part was the 'formula' they use to determine the $$$$$ worth of the deceased.....never fun trying to put a price tag on what a loved ones life was worth as no amount will be enough.

It is on court record that the defense was handled by a lawyer under employ by Progressive, who is also listed on the defenses side as an "interested party". If the girl made payments to progressive for her policy, she paid for the defense of the person who killed her, since that defense, as shown in the court record, was also representing Progressive.

 

[Firefly]

It is on court record that the defense was handled by a lawyer under employ by Progressive, who is also listed on the defenses side as an "interested party". If the girl made payments to progressive for her policy, she paid for the defense of the person who killed her, since that defense, as shown in the court record, was also representing Progressive.

I only see him listed as "Interested Party #1".

 

[prmurat]

Reminds me what happened to me... A Ducati kid missed a turn and smashed into me on my Norton... Story short: days of surgery for me, weeks of hospital, pain out of this world and a limp and a 1/2 functioning arm (i.e the RT now)... My lawyer took the short way and went for my under insured clause... My medical insurance, hearing of this settlement, asked me for a $180,000.00 check... Lawyer talked them down to
$5,000.00. Medical insurance??? Kaiser!!

 

[dancogan]

None taken! :thumbup:
This isn't so much of an insurance deal, as it is a deal amongst the lawyers so that they can get as many of them to the trough as possible... :gaah:
And if we have any lawyers in here; well I'll apologize now! :shocked:

The apology is a bit late, Bob. :lecturef_smilie:

p.s. Been an attorney for 38 years and darn proud of everything I've ever done.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

I only see him listed as "Interested Party #1".

Given they were questioning and cross examining witnesses, consulting with only the defendant in and out of the court. And giving opening and closing statements making the point of trying to place the blame on the deceased.... Definitely sounds like an attorney for the defense to me.

Also notice, under "Attorney(s) for the Related Persons" It lists "Moffet, Esq, Jeffrey R." from the "Law Offices of Progressive Casualty Insurance"

It comes down to word games on the part of Progressive as to the definition of "providing defense"

 

[Bob Denman]

Dan,
pps: I didn't mean to offend; but since I'm stuck on the insurance side of the fence, my view has been colored by what I've seen for here...
34 years of playing this game...

Are we good? :shocked:

 

[dancogan]

...Are we good? :shocked:

Yup. There are good and bad everywhere you look, in every profession. I've been fortunate in the attorneys I've worked with and for.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Especially with us insurance :cus: :roflblack:

 

[effgjamis]

WOW..... I am surprised that Lamont has not deleted that post.

Don't care what side of the fence you are on, I think the post is repulsive.

Well I guess Lamont removed the post while I was writing this one.

 

[Firefly]

Reminds me what happened to me... A Ducati kid missed a turn and smashed into me on my Norton... Story short: days of surgery for me, weeks of hospital, pain out of this world and a limp and a 1/2 functioning arm (i.e the RT now)... My lawyer took the short way and went for my under insured clause... My medical insurance, hearing of this settlement, asked me for a $180,000.00 check... Lawyer talked them down to
$5,000.00. Medical insurance??? Kaiser!!

This is one thing I love about our no-fault insurance in Michigan. Any injuries incurred during an accident (with the exception of a MC accident not involving another vehicle).. and your medical bills are automatically 100% covered.... for the rest of your life. Doesn't mess with your medical insurance at all...:thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

Did you know that Michigan tried adding motorcycles to that coverage? It almost bankrupted the entire ball of wax! :gaah:

 

[Firefly]

Did you know that Michigan tried adding motorcycles to that coverage? It almost bankrupted the entire ball of wax! :gaah:

Have not heard that.. and highly doubt it would since they won't release the numbers to the public. We have no idea how much the catastrophic claims pile of money currently amounts to. Motorcycle accidents can't even come close to the amount of money that car accidents cause... just by the sheer difference in the number of cars vs. motorcycles. They raise the rate every few years... I think it's around $160 a year.. per vehicle... and yes .... motorcycles have to pay. As long as your MC accident involves a car... you're covered. So if you're in the middle of a wreck with a deer... try and swerve into a car too....

My new health insurance plan... if I have a heart attack.... I'm running to my car and hitting a tree really quick.....:roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

I don't recall the exact timeframe... it might have been about fifteen years' ago..
I've got to admit that the plan for your ultimate send-off has merit! :thumbup: Let's hope that it's not for about fifty years though!
Me?? I'm getting shot by a jealous husband when I'm about ninety! :shocked: :roflblack:

 

[bruiser]

My daughter was hit head on by a drunk driver in Delaware and was very nearly killed. Uninsured motorist only paid the maximum $15,000.00 on her medical bills which amounted to nearly $200,000.00. She had to sign a no sue letter on top of that. She'll have problems walking for the rest of her life. I won't go into all the details of the entire accident and all that followed.

 

[arris]

Why I don't like lawyers

I guess Lamont deleted my last thread.
Now for my side of the story. I was involved in a head on collision with a women who had a sugar attack and her sugar was low but yet she kept driving. She jumped the medial strip on the bridge which was only a foot high at the time. I had a 3/4 ton truck and it was totaled after the accident. I was in the hospital for three weeks. In a time span of six months I had numerous surgerys. Carpal tunnel in both hands, a pinched ulner nerve in my left arm and a pinched nerve in my back. My chest was sore for over a month because the air bag never went off. The towing company recommened this lawyer and he came to the hospital to see me and sign with him. I explained about the air bag and he said that he would check it out. A few weeks after I came out of the hospital, I went and seen him. I asked him about the air bad abd he said they never checked itout and the truck was allready junked. Then he asked me to go to his friend who is a therapist. I went for nine months and then I said enough is enough. When we settled the case, his friend the therapist got more money that I did.
Now you can delete this one if you want

 

[Bob Denman]

Arris,
I can now understand your frustration with what happened. I'm also a diabetic, so the low Blood glucose level information really hits home... pps:
It's certainly too late now to change anything about your choice of lawyers, therapists or tow truck operators, so all that we can do is offer some condolences to you; knowing that it doesn't really help all that much. :gaah:
Your first post... I guess that it was worded a bit on the "colorful" side; that's what got it noticed! pps:
Truthfully; I was a bit disrepectful also. Dan called me on it and we cleared it up...

Anyway; Please continue to heal and recover! :thumbup:

 

[bruiser]

Just read where Progressive lost the case and has to pay $75,000.00 to the family. The attorney for the family is considering taking Progressive before the MD insurance commissioner for their part in the case.