Brasher trial lawyers secure $224,000 bad-faith insurance verdict for Hurricane Laura damage
BEAUMONT, Texas – So many people across Louisiana had to fight with unreasonable insurance companies since Hurricane Laura caused widespread property damage back in August of 2020, but one rural church – Sugartown United Pentecostal Church in Dry Creek, Louisiana – was able to get what was truly owed to them thanks to attorney Clint Brasher and The Brasher Law Firm.
The church was initially paid $4,138 for their storm-damage claim by their insurance provider, Church Mutual Insurance Company, despite the building having sustained more than $200,000 in damages from the hurricane. The church hired The Brasher Law Firm in the hopes of getting a fairer outcome in federal court. They got much more than they expected.
After a four-day trial that featured dueling testimony from experts in engineering, architecture, and insurance claims, the jury returned a verdict of nearly $224,000, in addition to what the church was previously paid. The jury also found the insurance company acted arbitrarily and capriciously in delivering such a low payment for the extent of the damage caused at the church, which meant an automatic 50 percent penalty. The final judgment of $502,172.16 has been entered by the Court which represents the jury’s verdict plus penalties under Louisiana law, attorney’s fees, and costs of going to court.
“We were able to get the client everything we asked for – a maximum verdict, a finding of bad faith, and a violation of Louisiana law,” said Mr. Brasher. “We didn’t leave a stone unturned getting them what they needed to build their church back. These are the kinds of cases we take personally.”
