Bad faith suits. Under a ruling in Washington State, insurance adjusters and SIU investigators could be personally sued for bad faith. (Photo: Shutterstock)

There is a new threat for insurers in Washington State if a state court ruling allowing policyholders to file bad faith lawsuits against insurance carrier employees is upheld by the state's highest court.

In an amicus brief filed with the state Supreme Court, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (the Coalition) says the ruling "will discourage insurers and their employees from thoroughly investigating suspect claims and sending referrals to law enforcement for prosecution."

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Patricia L. Harman

Patricia L. Harman is the editor-in-chief of Claims magazine, a contributing editor to PropertyCasualty360.com, and chairs the annual America's Claims Event (ACE), which focuses on providing claims professionals with cutting-edge education and networking opportunities. She covers auto, property & casualty, workers' compensation, fraud, risk and cybersecurity, and is a frequent speaker at insurance industry events. Contact her at [email protected]