The case arose after plaintiffs took their damaged 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee to a facility participating in the insurer's "Blue Ribbon Repair Program." Photo: Shutterstock
A trial judge's decision to slam an insurance carrier with a $21 million bad-faith award was an assault on the industry and the state Superior Court was well within reason to toss the verdict, an attorney representing Nationwide argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the closely watched case, Berg v. Nationwide.
Dechert attorney Robert Heim told six judges of the Supreme Court during its Harrisburg session Thursday that Berks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Sprecher's decision awarding the plaintiffs $18 million in bad-faith damages and $3 million in attorney fees was completely divorced from the evidence in the record and showed clear bias.
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Max Mitchell
Max Mitchell is ALM's Regional Managing Editor for The Legal Intelligencer, New Jersey Law Journal, Delaware Business Court Insider and Delaware Law Weekly. Follow him on Twitter @MMitchellTLI. His email is [email protected].
