Insurance Company Misconduct/Bad Faith

Imagine that a parent or grandparent takes out a life insurance policy, pays premiums for it for years, sticks the policy in a cabinet or drawer someplace, and the beneficiaries (children or grandchildren) never know the policy exists.

The law recognizes consumers' relationship with their insurance company as a special relationship.

We are often asked what obligations an insurance company has to its policy holders. An insurance company must treat you fairly.

When a policy holder makes a claim for personal injuries with an insurance company, the insurer may have a right to order an "independent" medical examination.

In many cases the answer is yes. Most, if not all, major insurers use a software program to assist with processing injury claims.

If you feel you have been wronged by an insurance company or its personnel, you can file a complaint with the State of Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI).

On June 14, 2011, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin issued a decision on Brethorst v. Allstate Property & Casualty Insurance Company. This case involved an allegation of bad faith on the part of the insurance company.

We are often asked by our clients whether they can punish the insurance company or take actions to make sure the insurance company will not engage in the same conduct toward others.

When it comes to insurance companies and your insurance policies, do you know your rights? In Wisconsin, the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act protects WI insurance policyholders from deceptive, unjust, or unreasonable insurance company actions.