Arizona Jury Trial for UIM Bad Faith Claim Concludes

An automobile collision led to an initial judgment of $38,000 for the plaintiff against the at-fault motorist. Subsequently, the plaintiff filed a claim for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) benefits with their insurer, the defendant, asserting the collision caused depression and that overall damages exceeded the primary judgment. The defendant refused to pay the UIM claim.

The plaintiff then initiated a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and bad faith, specifically citing the insurer's failure to perform an adequate investigation. The plaintiff contended that the accident directly caused their depression, while the defendant argued that the depression was either unrelated to the collision or had been exaggerated. Both parties presented testimony from medical experts specializing in psychiatry, neuropsychology, internal medicine, and physical rehabilitation. The plaintiff also called an insurance expert.

The case proceeded to a five-day jury trial in Arizona, where jurors deliberated for 1.5 hours. The record did not specify the jury's verdict or the final judgment in the case.