FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2016
Atlanta, Georgia
Attorneys Win Class Certification on Behalf of Tens of Thousands of Georgia Homeowners
A team of lawyers, including Richard Kopelman and Clint Sitton, of Kopelman Sitton Law Group, LLC (KSLG), were successful in convincing a Federal Judge that State Farm Fire & Casualty Company – the largest homeowners insurance company in the country – must pay its customers for an appraisal of their property to determine whether their homes lost market value after sustaining damage (e.g., water damage, fire damage, foundation damage, mold, etc.). Asked if he was surprised by the Court’s ruling, Mr. Sitton responded, “not at all, because an insurance company’s obligation to assess for diminished value has long been recognized in Georgia in the context of auto insurance, and it only makes sense to extend that requirement to homeowners insurance. Auto and home policies contain virtually identical language, and for most folks the purchase of a home is the single greatest investment they will ever make.”
The judge’s ruling could affect an estimated 70,000 State Farm policyholders, and may have even greater and more far-reaching implications according to KSLG’s Richard Kopelman. “Undoubtedly, this is a big win for State Farm policyholders, but the judge’s decision could impact tens, if not hundreds of thousands of additional Georgians who have their homeowners coverage with other companies like Allstate or Nationwide. By requiring insurers to assess for diminished value, Georgia homeowners now have the opportunity to receive the full benefit of the insurance policies they’ve paid for, even if their claims already have been paid and closed.”
KSLG has filed similar lawsuits against a number of other insurance companies, and continues to accept cases on behalf of Georgia homeowners who have suffered damage to their homes. Mr. Kopelman and Mr. Sitton can be reached at (404) 351-5900, or through the firm’s Web site: www.KopelmanSitton.com
Read more here: http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/330191-state-farm-home-insurance-class-action-lawsuit-wins-partial-cert/