Jury finds State Farm committed fraud against federal government
The Rigsbys smiled broadly at the verdict. Thomas and Pamela McIntosh, the home’s owners, sat in the front row of the courtroom behind the Rigsbys. Pamela McIntosh cried after Judge Sul Ozerden read the verdict.
State Farm is expected to file a motion asking Ozerden to overturn the verdict or, in the alternative, grant a new trial. State Farm also has a counter-claim pending against the Rigsbys over insurance company documents they took after growing suspicious of how the insurer was handling claims.
“Obviously, we are disappointed by the verdict,” attorney Bob Galloway told Ozerden as the attorneys and judge talked about post-trial motions. “We think it’s highly suspect and not supported by the evidence.”
After Ozerden dismissed court, Rigsby attorney August Matties said, “We had very strong facts and we’re happy about the verdict.”
State Farm timing suspect
The jury asked during deliberations whether they could consider State Farm’s claim false because flood policy limits were paid and the flood claim closed more than a month before State Farm sent an engineer to inspect the house.
Sun Herald
4/8/13
