Hood, Scruggs will have to talk
State Farm Insurance Cos. says it will get a chance to depose Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and indicted trial lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs as a result of a federal court order entered Thursday.
Federal Magistrate Judge Michael Parker made the decision after a Wednesday status conference. Hood had asked Parker that a temporary restraining order preventing Hood from continuing his criminal investigation into State Farm’s practices after Hurricane Katrina be lifted.
State Farm has, in turn, sued Hood, claiming he already signed a non-prosecutorial agreement and is only pursuing criminal charges again to force the company to reach civil settlements with unhappy policyholders.
“This order reconvenes State Farm’s suit against Attorney General Hood,” spokesperson Phil Supple said. “Our lawsuit claims Hood, working in cooperation with Dickie Scruggs and others, has been harassing State Farm and its associates in an attempt to force us to settle lawsuits.
“We are looking forward to this opportunity to air the issues.”
Legal Newsline
1/25/8
Magnolia Tribune
