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Stephen Barry and Trevor Smith Secure Defense Verdict in Homeowner Property Damage Trial

  • Barry, Rome & Scott
  • Mar 15, 2024
  • 1 min read

Updated: May 22

March 2024


Lake Charles, LA - Attorneys Stephen Barry and Trevor Smith successfully defended a homeowner’s property insurance case before a jury in Lake Charles involving claims related to Hurricanes Laura and Delta. The plaintiffs sought two policy limits, one for each hurricane, following extensive remodeling of the insured home.  The plaintiffs also sought bad faith damages.

 

At trial, the plaintiffs demanded damages under both policy limits, for each of the hurricanes.  The plaintiff’s claimed that the amount spent on repairs exceeded the policy limits.  They also alleged bad faith damages arising from the failure to pay the claim. The defense team challenged both the extent of the claimed damages and the assertion of bad faith.

 

Prior to the start of the trial, the defense team successfully obtained a dismissal of the bad faith claims.  The case then proceeded to trial on the damages claim.  After deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defense, awarding damages within a single policy limit—substantially below the amount demanded by plaintiffs at trial and below the amount that the plaintiffs claimed they spent to make the hurricane related repairs.

 

This outcome reflects the strength of the defense presentation and underscores the importance of thorough investigation and trial strategy in hurricane-related and other property insurance litigation.


Stephen Barry

 
 
 

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