Verdicts & Settlements

Allstate’s $950,000 Blunder

Scranton, Pennsylvania - May 1, 2007 - Attorney Daniel W. Munley, a partner in the law firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, recently negotiated a $950,000.00 settlement on behalf of the family of a teenager killed in an automobile crash in 2001.

The defendant, who received his driver's license just weeks before, was driving his mother's Camaro at an excessive speed when he crossed double yellow lines to pass another vehicle and lost control of his automobile. The plaintiff's son was thrown from the vehicle and suffered a fatal wound.

The defendant's insurance company, Allstate, failed to pay its obvious driver's liability and delayed the case for a number of years. Attorney Munley offered Allstate numerous opportunities to act in good faith, essentially requiring them to pay out the policy limit of $25,000.00. After a time extension and several attempts to contact Allstate, the company continued to refuse all offers and forced litigation.

This whole series of events was truly a tragedy- not only did this family lose their son, but they were victimized all over again by the insurance company. People think that the insurance company is going to treat them fairly, many find out that's just not the way it works.

In 2003, a judge found that the case had been unreasonably delayed by Allstate, exposing them to additional damages. Finally, nearly six years after the tragic accident, all parties agreed on a $950,000.00 settlement, a payout of 38 times the policy limit.

No amount of money could make restitution for what happened that night, it is my only hope that this settlement will enable the family to pick up the pieces and start to rebuild their lives.