Friedman | Rubin Scores $3.8 Million Insurance Victory for State’s Taxpayers
Seattle, WA
When the State of Washington had an insurance problem, its attorneys called Friedman | Rubin’s Richard Dykstra. The problem? The State was being sued for a particularly tragic highway crash. The State wanted to settle the lawsuit, but the State’s insurance company (James River Insurance) was denying coverage. Worse, the insurance company was trying to force the State into private, non-reviewable arbitration. Dykstra teamed up with Friedman Rubin’s Peter Mullenix and petitioned the case to the Washington Supreme Court, which unanimously agreed that insureds cannot be forced into arbitration of coverage disputes. Dykstra and Mullenix then requested the superior court judge to rule that the claim against the State was covered. Rather than see that ruling, the insurance company agreed to pay the State $3.8 million to settle the State’s claims. The money goes back to the taxpayers, where it can be used to increase highway safety. Richard Dykstra argued the appeal before the Washington Supreme Court, and the decision can be found here.