Georgia’s Bad Faith Statute Does Not Preclude Fraud, RICO Claims, Federal Judge Says

Mealey's (October 5, 2017, 8:19 AM EDT) -- COLUMBUS, Ga. — Georgia’s bad faith statute does not preclude insureds from alleging claims for fraud and violations of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) because the fraud and RICO claims are not based on the insurer’s failure to pay a claim, a Georgia federal judge said Oct. 3 in refusing to dismiss the RICO and fraud claims (Holly Steigel, et al. v. USAA Casualty Insurance Co., et. al., No. 16-346, M.D. Ga., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163341)....