Insureds May Bring First-Party Bad Faith Suit Against Insurer, Panel Rules

(March 30, 2018, 11:18 AM EDT) -- DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Insureds were not required to first obtain a judgment in an underlying breach of contract suit against their homeowners insurance provider that determined the insurer’s liability and extent of damages before bringing their first-party insurance bad faith lawsuit against the insurer, a Florida appellate  panel ruled March 29 in reversing a trial court’s order and remanding (Thomas Demase, et al. v. State Farm Florida Insurance Co., No. 5D16-2390, Fla. App., 5th Dist., 2018 Fla. App. LEXIS 4335)....