ABERDEEN, Feb. 26 – An insured’s failure to cooperate in the investigation of the claimed theft of his Corvette entitled his insurer to judgment as a matter of law on coverage and bad faith claims, a Mississippi federal judge has ruled.
In Holt v. Victoria Fire & Casualty Company, Plaintiff Eddie Gray Holt claimed his 2008 Corvette was stolen from an Alabama parking lot where it was left overnight, and filed a theft claim with his insurer, Victoria. Because video surveillance of the parking lot did not show the presence or the theft of the car, Victoria sought Holt’s Examination Under Oath, and requested in writing that he bring to the examination documentation, including documentation regarding his finances, income, and expenses.
At his examination, Holt refused to produce the requested documents, and refused to answer certain questions. After Victoria denied his claim, he filed a breach of contract and bad faith suit, after which Victoria moved for summary judgment on grounds that Holt breached several contractual duties in the policy, most notably his contractual duty to cooperate in the investigation of any claim.
After reviewing not only the applicable policy language but Mississippi common law, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that Holt’s refusal to cooperate in the investigation voided the policy, and entered judgment for Victoria on breach of contract and bad faith claims.
Holt v. Victoria Fire & Casualty Co., (N.D. Miss., March 3, 2016)
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