AP: Judge Says Katrina Cases Can't Be Joined

[Eugene]

Associated Press
Judge Says Katrina Cases Can't Be Joined
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN , 09.08.2006, 09:41 PM

Homeowners suing insurance companies for denying their claims
after Hurricane Katrina must file their lawsuits individually,
a federal judge ruled.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Walker said that allowing hundreds
of policyholders to consolidate their cases against several major
insurers would amount to a "quasi class-action lawsuit but without
regard for the rigid requirements for class certification."

Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, whose firm is suing several insurers
on behalf of hundreds of policyholders, said his legal team is
weighing its options, including refiling the cases in state court.

-snip-

Thousands of lawsuits were filed in the wake of Katrina by angry
policyholders who said insurance companies offered them far too
little to cover their losses. Insurers say their standard policies
cover damage from wind but not from water, including storm surge.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/09/08/ap3004315.html

[Straight Shooter]

1. This is bad news.

Take a number and stand in line. Maybe in 10 years your case will be heard. x(

[HuffleClaw]

2. of course

and the government will stand by idly as it happens.

[uppityperson]

3. that is wrong. very wrong.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. There's a solution to this "impasse"

Hundreds of thousands of separate lawsuits against the insurance companies for every conceivable (i.e., non-frivolous) tort action to which they've exposed themselves.

Every one.

The insurance companies will suffer a major financial hit defending themselves from this -- dare I use the metaphor? -- this storm surge of lawsuits.

And then -- legislation!

--p!
Moral Hazard? I got yer 'Moral Hazard' right here!

[annabanana]

5. Do Insurance companies have to obey ANY laws that

they haven't already rewritten?