A commercial vehicle was involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in paralysis to a passenger. The commercial vehicle was insured under a Garage policy and a Commercial Umbrella policy, with a total amount of potential coverage of $3 million. In addressing the causation element of a bad faith claim under Florida law, the Court addressed the “excess judgment rule” and concluded a consent judgment is not an excess judgment for purposes of a bad faith claim and does not fall within the three exceptions to the general rule that an excess judgment is required.
One of Missouri’s statutes aimed at curbing abusive tactics used to “set up” extra-contractual claims in Missouri was construed as providing thirty days to intervene even when there was no pending lawsuit.