What a Mess!—Insurer Has No Right to Jury Trial to Determine if Settlement Between Its Insured and Claimant Was Reasonable
Summary: After the insurer denied a settlement demand for the $2 million policy limits, the insured, a plumbing contractor, and the land owner plaintiff (“claimant”) reached a settlement agreement for approximately $3.75 million. The trial court judge determined that the settlement was reasonable. The insurer appealed arguing it had a right to a jury trial on the issues of reasonableness and that the reasonableness finding was supported by substantial evidence. The appeals court affirmed.