MAY 2016 BAD FAITH CASES: NO PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION UNDER NEW JERSEY’S INSURANCE TRADE PRACTICES ACT OR UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICE ACT (New Jersey Federal)

In GEICO v. Korn, the court addressed what it called a muddled claim that appeared to be for bad faith.  The claim referenced both New Jersey’s Insurance Trade Practices Act and Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, neither of which allow for a private cause of action. The insured also pleaded that the insured had “failed to act in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become perfectly clear.” The court dismissed the insureds’ claim without prejudice, and with leave to amend.

Date of Decision:  April 21, 2016

GEICO v. Korn, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53210 (D.N.J. Apr. 21, 2016) (Bumb, J.)