SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Following a week long trial against State Farm Lloyds, the Mostyn Law Firm has landed a jury verdict totaling $260,000 in damages -- $165,000 of which has been allotted to attorney’s fees.

The trial focused on whether State Farm fully compensated plaintiff Dennis Webb after a pipe in his home burst and caused water damage.

Webb filed suit against State Farm on June 21, 2013, in Jefferson County District Court. Insurance adjusters Janice Warner, Steve Leal, Ernest Perez and Jeffery Jacks were also named as defendants.

The trial began May 11 and concluded Monday, May 18.

The jury found that State Farm failed to comply with Webb’s insurance policy; and engaged in deceptive trade practices by failing to settle his claim fairly and refusing to pay a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation, according to the charge of the court.

Jurors awarded Webb $95,000 in total damages, and also doled out $80,000 to the Mostyn Law Firm for representation in the trial court.

If the judgment is appealed, jurors tacked on $50,000. For representation in the Texas Supreme Court, jurors assigned an additional $35,000.

According to the original petition, on May 6, 2012, a plumbing pipe burst at Webb’s Beaumont home, causing significant water damage to his residence.

Webb then submitted a policy claim with State Farm, which in turn assigned the defendant adjusters to assess the damage.

The suit accuses State Farm of failing to properly oversee the work of the adjusters and ultimately approving an inadequate and unfair settlement.

The suit further accuses the defendants of conspiracy to commit fraud.

Court records show Webb filed a notice of partial non-suit without prejudice to all claims asserted against the adjusters.

Beaumont attorney Gregory Cox of the Mostyn Law firm represents Webb.

The Mostyn law firm has made hundreds of millions of dollars suing insurance providers in the state of Texas.

Judge Kent Walston, 58^th District Court, presided over the trial.

Case No. A194-468