NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday against some of the largest U.S. insurance companies after Hurricane Katrina.
The antitrust lawsuit was filed by then-Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti, who accused Allstate Insurance Co., State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. and other insurance companies of conspiring to cheat policyholders after hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005.
He said the companies specifically manipulated prices on hurricane damage claims and manipulated damage estimates, among other things.
U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey of the Eastern District of Louisiana tossed out the case, which Louisiana Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell inherited from his predecessor and fellow Democrat.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.