Lanier Law Firm wins $1.45 million insurance verdict

Lanier Law Firm recently won a $1.45 million insurance verdict in a case against a Texas insurance company.

The jury found the company guilty of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Texas Insurance Code by misrepresenting the validity of an insurance policy.

The verdict was issued on Nov. 14, 2011 after a five-day trial.

The money will be awarded to Hobbs Bonded Fibers, a manufacturer of specialty non-woven products, and could exceed $1.6 million with the addition of prejudgment interest and court costs.

Hobbs purchased an insurance policy in 2008 in order to protect various Texas properties. One of the properties, a warehouse in Mexia was burglarized in November 2008, with more than $850,000 in copper electrical components stolen.

After filing a policy claim for the robbery, Hobbs was informed the warehouse was not covered because it was unoccupied at the time of theft. The insurance company produced a policy application to prove its argument. However, the application contained mistakes and misrepresentations that caused the policy to become invalid.

During the trial, the Lanier Law Firm presented this application as evidence against the insurer, claiming the policy application was never approved by Hobbs and was instead signed by officials from the insurance company without Hobbs's knowledge.

The jury found the insurance company knowingly violated the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Texas Insurance Code. In compensation, the insurance company was ordered to pay Hobbs more than $888,000 in damages, $250,000 in statutory damages and more than $300,000 in attorney fees.

The Lanier Law Firm team consisted of lead trial counsel Lawrence Wilson and attorneys Felicia Hubert, Michael Holley, Kevin Parker and Robert Leone.

Lanier Law Firm is located at 6810 FM 1960 Road, in West Houston.