Judgment entered by Court enters Final Judgment for $1.78 million against Gallagher Bassett and AIG insurer
The 61st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, Judge Al Bennett presiding, on December 17, 2010, entered Final Judgment on the jury’s verdict for injured Continental international flight attendant Sue Ann Stinson for $1,785,729.60, plus additional attorneys’ fees and interest if appealed by Defendants Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. and AIG insurer The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania.
The Final Judgment was entered as a measurement of the consequences of the wrongful delay of on-the-job insurance benefits to Ms. Stinson by the insurer and Gallagher Bassett, its third party administrator (TPA). The jury also included $1,000,000 in additional damages in their verdict for Gallagher Bassett’s “knowingly” violation of the Texas Insurance Code in their delay and denials.
Not surprisingly, attorneys for Gallagher Bassett and the insurer promised to file still more motions to attempt to persuade the Court to disregard the unanimous verdict rendered November 22, 2010, by twelve Harris County citizens. While likely not the end of the long path of obstacles to justice thrown in Ms. Stinson’s path by the Defendants, it represents an important milestone.