Post-Koken Trial Order Out of Washington County on Evidentiary Issues--Plaintiff Precluded From Calling Claims Rep as Witness

In recent Orders issued by the Washington County Court of Commons Pleas of Cope v. State Farm, No. 2013-CV-2188 (C.P. Wash. Co. Oct. 21, 2015 Nalitz, J.), the court granted Defendant insurance company’s Motion In Limine and precluded the Plaintiff from offering any evidence at a Post-Koken trial related to the carrier’s evaluation of the claims, the carrier’s possible agreement to waive subrogation for the tortfeasor, any payment of benefits to the Plaintiff for any claims, including property and/or first party claims, and pertaining to settlement offers.  

The court also agreed to grant the Defendant carrier’s Motion In Limine regarding the scope of and/or preclusion of the testimony of a corporate designee for the Defendant and thereby precluding the Plaintiff from calling any representative of State Farm to testify at trial on claims handling activities.  

According to the information secured in this matter, this case involved a trial against State Farm as the UIM carrier.  There was no tortfeasor defendant involved in this trial.  

Anyone desiring a copy of these Orders may contact me at dancummins@comcast.net.