Mass. Appeals Court Declines to Overturn Bad Faith Verdict

BOSTON - A Massachusetts appellate court has affirmed a jury verdict imposing bad faith damages on both parties in a dispute over insurance coverage for environmental cleanup costs necessitated by an oil spill. Frank Corporation Environmental Services v. Hingham Mutual Fire Insurance Co., et al., No. 09 P 1498 (Mass. Ct. App.).

The Massachusetts Appeals Court on Nov. 16 did reduce prejudgment interest on the award to plaintiff Frank Corporation Environmental Services, ruling that the trial court should have based the award on the date of filing not 30 days after the bill was presented.

Frank Corp. was retained …