Bad Faith Claim in Windstorm Coverage Case May Proceed, Pa. Judge Rules

SCRANTON, Pa. — A federal judge in Pennsylvania has upheld allegations of bad faith against State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. in a claim for coverage of windstorm and rain damage that the insurer blamed on defects in the construction of the insured’s roof.

Judge Richard P. Conaboy of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said in a Feb. 14 opinion that State Farm’s interpretation of an engineer’s report that led to its decision to deny the claim provides a basis for the bad faith claim at this state in the litigation.

State Farm denied Suzann …