D.C. Court Declines to Allow Bad Faith Claim Against Home Insurer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has affirmed decisions in favor of a home insurer after declining to allow a homeowner to pursue a tort claim of bad faith. Choharis v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., No. 06-CV-234 (D.C. Ct. App.).

The Court of Appeals' Dec. 18 opinion also affirmed decisions preventing plaintiff Peter Choharis from asserting punitive damage claim against State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. or amending his complaint to reassert tort claims.

Choharis filed a claim with State Farm after an April 17 flood from an upstairs radiator damaged the top two …