La. Federal Judge Denies Remand, Dismisses Hurricane Coverage Suits

NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge in Louisiana has dismissed a property owner's lawsuits over insurance coverage for hurricane damage, finding that in each case the suits are prescribed. Fields v. Markel Insurance Co., et al., Nos. 09-6815, 09-6819, 09-6823 to 09-6827 (E.D. La.).

That May 4 ruling came after Judge Stanwood R. Duval Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana cited the plaintiff's demand for damages, statutory penalties and fees in each case in denying remand despite plaintiff's stipulation that damages sought in each case were less than $75,000.

Fields filed seven lawsuits against …