State Farm's Rejection of Mold Claims Was Not Bad Faith

GULFPORT, Miss. - A federal court has granted summary judgment motions by State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., accepting the carrier's arguments that a homeowner's policy precluded coverage for mold damage that occurred after a hurricane. Bostwick v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., No. 1:07CV942 (S.D. Miss.).

Senior Judge L.T. Senter Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on Oct. 7 granted separate motions for summary judgment by State Farm on the applicability of a mold and neglect exclusion, damage to contents and punitive damages.

Judge Senter David and Sheryl Bostwick conceded that the …