Court Cites Ruttiger in Vacating $750,000 Jury Award for Bad Faith Actions

A Texas appeals court overturned a $750,000 jury award against Sentry Insurance, finding that a permanently disabled worker's bad faith claims were barred by the 2012 state Supreme Court decision in Ruttiger. The 11th District Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that Donald Bristow could not recover damages under the Texas Insurance Code or the common-law duty of good faith and fair dealing because the alleged misconduct occurred after sweeping changes to the state's work comp system took effect in 1991. Bristow worked for Nunn Manufacturing Co. in 1990 when he suffered injuries that...