OCTOBER 2018 BAD FAITH CASES: INSURED CAN NEITHER PURSUE (1) PRIVATE CLAIMS UNDER UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT, NOR (2) UNDER PROPOSED INSURANCE FAIR CONDUCT ACT SINCE IT HAS NOT BECOME LAW (New Jersey Federal)

The insured attempted to bring a claim under Senate Bill 2144, the proposed Insurance Fair Conduct Act. However, this bill has never become law, and the court would not permit the insured to pursue such a claim. Nor could the insured pursue a claim under New Jersey’s Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act since this did not provide a private right of action.

Date of Decision: October 23, 2018

Bell v. Crown Life Ins. Co., United States District Court District of New Jersey Civil Action No. 3:16-cv-08006 BRM-DEA, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 181562 (D.N.J. Oct. 23, 2018) (Arpert, J.)