What Readers Should Know
- Florida’s Third DCA affirms trial court’s ruling against Progressive Express Insurance, spotlighting insurer obligations in complex, multi-party claims.
- Case leans on pivotal precedents—Harmon v. State Farm, Aldana v. Progressive, and Harvey v. GEICO—clarifying the duties and timelines insurers must follow to avoid bad faith.
- Industry experts say the ruling sends a fresh warning to insurers: delays and half-measures in global settlements won’t stand up in court.
By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald
MIAMI, FLORIDA — In a blow to insurance giant Progressive Express Insurance Company, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal has let stand a trial court’s rebuke of the carrier’s claims handling in a multi-party car crash case, fueling a new round of scrutiny over insurer conduct in the Sunshine State. The May 28, 2025, appellate decision not only upholds a lower court’s findings but also reinforces long-standing legal expectations for insurers navigating high-stakes, multi-claimant accidents.
The case, spearheaded by plaintiff Olivia Oney, drew a bright line around what the courts consider “reasonable and timely” behavior for insurers facing the pressure cooker of competing claims—all under the glare of Florida’s evolving bad faith jurisprudence.
