Insurers are in the business of risk transfer, so they should know better than most the risk involved with attorneys performing the same business function as that of a typical insurance adjuster.
The Fifth DCA reversed a punitive damage award a jury returned to petitioner Brinda Coates against respondent R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. that exceeded the net compensatory damage award by a ratio of 106.7:1.
While nothing can replace the lives lost in this historic tragedy, there are valuable lessons to be learned across the construction industry to prevent future structural failures and loss of life in sea-side and coastal buildings across the country.