It's really starting to look grim for State Farm and other insurers that had expected the standard flood exclusion to protect them from hundreds of millions of dollars in Hurricane Katrina-related damages. What's worse, not only did the carrier lose on the merits of its argument, it's getting hammered by ticked-off jurors not shy about handing down stiff punitive damage awards. Indeed, the $2.5 million penalty levied by a Mississippi jury last week is anything but a slap on the wrist, and puts all insurers with similar claims on notice that it might be time to settle.

Meanwhile, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is feeling pretty pleased with himself these days. First, two federal judges rejected attempts to get his lawsuit against carriers challenging what he calls their “ambiguous” flood exclusions moved to federal courts. And then individual cases start coming down against the industry, strengthening his hand in ongoing settlement negotiations. (For the full story, click here.)

Mr. Hood, in a statement, noted the judge's finding that the insurance company did NOT meet its burden of proof to show that water caused the damage. Judge Senter held that they had no reasonable basis on which to deny the claim. Therefore the court gave a bad-faith jury instruction and the jury returned the maximum punitive damage verdict available.

He added that I hope the insurance companies will come to their senses and reach a settlement agreement. I will continue to work with them towards a speedy settlement.

And in case they still want to keep fighting and continue with their robber baron mentality, he warned, Mississippi Democratic Congressmen Gene Taylor and Bennie Thompson, as well as U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., would see to it that we have national insurance reform. Indeed, Sen. Lott has already sicked the Department of Homeland Security on the industry to investigate its Katrina claims-handling. And Rep. Taylor today called for a probe by the House Financial Services Committee (click here).

It's getting nasty, folks. The attorneys will be burning up billable hours this week trying to make this all go away at a reasonable cost.

The clock is ticking, with the next Mississippi suit due to come before the same judge on Jan. 22. (For details, click here.)

How did the industry get to this point? Is this civil justice run amok? Does the industry's standard flood exclusion have more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese? Or did insurers try to twist the exclusion to keep from paying legitimate claims? You tell me!

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