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Texas Judge Withdraws From Texas Insurance Case Involivng State Farm Insurance

A Texas judge who’s a State Farm Insurance customer has withdrawn from hearing the company’s fight against paying $350 million in alleged overcharges.

The case has been reassigned to Judge Rhonda Hurley. No new hearing date has been set in Austin.

State Farm attorneys began making their case on Feb. 16 when Judge Lora Livingston announced that her home and auto policies are with the company. The Dallas Morning News reports attorneys on both sides looked at each other in disbelief.

The Department of Texas Insurance in 2003 ordered State Farm to cut Texas homeowners insurance rates and issue refunds. State Fair sued, saying its rates are fair.

In September, Judge Stephen Yelenosky, withdrew because he also had State Farm coverage. Livingston says she did not realize it was the same case that forced her colleague to withdraw.

Texas homeowners pay highest insurance premiums

Texas homeowners paid the highest Texas home insurance premiums in the country, according to data released by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Texans paid an average $1,460 a year for the most common homeowner policy sold nationwide, the association reported this week, based on data from 2008.