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A Texas judge who’s a State Farm Insurance customer has withdrawn from hearing the company’s fight against paying $350 million in alleged overcharges.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

Progressive’s New Snapshot Device Records Your Driving Habits

Progressive Texas Insurance has introduced a new program called ‘Snapshot’ to help drivers, who curb their driving habits, save money.

According to The Progressive insurance site the Snapshot device will be sent to the customer who must plug it into their car. This device will record information about your driving habits (i.e. miles driven, time of day and how many sudden stop you make). After 30 days of recording, the customer could earn a discount on insurance. Make note of the loophole term ‘could’

Rates for High Risk Drivers in Texas Falling; Coverage Minimums to Rise

Insurance rates for high-risk drivers insured through the Texas Auto Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA) will decrease overall by 7.6 percent from 2010 rates effective Jan. 1, 2011. According to TAIPA, Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin's order decreases overall rates for TIAPA personal auto insurance policies.

Also effective Jan. 1, the minimum amounts of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage required to establish financial responsibility in Texas will be: 30/60/25, or $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in an accident; $60,000 for bodily injury to or death to two or more persons in one accident; and $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property in an accident.

A Dallas court this week reversed sanctions against Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Co., saying the trial court lacked evidence when it made the original ruling.

The Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals this week retracted penalties from another court that charged the workers' compensation insurer fraudulently denied a claim. The judge said the lower court abused discretion and did not have evidence backing the charge...

Take the use of credit scores away from insurance companies, and the majority of Texans who pay their bills on time and take pride in having good credit scores see their insurance rates go up...