Oregon court strips insurer’s fee shield over one denied paragraph

The dispute started with a car crash. The policyholder was injured, settled with the driver who hit her, then turned to her own insurer, Farmers Insurance Company of Oregon, for underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits – the coverage that fills the gap when the at-fault driver’s policy is not enough. A jury found she had suffered about $350,000 in damages. The trial court signed a judgment on January 19, 2023.