Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. Wins $36 Million Lawsuit Against State Farm

Jan 4, 2024

Advocating for the victims in this case ensured they received validation and compensation for their losses, publishes maierattorney.com

Albuquerque New Mexico - January 4, 2024 —

A New Mexico jury has awarded a local family $36 million in an auto accident and bad faith conduct lawsuit against State Farm Insurance Company. With Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. representing the plaintiffs, the jury found that State Farm had sold the victim in the case a $1 million insurance policy that was improperly changed to $25,000 after her auto accident. The jury also determined the company attempted to cover up the fact that the plaintiff had purchased $1 million in coverage prior to the accident.

On September 2, 2017, State Farm policyholder Andrea Lovato and her four-year-old nephew were involved in a serious accident on Highway 47 in Valencia County. A vehicle was traveling in Lovato's lane at twice the advised speed limit, resulting in a head-on collision. Lovato lost her life in the accident, and her nephew underwent emergency surgery to resolve abdominal injuries and internal bleeding.

State Farm initially refused to acknowledge the $1 million policy. Instead, they reduced their payout to the $25,000 limit Lovato maintained before upgrading her coverage. Though Lovato's mother later discovered the additional coverage, the company continued to refuse to honor it. They alleged that Lovato was fully at fault for the accident, negating the full $1 million payout.

On October 31, 2023, the jury for the case determined that Lovato was not wholly at fault for the accident. It also found that State Farm had committed bad faith, violated the Unfair Trade Practices Act, and breached the Unfair Insurance Practices Act. Lovato's family was awarded $12 million in damages for the auto accident and another $24 million in bad faith and breach of contract damages.

Attorneys Lauren Law Barela and Shane Maier of the Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. led the trial against State Farm Insurance Company. "The Gauthier & Maier Law Firm is proud to have represented the four-year-old boy who survived the accident and the family of the policyholder in this lawsuit," said Maier. "We're dedicated to advocating for people who've been victims of someone else's negligence. We're happy to have helped the family receive the validation and compensation they deserve."

About Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C.:

Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. is a New Mexico personal injury law firm based out of Albuquerque and Los Lunas. Both Gauthier and Maier are former insurance defense lawyers who are committed to providing clients with exceptional representation. The firm is also dedicated to offering extensive insight into how insurance companies handle claims to maximize the payouts their clients receive. They pride themselves in helping clients receive the justice they deserve. The firm handles auto, motorcycle, and semi-truck accidents; insurance bad faith; slip and falls; wrongful deaths; nursing home abuse; medical malpractice; police brutality; and abuse at school cases.

Contact Info:
Name: Shane Maier
Email: Send Email
Organization: Gauthier and Maier Law Firm, P.C.
Address: Albuquerque, NM, 87106
Phone: 505-226-3205
Website: https://www.maierattorney.com

Release ID: 89117889

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