Arkansas Circuit Court Judge Kirk Johnson TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Defendant State Farm Insurance Company has filed a motion to recuse Arkansas Circuit Court Judge Kirk Johnson from ongoing proceedings in a class action case that accuses insurance companies of conspiring "to create, execute, enforce, and maintain" an unjust overhead and profit scheme.
With the second anniversary of Hurricane Rita on Sept. 24, the statute of limitations has ended for most property owners to file a lawsuit against their insurance carrier regarding hurricane claims. Some policy holders may have additional time as specified in their individual policies.
When Hurricane Rita hit, Freddie and Zohreh Shahrodi owned 14 homes in the Beaumont area, most of which were in the West End. Once the couple assessed the damage to their properties, they submitted claims to their insurance companies, Texas Farmers Insurance and Fire Insurance Exchange, who "summarily denied at least a portion of the claims without an adequate investigation."
Groves resident Jimmie Smith filed a policy claim for property damage with Farmers Insurance Exchange following Hurricane Rita in 2005. He received a sum of money but now, nearly two years later, says it wasn't enough.
Beaumont couple Gary and Karen Kiefer maintain that their insurance policy covered windstorm damage. However, after Hurricane Rita hit, the couple says Farmers Insurance Exchange denied their policy claim.
Orange County Judge Pat Clark, 128th District Court, will entertain special setting requests for three different plaintiffs on Friday, July 20, possibly granting them trial dates.