Major insurer is accused of penalizing claimants who dare hire attorneys.
Slowing in L.A. freeway traffic, he was hit from behind by an uninsured motorist. Not long ago, such minor-impact automobile wrecks would have been handled by lawyers whose key rainmaking technique was an ad in the TV listings and whose basic strategy was to settle for policy limits. But now, lawyers across the country are finding that Allstate is going to the wall no matter how small the case. Some plaintiffs' lawyers also say Allstate has decided, as a matter of corporate policy, to litigate fully every suit in which a claimant hires an attorney. Three state court judges, two of whom asked not to be identified.