Opinion ID: 1875795
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: employers mutual acted in good faith in filing a declaratory judgment and in making an immediate offer upon the court's decision.

Text: Employers Mutual next argues good faith in filing an action for a declaratory judgment in Federal Court and in making an immediate offer of $50,000.00 to the Tompkins upon receipt of an unfavorable decision. Although the timing of the declaratory judgment action, one day after the State's suit was filed, invites comment that it was to delay Tompkins' claim, we nevertheless hold the filing of the Federal action was an act in good faith because the doors of that court were open to the appellant for the presentation of its theory of the Uninsured Motorists Act. Although such was not accepted by the Federal Court we cannot state the filing was prompted in gross disregard of the claimants' rights. The jury being correctly instructed on this point we opine no prejudice resulted to the defendant from the suit.