Opinion ID: 802014
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Du’s 2006 Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Kim

Text: On June 17, 2005, Joon Hak Kim was involved in an accident when his car collided with another vehicle. All four occupants of the second vehicle — Appellant Yan Fang Du, Li Jie Wang, Wan Hai Feng, and Shuo Feng — sustained injuries. Kim’s insurance policy issued by Appellee Deerbrook had a liability limit of $100,000 for each individual claim, with an aggregate maximum of $300,000 for any one accident. Over the next several months Deerbrook corresponded with a number of lawyers who in succession represented Du. Deerbrook attempted to obtain medical documentation from Du and a statement from Kim but was not successful. Notwithstanding the lack of cooperation by Du and Kim in providing the documentation requested, Deerbrook eventually evaluated the claim file on February 15, 2006. Deerbrook was aware that there was a claim of serious injury by Du and accepted Kim’s liability. No settlement demands or offers were made until June 9, 2006, when Marc Katzman, Du’s lawyer, submitted a $300,000 global demand for all four plaintiffs. For the first time, Du documented her medical costs at $108,742.92. The demand also listed medical costs to Wan Hai Feng at $6,676.00, Shuo Feng at $13,274.00, and Li Jie Wang at $13,809.00. Anna Harcharik, Deerbrook’s adjuster, told Katzman there was insufficient information about Wan Hai Feng, Shuo Feng, 6580 DU v. ALLSTATE and Li Jie Wang and suggested settling Du’s claim separately. Katzman rejected the suggestion and indicated that Deerbrook had to pay the full $300,000 policy limit and settle all claims. In August 2006, Katzman rejected Deerbrook’s $100,000 settlement offer to Du as “too little too late.” On October 31, 2006, Du filed a personal injury lawsuit against Kim, and received a jury verdict of $4,126,714.46. Deerbrook paid the $100,000 available under Kim’s liability coverage to partially satisfy the judgment. Kim then assigned his bad faith claim to Du in exchange for a covenant not to execute.