Government Employees Insurance Company and Michael J. Lina Jr., Appellants and Cross-Appellees v. Sandra Gonzalez…

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the insured’s nominal- and punitive-damages awards, the prejudgment-interest accrual date, the denial of post-trial motions, and the determination that the insured was a prevailing party. The court held that an insurer’s belated payment of benefits does not eliminate bad-faith liability or preclude nominal or punitive damages, and that the punitive award satisfied due process. It reversed and remanded only the attorney’s-fees calculation for the adjuster because he failed to segregate fees attributable to his individual defense. No separate opinions were filed.