Just one day after the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked him from intervening in a separate lawsuit, Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond’s office announced it has filed a new lawsuit against State Farm, alleging the company engaged in deceptive practices, fraudulent claim denials and a general screwing over of Oklahoma policyholders.
TLO Super Fan Barbe Hoberock has the details via Oklahoma Voice:
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Wednesday sued State Farm, alleging the insurance company fraudulently failed to properly pay homeowners for roof damage.
The lawsuit accuses State Farm of misrepresentations and deceptive practices in selling and renewing insurance policies. It alleges the company fraudulently denied or underpaid claims and engaged in racketeering since 2020.
“The allegations describe a corporate scheme that threatens the integrity of Oklahoma’s insurance market place and undermines public confidence in an industry families rely on when disaster strikes,” Drummond said.
State Farm did not respond to a request for comment as of publication Wednesday.
You know what? I’d like to officially give it up to Gentner on this one.
Usually, Republican politicians deal with insurance companies by rolling over and asking for belly rubs, so kudos to him for actually trying to hold them accountable – even if it does feel like he’s simply pandering to voters like me, you and everyone else who is sick of paying some of the highest home insurance rates in the country.
Seriously, we’ve been critical of Gentner Drummond on this site, but if he can figure out a way to lower insurance rates and stop insurance companies from price-gouging Oklahomans, I bet he can put himself a few steps closer to the governor’s office.
Then again, that assumes he can politically survive his fight against these companies.
Insurance companies aren’t exactly broke, powerless or shy about protecting their interests, and I’m sure their lobbyists, lawyers and campaign-check delivery guys are already figuring out how to punish him – or, at the very least, remind every other Republican politician in the state why they usually roll over and ask for belly rubs.
Anyway, we’ll continue to follow this story, see where it goes and determine what possible implications it has for the governor’s race over the next few months.
In the meantime…
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
