Ohio Farmers Insurance UM Coverage Class Action Settlement

Ohio Farmers Insurance policyholders have secured a $7.2 million settlement resolving a class action lawsuit alleging the company assessed unfair uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage charges.

Ohio residents who held a car insurance policy with Farmers or Mid-Century between Oct. 5, 1994 and Sept. 2, 1997, and who paid additional uninsured or underinsured motorists premiums are Class Members who may be eligible for cash from this settlement.

The Ohio Farmers Insurance class action lawsuit was initiated by William Bowen, an Ohio resident who said that he was assessed separate, multiple premiums by the company in violation of state law. The Farmers Insurance class action lawsuit was originally filed in 2009 and concerned insurance premiums paid between 1994 and 1997.

The plaintiff contended that the Ohio Supreme Court had found that uninsured/underinsured motorist, or UM/UIM, coverage follows the insured, not the vehicles. However, Farmers assessed separate UM/UIM premium charges based on the number of vehicles in the household.

According to the complaint, those who paid insurance premiums for multiple cars were assessed separately for UM/UIM coverage, when they should have only been charged once, under Ohio state law.

The class action lawsuit accused Farmers of Columbus of breach of contract, misrepresentation, and fraud. The plaintiff said that both Farmers of Columbus and Mid-Century Insurance companies were assessing these multiple charges.

Farmers and Mid-Century insist that the UM/UIM insurance premiums they assessed during this period were fair, reasonable, and appropriate. However, the companies have agreed to pay more than $7 million as a part of the Ohio Farmers Insurance class action settlement.

Class Members can expect to receive 150 percent of the total UM/UIM premiums they paid during the Class period.

To make a claim, Class Members must submit complete, sign, and mail a Claim Form to the settlement administrator by Oct. 14, 2019. The Claim Form is available on the settlement website and requires the addresses and Farmers or Mid-Century policy numbers that applied to the Class Member between Oct. 5, 1994 and Sept. 2, 1997.

Class Members who wish to object to or opt out of the Ohio Farmers Insurance class action settlement must do so by Oct. 14, 2019.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include “all policyholders of car insurance with Farmers or Mid-Century who: (1) between October 5, 1994 and September 2, 1997, and while they were residents of Ohio, paid more than one UM/UIM premium to have UM/UIM coverage in more than one car in a household; and (2) did not previously opt out of the class.”

Potential Award

Varies. Payments are based on the premiums paid during the Class period.

“Eligible Class Members will receive 150% of the total UM/UIM insurance premiums they paid for UM/UIM coverage in successive vehicles during the Class Period, which amounts shall be determined by a Settlement Administrator after a review of Farmers’ records.”

Proof of Purchase

Address during the Class period and policy numbers if available.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

10/14/2019

Case Name

William Bowen v. Farmers Insurance of Columbus, Inc., Case No. CV-09-688770, in the Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Final Hearing

11/13/2019

Settlement Website

BowenSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Bowen v. Farmers
c/o Rust Consulting Inc. – 6555
PO Box 88
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0088

Class Counsel: (877) 833-6370

Class Counsel

DWORKEN & BERSTEIN CO LPA

BONEZZI SWITZER MURPHY POLITO & HUPP CO LPA

Defense Counsel

DLA PIPER LLP (US)

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