State Farm Class Action Lawsuit Certification

Sacramento, Ca. – Hon. James P. Kleinberg, Chief Judge of the Complex Division of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, has granted Plaintiffs’ motion to certify a class of all State Farm homeowners and commercial policyholders in California.

The lawsuit contends that State Farm routinely and as a matter of policy undervalues personal property items covered through homeowners or business property policies after a loss due to fire, theft, or other damage.

Attorney Brooks Cutter of the Sacramento consumer class action firm, Cutter Law P.C., recently named Co-Lead Class Counsel along with Robert Buccola of Dreyer, Babich, Buccola, Wood & Campora, LLP in the class action suit, views the decision as an important step towards justice for the class members. “Clearly, we’re very happy about the opportunity to present the facts of this case, which we believe are extremely strong.

The judge granted Plaintiffs’ motion for class action in its entirety, rejected all of State Farm’s arguments against Plaintiffs’ claims, and denied each of State Farm’s motions to strike the expert pre-trial testimony.

Plaintiffs contend that State Farm systematically fails to account for actual physical condition of a covered item when determining monetary value after a loss, over- depreciating and undervaluing policyholder’s personal property. As a result, Plaintiffs contend, tens of thousands of policyholders have been shortchanged.

Further, Plaintiffs contend that State Farm’s adjusters and claims process failed to inform policyholders of their right to have physical condition taken into consideration.