Law 360 reported that Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, won a four-day jury trial in federal court in Los Angeles that resulted in a $5.6 million victory for its client, DCD Partners, LLC. As reported, on September 13, 2017 an eight-person jury in United States District Court, for the Central District of California awarded plaintiffs more than $5.6 million against Transamerica Life Insurance Company (“Transamerica”).
DCD Partners sued Transamerica in 2015, alleging Transamerica improperly increased life insurance premiums by 50 percent in 2013 on more than 2,000 insureds – predominantly African-Americans from South Los Angeles, who were parishioners of the Praises of Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and other community churches. In 2004, the insureds became part of a charitable life insurance program which provided family members money for burial expenses, and funds for the community activities of the Personal Involvement Center, and other non-profit groups. The jury rendered a verdict for DCD Partners on its claims of breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
The Wall Street Journal Reports on Firm Case in Los Angeles, CA
The Wall Street Journal reported on one of the firm’s current cases in Los Angeles, CA. The article, “Life Insurer Faces Off Against African-American Church in Battle Over Rates,” dated September 1, 2017, focuses on issues relating to a life insurance program that benefits members of the South Los Angeles community. As reported in the WSJ, the case “sheds light on the once-hot use of ‘investor-owned’ life insurance for nonprofit fundraising.”