Miss. AG Claims Companies Using ‘Delay Tactics’

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has issued a statement claiming that Allstate and State Farm are causing more delay in having the state’s Katrina-related lawsuit against them heard.

Allstate and State Farm are asking a federal judge to reconsider his decision to have the case heard in state court.

“If they are so confident in their exclusionary clauses, then why don’t they stop with these delay tactics and meet me in court?” Hood asked.

Hood filed the lawsuit Sept. 15 in Hinds County Chancery Court and the insurance companies had it removed to Federal Court on Sept. 16.

A federal Judge signed an order on March 7 to remand the case back to state court.

The lawsuit is seeking to make the insurance companies honor their policies and pay for damage caused by storm surge.

“It is a shame that they continue to try to delay this case, knowing all the while that people’s lives are on hold,” Hood said. “We need a decision in this case so people can start re-building their lives.”