Courts Should Not Counter the Work of the Legislature by Use of “Public Policy”
Post 4805
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Artemiz Freeman sought to collect uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits under her policy with appellant Progressive County Mutual Insurance Co. (“Progressive”).
In Progressive County Mutual Insurance Company v. Artemiz Freeman, No. 14-22-00450-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas, Fourteenth District (May 14, 2024) the Court of Appeals explained the importance of protecting legislative actions.
BACKGROUND
Freeman is a police officer with the City of Houston. On February 13, 2018, Freeman was in her police vehicle when she was rear-ended by another car.
Freeman’s expenses from the accident exceeded $50,000. Freeman filed for uninsured/underinsured motorist (“UM/UIM”).
The policy also includes a regular-use exclusion applicable to this coverage which states, in relevant part, as follow: "Coverage under this Part III [regarding UI/UIM benefits] will not apply: ... to bodily injury sustained by any person using or occupying: ... * ... a motor vehicle that is owned by or available for the regular use of you or a relative. (emphasis added)."
Progressive denied Freeman’s claim for UM/UIM benefits. Progressive concluded that Freeman’s police vehicle fell within the exclusion’s definition of a vehicle “available for [her] regular use.”
Freeman sued Progressive.
ANALYSIS
The trial court determined that although the patrol vehicle was available for Ms. Freeman’s regular use, that the “regular use” exclusion as applied in this case violates public policy since it operates to deprive an insured of the protection required by the Texas Uninsured Motorists Statute.
GOVERNING LAW
Texas law requires UM/UIM coverage. The underlying policy behind this statute is the state’s interest in protecting conscientious and thoughtful motorists from financial loss.
The trial court concluded that the “regular use” exclusion as applied in this case violates public policy. Public policy can be a vague and uncertain term.
Freeman failed to met her burden that she has suffered any financial loss. The judgment was reversed.
ZALMA OPINION
Insurance policies are contracts that must be interpreted as written. The trial court felt sorry for Ms. Freeman’s injuries and decided that the public policy of the state of Texas was that the regular use exclusion violated the policy for which the Legislature enacted UM/UIM laws. The Court of Appeals, found that the use of the concept of public policy to reverse a clear and unambiguous statute and policy wording. The Court of Appeals intelligently supported the separation of powers between the Legislative and Judicial parts of the state government.
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No Right to Subrogation Against Tenant
Post 5231
Not Fair to Require Tenant to Pay for Damage Insured by LandlordSee the video at https://lnkd.in/gFkrp_6M and at https://lnkd.in/gQdFQBWj and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
See the video at and at
For Insurer to Subrogate Lease Must Require Tenant to Obtain Insurance for the Benefit of the Landlord
In AmGUARD Insurance Co. v. Tyrone Ellis and Shakyra Ellis, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut Civil No. 3:25-cv-946 (JCH) (November 19, 2025), Judge, Janet C. Hall the defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint on the basis of Connecticut’s anti-subrogation doctrine required dismissal.
KEY FACTS
Landlord Michael Caldwell, a Connecticut citizen, owned a multi-family building in Windsor, Connecticut. Defendants Tyrone and Shakyra Ellis were residential tenants in the building. On or about March 1, 2025, a fire ...
Debt Resulting from Fraud is Not Dischargeable in Bankruptcy
Post 5230
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gpF3y7Vd, see the video at https://lnkd.in/gR5cVcbY and at https://lnkd.in/gch6Q4_V, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
Knowing Misappropriation and Conversion of Funds is Fraud
In re Matthew Jene Tubbs (Bankr. N.D. Tex., Fort Worth Div., No. 22-42728-MXM-7; Adv. No. 23-04019-mxm), October 15, 2025 .
Key Facts
Plaintiffs (Robles) and Defendant (Tubbs) met through their church; both held leadership roles. In Feb 2021 Robles home suffered major water damage from Winter Storm Uri and insurance paid $173,000.
In the Fall of 2021: Tubbs represented to Mr. Robles that he personally built a newer house and large barn on his parents’ property “with his own hands” (except foundation/insulation). That he had 10 years’ experience overseeing window/door installations at a major home-improvement chain, was a licensed contractor (false) and carried general contractor liability insurance.
Relying on ...
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ZIFL-Volume 29 Number 22
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Post 5228
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 29th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/
Read the full 20 page issue of ZIFL at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ZIFL-11-15-2025-1.pdf
Man Bites Dog Story – Hertz Sues Alleged Fraudsters
Hertz Successfully Refuses to Pay Alleged Fraudulent Health Care Providers
Proactive Victim of Fraud Defeats Health Care Providers
More McClenny Moseley & Associates Issues
This is ZIFL’s thirty eighth installment of the saga of McClenny, Moseley & Associates and its problems with the federal courts in the State of Louisiana and what appears to be ...
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5219
Posted on October 31, 2025 by Barry Zalma
An Insurance claims professionals should be a person who:
Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
Understands the promises made by the policy.
Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
Are competent investigators.
Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Understand medicine relating to traumatic injuries and are sufficiently versed in tort law to deal with lawyers as equals.
Understand how to repair damage to real and personal property and the value of the repairs or the property.
Understand how to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement with the insured that is fair and reasonable to both the insured and the insurer.
How to Create Claims Professionals
To avoid fraudulent claims, claims of breach of contract, bad faith, punitive damages, unresolved losses, and to make a profit, insurers ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
