Broussard v. State Farm® Settled

State Farm settles Katrina case in Mississippi

25 April 2008
Associated Press Newswires (c) 2008.
The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- A lawyer says State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. has settled a civil lawsuit with a couple whose Biloxi home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Jack Denton, attorney for Norman and Genevieve Broussard, said the confidential settlement was reached Friday.

A jury awarded $2.5 million in punitive damages to the Broussards in 2007.

U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. later reduced that amount to $1 million. Then the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new trial, saying Senter shouldn't have allowed jurors to consider punitive damages.

State Farm Jonathan Freed said the company is pleased with Friday's settlement. The company is based in Bloomington, Ill.