PAINTSVILLE - A settlement has been reached and trial, set in the Johnson Circuit Court on January 4, has been cancelled involving destruction of a Salyersville home appraised at $400,000.00
According to a civil action filed in the Johnson Circuit Court by Kirk & Crum, PLLC on behalf of Teresa Hall, a nurse at Pikeville Medical Center, following the total destruction of her home by fire on February 8, 2007, State Farm Insurance Company sued her in federal court at Pikeville seeking a declaratory judgement that it had no liability for the coverage, alleging that the policy was improperly obtained.
Following dismissal of the federal complaint, Hall filed her own complaint against State Farm Insurance Company in the Johnson Circuit Court alleging jurisdiction in Johnson County because, she alleged, she purchased the insurance coverage in Paintsville.
"It is good to finally get this over with after almost three years," Teresa Hall said. "It was tough getting sued instead of getting my fire loss covered. I had never had a fire loss before and hope I never do again. I am very grateful to my attorneys, Phillip Wheeler and John Kirk, for helping me," she added.
"This was an unfortunate misunderstanding that finally got straightened out," John Kirk said. "State Farm is one of the country's very best insurance companies and the local folks are among the very best and most honest folks I have ever dealt with. Once all the facts were learned, State Farm did the right thing and Mrs. Hall can now go forward."
Kirk would not reveal the amount of settlement. "Out of consideration for Mrs. Hall, I cannot comment on that," he said, but added, "I can say that State Farm did the right thing and that justice has been done."