Four sue State Farm over unpaid claim alleging insurer's attitude 'cavalier' and 'biased'

Four people have filed suit against their insurance agency, alleging it refuses to pay them for damages they sustained in a collision.

Bobbie Coleman, Walter Ward, Shemika Ward and Tanario Ward claim they were injured in a motor vehicle collision on Sept. 25, 2011.

Following the collision, the plaintiffs gave defendant State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company a notice of their losses, according to the complaint filed Sept. 24 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. However, State Farm has refused to pay the total required under its contract with the plaintiffs, the suit states.

“Defendant’s attitude toward plaintiff and this claim has been cavalier and biased,” the complaint says. “Defendant has failed to respond to plaintiff’s settlement demand.”

In their complaint, the plaintiffs seek a judgment of more than $400,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Justin B. Mattea of Collinsville will be representing them.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-488.