Thursday, October 18, 2007

Progressive Insurance Blunders Again

Some lawyers are dumb. I don't know how else to put it. And this particular pratfall has to be the fault of an attorney.

Last month I wrote of Progressive Insurance spying on a church group -- and taping private support group discussions where people were confidentially bearing their souls -- in order to obtain information on a claimant that was a member of the group.

After the Atlanta Journal Constitution busted this tactic on its pages, the CEO of Progressive apologized for the appalling conduct and said:

"When I read that story I was appalled and, frankly, didn't believe that it could possibly be accurate. I have since learned that the essential facts in the story are correct. What the investigators and Progressive people involved in that case did was wrong --period. I personally want to apologize to anyone who was affected by this incident."

So what happens now? According to yet another story in the AJC yesterday, Progressive is now defending a violation of privacy lawsuit that arose out of the spying on the confessionals, and now says its spying was reasonable. But this isn't because the defense lawyers are clueless and created the defense inadvertently. Progressive's spokesperson, according to the article, has defended the defense. That means, to me, that the idea either came from, or is being defended by, the general counsel to the company.

So when the CEO said it was wrong. Period. I guess he didn't really mean "period" as in we-have-no-excuse-or-justification-and-won't-even-try. Because now the conduct is reasonable.

Some folks, it seems, know the fine art of taking a bad situation and making it worse.

(hat tips: The Consumerist and Shigley)

Addendum: Perlumtter & Schuelke weigh in with frivolous defenses driving up litigation costs.


(Eric Turkewitz is a personal injury attorney in New York)

Labels: Insurance Industry

posted by Eric Turkewitz  # Permanent Link

Comments:

I am a new customers to progessive. I had a accident within a few days of starting my policy with progressive. After, I reported the accident, I have been faced with nothing but discredting remarks from the Owings Mills, Maryland location. Two upper mgmt staff there, Mr. Dan McGuirk and Mr. Keith Goldberg has accused me of being untruthful about the accident. They have gone as far as telling me that I should have not pick progressive insurance if I had insurance prior. I am without a vehicle and have not received any support from this company. I believe that they target certain individuals based upon race, gender and location. I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TO CHOOSE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE FOR COVERAGE!!!!! If there is anyone out there that can help me find a lawyer or support to assist with this matter.

# posted by  Anonymous : November 28, 2007 2:02 PM

 

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