APRIL 2015 BAD FAITH CASES: COURT REFUSES TO SEVER CONTRACT AND BAD FAITH UIM CLAIMS, AND REFUSES TO STAY DISCOVERY; COURT RECOGNIZES PRIVILEGES REMAIN IN TACT ABSENT ADVISE OF COUNSEL DEFENSE, BUT ALLOWS DISCOVERY OF CLAIMS FILES AS TO EVALUATION PROCESS; COURT OBSERVES THAT IT IS NOT BOUND BY CONTRARY DECISIONS OF COURTS OF COMMON PLEAS, AND THAT INSURER TOOK THAT RISK WHEN IT REMOVED THE CASE TO FEDERAL COURT (Middle District)

In Griffith v. Allstate Insurance Company, the insurer brought a Rule 42 motion to sever the bad faith and contract claims in this UIM case,…