$14.5 Million Jury Verdict for RBE clients Joseph Radcliff and CPM Construction
Indianapolis, Indiana – July 1, 2011 – A six-week trial in Hamilton County Court ended Wednesday afternoon with the award of a $14.5 million jury verdict for Joseph Radcliff and his restoration company, CPM Construction of Indiana (“CPM”), in their defamation lawsuit against State Farm Fire & Casualty Company (“State Farm”).
The case arose out of restoration work done by Radcliff and CPM following the April 2006 hailstorm on homes insured by State Farm. State Farm filed suit against Radcliff and CPM, making unfounded claims that Radcliff and CPM had engaged in insurance fraud and other conduct prohibited by the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) Act. State Farm also instigated the filing of felony criminal charges against Radcliff. While those charges were later dismissed by the Marion County Prosecutor, the negative publicity destroyed both Radcliff’s personal reputation and CPM’s business in Indiana. In response to the suit, Radcliff and CPM filed counterclaims against State Farm for (among other things) defamation.
The jury found not only that State Farm’s claims against Radcliff and CPM were without merit, but also that State Farm had defamed Radcliff and CPM. The jury ordered State Farm to pay Radcliff and CPM $14.5 million in damages.
Radcliff was represented by Will Riley, lead trial counsel of the law firm Price Waicukauski & Riley, LLC along with attorneys Joe Williams, James Piatt and Jamie Kendall of the same firm and Mark McKinzie, Partner in the law firm Riley Bennett & Egloff LLP. Radcliff and CPM Construction have been long-time clients of Riley Bennett & Egloff LLP, an Indianapolis law firm committed to protecting the interests of businesses.
“It was a tribute to the American jury system that one man can take on the largest insurance company in the nation and win,” Riley said after the verdict. McKinzie stated, “This sends a strong signal to State Farm’s home office in Bloomington, Illinois that Hoosiers will not put up with this sort of conduct.”
Radcliff expressed his appreciation after the verdict. “I am grateful to those who believed in me and helped me get the true facts before the jury and to the jury for giving me, and my failed company, justice,” Radcliff said.