Government Employees Insurance Co. v. Quine

**Government Employees Insurance Co. v. Quine - Oklahoma Supreme Court (2011)** This case involved a dispute between an insurance company (GEICO) and a policyholder over how insurance payments should be handled. The policyholder wanted the insurance company to pay the undisputed portion of their claim immediately, even while other parts of the claim were still being contested. Specifically, the policyholder had economic damages (like medical bills) that were clear-cut, but also claimed non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) that the insurance company disagreed with. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the insurance company. The court decided that an insurance company does not have to make partial payments on undisputed portions of a claim when there is a legitimate disagreement about other parts of the claim. The court found that refusing to make these partial payments does not violate the insurance company's duty to act in good faith toward their policyholders. **What this means for workers:** If you have an insurance claim with both clear damages and disputed elements, your insurance company may legally refuse to pay any portion until the entire dispute is resolved. This could mean longer waits for compensation, even for expenses that aren't in question.