Oklahoma lawsuit alleges State Farm cheats homeowners Billy Hursh couldn’t believe the response from his insurance company after a hailstorm damaged his roof in October 2023. Two contractors told him a full roof replacement was needed, but State Farm claimed the damage was minor, classifying the roof as “fair” condition. The dispute escalated into a yearslong legal battle that now involves the state’s highest court. Hursh described the second storm eight months later as devastating, with trees bending, power flickering, and the roof worsening. He and his wife, Lacy, opted to pay out of pocket for repairs, borrowing against their home’s equity to cover over $22,000 in costs. Hursh called the experience “making you feel like a sucker” and expressed frustration over being taken advantage of. The Hursh family’s lawsuit alleges State Farm engaged in a “pervasive, state-wide fraudulent scheme” to deny coverage for hail damage. The complaint claims the company implemented a “Hail Focus Initiative” to narrow the definition of hail damage, effectively reducing the number of full roof replacements covered. This hidden policy, not disclosed in the policy itself, allows State Farm to deny claims before they are filed. The lawsuit argues this practice reflects “simple greed,” prioritizing the company’s profits over policyholders’ interests. Over 600 Oklahoma homeowners have similar lawsuits pending against State Farm, which is the state’s largest property insurer. State Farm declined to comment on the allegations but denied wrongdoing in legal filings, calling the initiative a 2020 effort to improve claims handling accuracy and address over- or underpayment. The company also highlighted its $1 billion in payments to Oklahoma customers for wind and hail damage over two years.#oklahoma #state_farm #billy_hursh #lacy_hursh #gentner_drummond
