Bernstein Liebhard is known for its securities class action expertise, but last year marked a departure as it celebrated an historical punitive damages award.
Nearly four years after a $14.7 million verdict on behalf of more than 1,000 autobody shops claiming unfair trade practices against Hartford Fire Insurance Co. regarding rates for repairs, Bernstein and co-lead counsel at Hurwitz, Sagarin, Slossberg & Knuff won $20 million in punitive damages. It was the largest punitive damages award in the history of Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, according to Bernstein partners.
