Breach of the Insurer’s Duty of Good Faith
Definition
An independent tort cause of action applicable to circumstances where an insurer has used bad faith in handling a policyholder’s claim. When the insured demonstrates more than merely a denial of benefits promised under a policy of insurance, but instead, that the insurer’s denial of the claim was deliberately made in bad faith, with knowledge of the lack of a reasonable basis for the denial, the insured may be entitled to compensatory tort damages. This tort cause of action is recognized by a majority, but not all, of states.