CHARLESTON — A West Virginia-licensed physician and his medical practice are suing General Star National Insurance Company and General Star Indemnity Company alleging that they breached their contract with the plaintiffs.
Dr. Ahmad Bali and Bali Surgical Practice PLLC purchased an insurance policy through the defendants that was in effect from Dec. 31, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2020, with limits of liability of $1 million per claim and $3 million annual aggregate, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia in Charleston.
Bali and his practice both claim the Stamford, Conn.-based insurance companies had a duty to work in accordance with their contract.
On Feb. 11, 2020, a lawsuit was filed against the plaintiffs in Kanawha Circuit Court for medical professional liability and the defendants hired counsel to defend the plaintiffs’ interests n the claim in accordance with the terms of the insurance policy, according to the complaint.
The medical professional liability claim was settled at mediation within the limits of the policy for a confidential amount on Aug. 25, 2021, and the defendants committed the plaintiffs to a settlement amount without their consent, which is a breach of the insurance policy, according to the suit.
Bali and his practice claim the defendants breached their contract with him and his practice and caused him to suffer both economic and non-economic damages in excess of $75,000 as a result of the breach of the insurance contract.
The plaintiffs have continued to suffer damages because of the defendants’ conduct, according to the suit.
Bali and his practice are seeking compensatory damages with costs and interest. The physician and his practice are represented by Ben Salango of Salango Law in Charleston.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia at Charleston case number: 2:22-cv-00003