GEICO has been ordered to pay a Missouri woman $5.2 million after she contracted an STD while inside a car insured by the company.
Over the years there have been some insane and almost surreal lawsuits, and by in large, the majority are thrown out. Some lawsuits seem completely absurd until you peel back the layers and hear the stories and their outcomes.
Having said that, this is one of the most outlandish legal cases yet.
A Missouri woman contracted a sexually transmitted disease from her partner while the two were inside his GEICO-insured vehicle. When the woman found out that she’d contracted the std, she filed a lawsuit but not against her partner, against GEICO instead.
In her lawsuit, she alleged her sexual partner negligently caused or “contributed to causing her to become infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) by not taking proper precautions and neglecting to inform and/or disclose his diagnosis.” Her logic in filing the lawsuit against GEICO was simply that his “insurance policy provided coverage for her injuries and losses.”
According to court documents, the woman was awarded $5.2 million from the insurance company. The arbitrator in the case stated that the amount would fairly compensate her for damages and injuries. Naturally, GEICO appealed the arbitration award, claiming they hadn’t been given “a meaningful opportunity to defend its interests.” A three-judge panel reviewed the case and confirmed the settlement, denying the appeal.
When GEICO realized the courts were taking the lawsuit seriously, they tried to double back, but the amount had already been awarded.
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