An Oklahoma judge ordered the release of 11 State Farm documents in a lawsuit over alleged unpaid roof claims due to wind and hail damage, KOCO reported.
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Homeowner Billy Hursh filed the lawsuit, alleging State Farm mishandled claims involving roof damage.
The court heard hours of arguments about sealed records before deciding to release 11 documents while leaving other requested records under advisement.
"This was my house, my family. This was our most valuable asset — one we invested in," Hursh stated, as KOCO relayed.
Hursh maintained that State Farm's use of confidentiality designations made it harder for the public to follow the case.
"The Oklahoma public has a right to see public pleadings, and because State Farm has designated virtually every document it produces as confidential, it forces us to file them under seal — meaning the public cannot read these documents for themselves," he explained.
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According to KOCO, State Farm countered in a statement, "The court's decision does not resolve the allegations, which remain disputed."
The company also asserted that it evaluates claims based on the facts and the policy's coverage.
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Hannah Whitten, an attorney at Whitten Burrage representing Hursh, suggested that the now-public records may soon play a larger role in the litigation.
"They are no longer subject to the protective order and can be filed in the public record," Whitten began.
"I expect that, shortly thereafter, we will be filing a motion relying on some of these documents because they're not confidential, and the public can see for themselves how State Farm handles these claims in secret," she added, as KOCO relayed.
Whitten noted that her firm has handled several State Farm cases.
Whitten also cited a separate State Farm case in Oklahoma in which another judge removed protective orders from documents in that matter. She said those records extended beyond one region.
"In fact, Judge Sheppard's 31 documents actually touch on other areas of the country — Dallas, Kansas, and Illinois. Now, people from all over the country are calling us and saying, 'Wow, now I understand what was happening in secret to a client,'" she told the outlet.
The trial is set to begin on Dec. 7, and additional documents could still be made public.
Where can I learn more?
People in other places in the U.S. are also trying to hold companies and officials accountable as their actions have a negative impact on the planet.
• A federal judge said the public deserves transparent decisions after officials formed a secretive climate group.
• Haier's U.S. appliance arm faced claims it hid a potentially dangerous feature in gas stoves.
• California passed laws that will force companies to disclose planet-warming emissions and climate risks.
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