Saturday, June 10, 2023 Jun 10, 2023
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Suit Is Settled Over Rain at Charity Event

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Looks like that flap over a weather-insurance policy between the American Cancer Society and two insurance brokerages has been smoothed over, with the cancer society coming out on top. The nonprofit group, you might recall, recently filed a lawsuit because the insurer failed to pay up on a $300,000 policy after it rained buckets on last fall’s Cattle Baron’s Ball fundraiser at Southfork Ranch in Parker.

The dispute centered on exactly where the rainfall was to be measured under the policy, and how forthcoming the brokerages had been about that. Now, though, Andy Stern, a spokesman for one of the brokers, Ragland Strother & Lafitte of Dallas, says the parties have decided to settle the suit—and the cancer society “will be made whole.” How come? Says Stern, who’s CEO of Sunwest Communications: They just “agreed it was easier to settle than to litigate.”

UPDATE: The nonprofit that brought this lawsuit has reached agreements with both the insurance company–that one came before the suit was even filed–and with the insurance agent, which said Monday that the nonprofit now has been “made whole.” But the nonprofit’s lawyer, Bickel & Brewer Storefront, isn’t through yet. Says firm partner William Brewer III: “…we are still pursuing our claims against other defendants, including the insurance brokerage firm.” The broker, Georgia-based Swett & Crawford, didn’t immediately return our call.