CRUG Successfully Defends Summary Judgment for Insurer

On April 30, 2026, the Eighth District Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s denial of Civ.R. 60(B) relief from a summary judgment originally granted in favor of CRUG’s client, State Farm, after the parties had completed the appraisal process required in the policy to resolve a dispute over valuation of stolen property.  The Court of Appeals held that denial of Civ.R. 60(B) relief from judgment was proper because the insured’s arguments challenging the appraisal process, the neutrality and alleged improper influence of the umpire, the valuation methodology, and whether the appraisal was binding, were all attacks upon the merits of the the underlying summary judgment order, which the insured had not timely appealed, and Civ.R. 60(B) cannot be used as a substitute for a direct appeal.

CRUG Partner, Greg Collins represented State Farm in the trial court proceedings and successfully obtained the summary judgment order.  CRUG Partner, Kurt Anderson defended State Farm in the appellate briefings and oral argument.

The Eighth District’s decision can be found at Alexandria Kung v. State Farm, 2026-Ohio-1565.

Gregory H. Collins (L) Kurt D. Anderson (R)