FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Scores of South Florida drivers are banding together to take one of the nation's largest insurers to court, alleging failure to make good on their policies. State Farm is potentially facing a colossal class-action lawsuit over accusations that the company is not covering the full costs of repairs for high-end luxury vehicles, leaving policyholders like Assaf Sasson to foot unexpectedly hefty repair bills.
An unwelcome surprise hit Sasson after his 2022 all-electric Porsche Taycan was involved in a crash. Believing he was fully covered with only a $500 deductible to worry about, Sasson was dismayed to learn that State Farm reportedly refused to pay the full price demanded by the Porsche-certified repair shop. "I don’t pay cheap insurance. I pay a very high insurance sum," Sasson told Local 10 News. He found out that, despite his premium, State Farm was allegedly not willing to cover the necessary costs.
The lawsuit filed against State Farm details that the estimate for repairs to Sasson's vehicle was $8,360.87 at the certified facility. However, State Farm's own estimate came to only $6,267.03. Moreover, the suit asserts that the insurance giant consistently rejects repair estimates over $4,700, a sum that falls far short for luxe vehicles' repair costs. Due to this shortfall, Sasson claimed he had to pay out of his own pocket to ensure his car was fixed according to warranty standards, as per an interview with his attorney Daren Stabinksi revealed by Newsbizz.
Cutting across various states, more policyholders have echoed Sasson's experience. Stabinski and co-counsel Cristina Pierson say they've talked to dozens from Florida to Georgia, all facing the same issue. "We have gotten so many calls, and it’s all the same," Pierson said, according to Local 10 News. One claimant, unable to find a shop from State Farm's "select service" list willing to take on his Maserati, exemplifies the widespread frustration among high-end car owners.
State Farm has responded to the uproar with a standard statement, asserting their commitment to satisfactory customer service. "What we can say is that we pride ourselves on our customer service and are committed to paying our debts in a timely, courteous and efficient manner," said Roszell Gadson from State Farm corporate communications to Local 10 News. However, the class action has yet to be certified in Florida. Amid these accusations, Pierson offers a word of caution to current State Farm customers, urging them to verify their coverage with their agents ASAP.
