Friday, July 7th, 2017 — The motorist who hit him didnt have insurance. But Hofer, a Sioux Falls man who owned a trucking business, had purchased a $1 million policy that protected him from uninsured motorists. Or so he thought. Today, Hofer has a pending lawsuit in federal court against the insurer, Progressive Northern Insurance Co. At first blush, its a case like many others: Someone who thought they were insured suing an insurance company for bad faith and breach of contract, claims that are common in federal court. But the Hofer case could have larger ramifications. In April, Judge Karen Schreier sanctioned the company for neglecting to turn over hundreds of Independent Medical Examinations, or IMEs, conducted by three Minnesota doctors on behalf of Progressive, including a doctor who examined Hofer.
Lawsuit Probes Mercenary Doctors Who Deny Injury Claims
It was near midnight on Jan. 19, 2013 when Steven Hofer was driving his truck on the frozen plains of northwestern North Dakota. A car driven by a drunk driver crossed the center line, hitting Hofer head on. He suffered severe injuries in the collision. The motorist who hit him didn’t have insurance.