By Jonathan Stempel
July 7 (Reuters) - Allstate was sued on Tuesday by Oklahoma, which accused the insurer of underpaying or denying claims for damage from wind and hailstorms over several years.
Oklahoma accused Allstate of having since at least 2020 "secretly" required restrictive standards in assessing policyholder claims, "effectively predetermining outcomes" in order to lower indemnity payments and boost corporate profits.
The Northbrook, Illinois-based insurer was also accused of stripping licensed
adjusters of authority to approve coverage for storm damage and replacing them with unlicensed "picture takers" and reviewers who routinely deny coverage.
Oklahoma said Allstate's practices did not reflect its assurances in advertising that policyholders would be "in good hands" and protected from "mayhem."
"Consumers pay their premiums expecting their insurance company to be there when disaster strikes," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement. "When insurers put profits ahead of policyholders, it's hardworking families and individuals who ultimately pay the price.”
Allstate did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Oklahoma is part of "Tornado Alley," a central U.S. region that often experiences tornadoes.
The state said Allstate held an 8.14% share of its property and casualty insurance market in 2025, with $219.1 million of premiums written.
Nationwide, Allstate is the fourth-largest property and casualty insurer, trailing State Farm, Progressive and Berkshire Hathaway, according to Insurance Insider.
The lawsuit filed in the Cleveland County District Court, near Oklahoma City, seeks unspecified damages plus civil fines for violations of Oklahoma consumer protection and anti-racketeering laws.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter)
