A group of Mississippi attorneys once affiliated with tort lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs is barred from representing any policyholders in lawsuits against State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. over Hurricane Katrina damage, a federal judge ruled Friday, citing ethical breaches.
U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr., in Gulfport, Miss., also disqualified two key witnesses in the lawyers’ cases from testifying against State Farm or their former employer, a firm that helped the Bloomington, Ill.-based insurer adjust Katrina claims.
