My last check found 949 articles on the web about this, making it a hot subject.  Here are some quotes from one of the articles.

"GULFPORT, Miss. - A jury awarded $2.5 million in punitive damages to a Mississippi couple because State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. Inc. denied their Hurricane Katrina claim. The decision could benefit hundreds of other homeowners challenging insurers for refusing to cover billions of dollars in storm damage."

$2.5 million in punitive damages? In a homeowner's claim! Reminds me of a mold case.

"Earlier yesterday, U.S. District Judge L.T. Senter Jr. took part of the case out of jurors' hands before they awarded punitive damages to State Farm policyholders Norman and Genevieve Broussard of Biloxi.

Senter ruled yesterday morning that State Farm was liable for $223,292 in damage to the Broussards' home caused by Hurricane Katrina. He left the question of punitive damages up to the jury.

Senter's decision to make a directed verdict rather than let the jury decide the entire case appeared to surprise everyone in the courtroom."

What does this mean to the industry?

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