A woman in the United States has been awarded $5.2 million in damages from her husband’s auto insurance company for contracting an STD in her partner’s car. The Missouri prosecutor successfully argued that her partner had negligently infected her with the human papilloma virus (HPV) and that his insurance company was therefore obliged to pay her “injuries and damages.”
The woman, known only as MO in court documents, originally demanded $9.9 million in damages for “medical expenses” and “past and future mental and physical pain.” A judge at an arbitration tribunal ultimately estimated the appropriate amount of damages at $5.2 million.
“Insured should have reported diagnosis”
“The insured should have disclosed his diagnosis to MO prior to sexual activity, but did not,” said the referee. For example, the man knew that he had had a positive HPV smear for throat cancer. Yet at the end of 2017 he had unprotected sex with the victim in his car.
Insurer appealed – but in vain
The auto insurer Geico had rejected the woman’s first offer for a settlement. The company appealed against the damages determined by the arbitral tribunal. The Missouri Court of Appeals declared the amount admissible.
Case sparked controversy on Twitter
The verdict sparked a wave of reactions on the internet. Tech billionaire Elon Musk sharply criticized: “Crazy insurance claims like this are a big reason why auto insurance costs so much,” he wrote on Twitter. “It should be possible to sue law firms that file idiotic claims for damages.”
HPV infections are among the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. Certain strains of HPV can cause cancer. There is a vaccine against many common HPV strains.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
