DCD Partners, LLC, et al. v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company, et al.

The Firm represented DCD Partners, LLC in a lawsuit against Transamerica Life Insurance Company arising from a block of life insurance policies issued to members of a predominantly African American church congregation in Los Angeles, California.

DCD Partners, LLC alleged Transamerica increased rates by more than 135% in a year on a pool of life insurance policies designed to make life insurance more accessible. The lawsuit alleged these increases were because “Transamerica want[ed] to increase its profitability, shed the Policies on disadvantaged African-American citizens in Los Angeles, and bring about the lapse of the Policies by making the premiums cost-prohibitive.”

After a week-long trial, a jury rendered a verdict for Plaintiff, finding that Transamerica Life Insurance Company breached the terms of over 2,000 life insurance contracts and improperly raised rates on policies held by Plaintiff. DCD Partners, LLC, which elected to maintain the contracts in-force despite the breach, was awarded 100% of its damages.