The Hartford UIM coverage lawsuit settlement gives eligible New Mexico auto policyholders a choice between a 23% refund on their underinsured motorist premiums or a recalculation of a past UIM claim without the disputed offset. The case, Soleil and Hammonds v. Hartford, targets two Hartford subsidiaries and is awaiting final court approval as of mid-2026.1Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Official Settlement Website
Who Qualifies for the Settlement
The class covers New Mexico auto policyholders who carried UIM coverage with one of two Hartford subsidiaries during specific date ranges:
- Property and Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford: UIM coverage held between December 29, 2014 and March 18, 2022.
- Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest: UIM coverage held between January 1, 2019 and March 18, 2022.
Company officers, directors, the presiding judge, and attorneys of record are excluded. You do not need to have filed a UIM claim to be a class member; simply having paid premiums during the window is enough for one of the two compensation options.2Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Frequently Asked Questions
What Class Members Can Receive
The settlement offers two formulas. You pick one; you cannot collect under both.
The premium formula pays 23% of all UIM premiums you paid to the covered Hartford subsidiary during the class period. This option is open to every class member, regardless of whether a claim was ever filed.
The claim formula is for class members who filed a UIM claim during the class period. Hartford readjusts that claim without applying the UIM offset that was central to the lawsuit. If you and Hartford disagree on the new valuation, a neutral evaluator resolves the dispute.
Class members whose UIM claim involved a wrongful death receive an automatic payment equal to the UIM offset amount and do not need to submit a claim form.2Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Frequently Asked Questions
Separately, and subject to court approval, Hartford agreed to pay up to $617,500 in attorney fees and litigation costs, and up to $10,000 for each of the three named class representatives.2Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Frequently Asked Questions
Deadlines and Filing Status
The claim submission deadline was May 22, 2026. The deadline to opt out or object was February 21, 2026. Policyholders who opted out receive no settlement benefits but keep the right to sue Hartford on their own. Anyone who took no action gives up the right to sue over the claims covered by the settlement and receives no payment.1Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Official Settlement Website
Claims were filed at SoleilUIMClassSettlement.com or mailed to the claims administrator at P.O. Box 2775, Portland, OR 97208-2775. The administrator can be reached at 1-877-702-7792 or info@SoleilUIMClassSettlement.com for questions about a submitted claim.2Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Frequently Asked Questions
Why Hartford Was Sued
New Mexico follows the “gap theory” of underinsurance. Your UIM benefits are reduced by whatever the at-fault driver’s liability insurance already paid. When both drivers carry the state minimum of $25,000, the offset can wipe out the UIM benefit entirely, meaning the policyholder paid years of premiums for coverage that pays nothing.
In 2021, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled in Crutcher v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company that minimum-limits UIM coverage is legally permitted but “illusory” and “misleading” to the average consumer, and that insurers must adequately disclose the offset’s effect or face misrepresentation claims.3Findlaw. Crutcher v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, 2021-NMSC-024
The Soleil plaintiffs, joined by Mary Hammonds, filed suit in 2023 in New Mexico District Court for Bernalillo County (Case No. D-202-CV-2023-08611), alleging Hartford collected UIM premiums while reserving the right to apply an offset that could eliminate the benefit, and failed to disclose that practical effect to policyholders. Hartford denied the allegations and maintained it complied with its policy terms and applicable law.2Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Frequently Asked Questions
Where Approval Stands
Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd oversees the case. The final settlement hearing was held by telephone on March 23, 2026. As of mid-2026, the court has not issued a ruling on final approval, and no payments will be distributed until the settlement is approved and remaining issues are resolved.1Soleil UIM Class Settlement. Official Settlement Website