⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Fifth Circuit hears Randel versus Travelers Lloyds of Texas. After a house fire, Travelers paid an appraisal award, but Randy and Debra Randel continued a claim under Texas's Prompt Payment Act. That law generally gives an insurer sixty days to pay after it receives the documents needed to resolve a claim. On remand from an earlier appeal, the district court struck the Randels' late response and entered judgment for Travelers without a trial. John Riley Friesell represents the Randels. He will argue that Travelers did not establish a policy exclusion and will ask the court to revive bad-faith claims or send a state-law question to the Texas Supreme Court. Charles Frazier represents Travelers. He will argue that the Randels forfeited their challenge by failing to address the grounds for judgment. After this argument, on August 17, 2026, the Fifth Circuit affirmed and declined certification.

Randel v. Travelers Lloyds of Texas (No. 25-20231) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 6, 2026.