Former Razorback Settles Lawsuit with Insurance Companies

Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rawleigh Williams, who suffered a career-ending neck injury in April 2017, was taken from the field in Fayetteville a year and a half earlier after suffering a herniated disk in his neck during a game against Auburn University.

Do you remember the case of Rawleigh Williams III, the former Arkansas Razorback who sued his insurance carrier after suffering an injury that derailed what looked to be a promising pro football career?

Well, he recently settled his suit in Washington County Circuit Court against the underwriters at Lloyd’s of London for allegations of breach of contract and other misconduct.

The running back also settled with the insurance broker who handled the policy, Justin Boeving Sr., field director at Northwestern Mutual Insurance Co. in Fayetteville, and International Specialty Insurance Inc. of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which issued the policy.

If you recall, Williams said he had a $1 million sports disability insurance policy that took effect in March 2017 to cover him if he suffered an injury that kept him out of the NFL.

After he was carted off the field during a scrimmage the following month, a doctor declared that he had a total and permanent disability. Williams then filed a claim for his $1 million benefit.

But his claim was denied in September 2017 based on an exclusion that Williams’ lawyer said was unilaterally inserted in the policy more than a week after Williams was injured.

Williams’ attorney, Bill Horton of the Caddell Reynolds firm in Rogers, said the case had been settled to “all parties’ satisfaction.”