$1.2M Farmers Metropolitan New Mexico Direct UIM Coverage Settlement, Are You Eligible to Claim?

The Farmers Metropolitan Direct UIM Settlement is a class action where eligible New Mexico policyholders can receive up to $25,000 for offset claims — or a partial premium refund — by filing a claim through the official settlement website at MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com. Farmers Direct Property & Casualty Insurance Co., formerly known as Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Co., agreed to a $1.2 million settlement to resolve claims it violated New Mexico law by misrepresenting uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. The case is pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, and the Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2026.

Quick-Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$1,200,000
Claim Deadline	TBD — check MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com for the confirmed filing deadline
Who Qualifies	New Mexico residents who had a UIM claim reduced or offset between Oct. 1, 2010–Jan. 31, 2022, OR purchased a NM auto policy with UM/UIM coverage during that period
Payout Per Person	Up to $25,000 (Offset Subclass); premium refund amount varies (Premium Refund Subclass)
Proof Required	Yes for Offset Subclass (claim number and accident date); varies for Premium Refund Subclass
Settlement Status	Proposed — pending Final Court Approval on July 1, 2026
Administrator	TBD — contact info available at MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com; mailing address: Vega v. Metropolitan Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4196, Portland, OR 97208-4196
Official Website	MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com
Last Updated	April 21, 2026

Current Status & What Happens Next

• The Court has not yet granted final approval — the Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2026.
• Payments will be made only after the Court approves the Settlement and any appeals are resolved.
• The opt-out and objection deadlines are TBD — check MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com for the most current dates, as the settlement notice has not been fully published in searchable form.

What Is the Farmers Metropolitan Direct Lawsuit About? Vega v. Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Co., No. 1:22-CV-616-JB-SCY

This lawsuit claims that Farmers violated New Mexico law by misrepresenting underinsured motorist coverage or failing to disclose its limitations — specifically, that the company applied an offset based on the insurance coverage limits of third parties responsible for injuries or property damage. Under New Mexico’s Schmick offset rule, when an at-fault driver’s insurer pays out their liability limits, some insurers reduce the policyholder’s UIM benefit by that same amount — potentially leaving accident victims with nothing despite paying for UIM coverage.

The case was filed by plaintiff Margaret Vega, individually and on behalf of other similarly situated individuals, against Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company. The lawsuit alleges violations of New Mexico’s Uninsured Motorist Act (NMSA 1978, § 66-5-301 et seq.) and related consumer protection standards, which require insurers to clearly disclose how UIM benefits are calculated and offset. Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Co. is a Farmers Insurance Group company.

The defendant has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to the $1.2 million settlement to resolve the allegations. If you want background on how New Mexico UIM offset lawsuits work more broadly

Who Is Eligible for the Farmers Metropolitan Direct Settlement?

The Settlement covers two subclasses of New Mexico policyholders:

Offset Subclass:

• You may qualify if you had an underinsured motorist claim with Metropolitan Direct / Farmers reduced or offset by the amount paid by the at-fault driver in an accident between October 1, 2010, and January 31, 2022.
• You may qualify if your UIM benefits were reduced or denied because the at-fault driver’s insurer already paid out their policy limits.

Premium Refund Subclass:

• You may qualify if you purchased a New Mexico automobile insurance policy containing UM/UIM coverage between October 1, 2010, and January 31, 2022 — even if you never made a UIM claim.
• You may qualify if your policy was issued by Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Co. (now Farmers Direct Property & Casualty Insurance Co.) during that period.

Contact the Settlement Administrator at 877-239-5487 or by email at the address listed on MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com if you are unsure whether you qualify.

How Much Money Can You Get from the Farmers Metropolitan Direct Settlement?

The Settlement divides benefits between two groups. You may fall into one or both subclasses, but your payment tier depends on your situation.

Offset Subclass — Up to $25,000

Class members who had an underinsured motorist claim reduced or offset by the amount paid by the at-fault driver in an accident between October 1, 2010, and January 31, 2022, can receive up to $25,000. This payment compensates you for the UIM benefits you were denied due to the illegal offset practice. You must file a claim form to receive this payment.

Premium Refund Subclass — Variable Amount

For those who purchased a New Mexico auto policy with UM/UIM coverage during the class period, the premium refund amount varies. Your refund is calculated based on the UM/UIM premiums you paid during the covered period, proportional to the total fund allocated for premium refunds after offset claims are paid. This mirrors the structure seen in similar New Mexico UIM settlements from the same litigation wave. For related context, see our article on the [Nationwide New Mexico UIM Settlement] which follows the same two-subclass payment model.

Important: Both the total $1.2 million fund and the pro-rata distribution mean your actual payment may be less than the maximum if a high volume of valid claims are filed.

Step-by-Step: How to File Your Farmers Metropolitan Direct Claim Form

Step 1 — Visit the official settlement website at MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com

Step 2 — Confirm your subclass membership — Offset Subclass (had a UIM claim reduced) or Premium Refund Subclass (purchased UM/UIM coverage during the class period)

Step 3 — Complete the online claim form with your personal details, policy information, and accident details if applicable

Step 4 — If you are an Offset Subclass member, provide your UIM claim number and the date of the accident where your benefits were reduced

Step 5 — Submit your completed claim form online by the deadline posted at MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com

Step 6 — Alternatively, mail your completed claim form to: Vega v. Metropolitan Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4196, Portland, OR 97208-4196

Step 7 — Save your confirmation and retain a copy of your submission for your records

Estimated time to complete: 5–10 minutes for most claimants.

Important Deadlines & Dates

Milestone	Date
Class Period Begins	October 1, 2010
Class Period Ends	January 31, 2022
Lawsuit Filed	2022 (Case No. 1:22-CV-616-JB-SCY)
Opt-Out Deadline	TBD — check MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com
Objection Deadline	TBD — check MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com
Claim Filing Deadline	TBD — check MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com
Final Approval Hearing	July 1, 2026
Expected Payment Date	TBD — payments distributed after final approval and resolution of any appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. You do not need to hire a lawyer to submit a claim in the Vega v. Metropolitan Direct settlement. Class Counsel represents all Settlement Class Members at no cost to you. Simply visit MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com and complete the claim form yourself in minutes.

2. Is this settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The settlement is a court-authorized resolution of Case No. 1:22-CV-616-JB-SCY, currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2026. The settlement administrator maintains the official website at MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com.

3. When will I receive my payment? 

The Court must first approve the settlement at the July 1, 2026 hearing. Payments will be distributed after final approval and after any appeals are resolved. Processing timelines typically add 60–120 days after that point.

4. What if I missed the claim deadline? 

The claim deadline has not yet been confirmed on the official settlement website. Visit MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com to check the current deadline. If you miss the confirmed deadline, you will not receive a payment, and you will still release your legal claims against Farmers/Metropolitan Direct unless you opted out in time.

5. Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Settlement payments — particularly those compensating for a financial loss like a reduced insurance claim — may or may not be taxable depending on the nature of the payment and your individual tax situation. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your circumstances.

6. What is the “Schmick offset” and why does it matter to my claim? 

The Schmick offset is a practice where New Mexico insurers reduce your UIM benefit by the amount the at-fault driver’s insurer already paid. The lawsuit claims Farmers applied an offset due to the insurance coverage limits of third parties responsible for injuries or property damage — without properly disclosing this limitation to policyholders. If this happened to you between October 1, 2010, and January 31, 2022, you may qualify for up to $25,000.

7. I never filed a UIM claim. Can I still get money?

 Yes. The settlement also benefits individuals who purchased a New Mexico auto policy with UM/UIM coverage between October 1, 2010, and January 31, 2022 — even if you never had an accident or filed a claim. These policyholders qualify for a partial premium refund from the Premium Refund Subclass.

8. Is this related to other New Mexico UIM insurance settlements?

 Yes. This case is part of a wave of New Mexico UIM offset class actions filed against multiple major insurers. Similar settlements have been reached with Nationwide, AAA, Liberty Mutual/Safeco, Hartford, State Farm, and Loya Insurance — all involving the same alleged Schmick offset violation under New Mexico law.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Website: MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico — Case No. 1:22-CV-616-JB-SCY (Vega v. Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Co.)
• Settlement Administrator Mailing Address: Vega v. Metropolitan Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4196, Portland, OR 97208-4196
• Settlement Administrator Phone: 877-239-5487

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official settlement website (MetropolitanUIMSettlement.com) and court records for Case No. 1:22-CV-616-JB-SCY on April 21, 2026. Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.