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Allstate was our of the business of writing new policies late yesterday, but only for about 15 minutes. The First District Court of Appeal agreed the state could suspend Allstate’s certificate, then almost immediately withdrew the order. As Mike Vasilinda tells us the final outcome could turn out to be in Allstate’s favor.

It was business as usual at Allstate offices around the state. But at 5:15 Monday night, it didn’t look like any of them would be open.

“I have in my hand, a ruling from the District Court of Appeals, first district,” Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said.

Minutes later, the order allowing the state to suspend Allstate’s certificate to sell new policies was abruptly cancelled. A press release from the court said merely that the order was released too early.

For Allstate agents like John Cheney, the three month battle over records has been a roller coaster ride.

“There certainly have been some ups and downs,” Cheney said. “We’re just taking it one day at a time, trying to keep our purpose where it needs to be– taking care our customers.”

No one but the judges here really knows what happened

Court policies allow any of the 15 judges to ask for a vote to decide to hear the case. Stephen Grimes spent 24 years as an appellate and then supreme court justice. He speculates one of the judges on the court may want to hear the case.

“So far, no one had decided to call for a vote,” Grimes said. “But that doesn’t mean that somebody might not because any judge would know he has ten business days to do it.”

Court rules say no decision will be announced for another week. And Allstate agents are hoping the court will be forgiving.