( September 24, 2024, 3:32 PM EDT) -- LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A New Mexico federal magistrate judge on Sept. 23 denied an auto insurer’s motion to bifurcate and stay discovery of an insured’s bad faith claims after determining that resolution of the insured’s claim for underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits will not result in the resolution of the bad faith claims because the insured alleges bad faith acts that are independent of the insurance contract....