21st Century Insurance Given Improved Rating

21st Century Insurance Co. in Woodland Hills has been upgraded to an A+ rating by A.M. Best, the world’s oldest authoritative insurance rating and information source.

The new A+ (Superior) rating represents Best’s recognition of 21st Century’s improvement since the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which forced the company to liquidate $500 million of its investment portfolio. The company paid more than $1.1 billion in earthquake-related claims

The company faced more than 100 lawsuits in 1997 after it refused to pay more than 2,000 quake claims due to its controversial interpretation of a one-year time limit to file a claim. At present, 50 claims remain unsettled.

21st Century sells automobile insurance directly to consumers in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, and homeowners insurance in California.