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It is not Bad Faith Only to Deny a Claim
The California Court of Appeals dealt with a claim by Wynzell Lynn, Jr. in a breach of insurance contract case against defendants AAA Life Insurance Company and its agent, Craigory Webb. Plaintiff appealed from a final judgment of dismissal that was entered after the trial court struck certain causes of action in plaintiff’s operative complaint and sustained the defendants’ demurrer as to other causes of action, without leave to amend.
In Wynzell Lynn, Jr. v. AAA Life Insurance Company et al., F085402, California Court of Appeals, Fifth District (February 9, 2024) explained in a lengthy opinion why the trial court erred.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff purchased from defendant AAA Life Insurance Company (AAA) a life insurance policy for himself, along with a child term rider (rider) providing up to $10,000 in coverage per insured child.
According to the First Amended Complaint (FAC) plaintiff understood from his prepurchase conversations with Webb that the rider would cover all of the children in plaintiff’s household, even those without a biological or legally defined relationship (i.e., as an adopted child, foster child, or stepchild) to him. However, when one of the children in plaintiff’s household-17-year-old Mahki Bowen-was murdered while the rider was in effect, AAA rejected plaintiff’s claim for coverage because Bowen was not plaintiff’s biological or legally recognized child (i.e., adopted child, foster child, or stepchild).
When plaintiff first contacted Webb within their household were four children under the age of 19: three with plaintiff’s surname, plus Bowen, who was the biological child of plaintiff’s fiancee and another man. Bowen’s biological father had died in 2007, when Bowen was four years old, and Bowen had lived in plaintiff’s household, as part of plaintiff’s family, since he was about six years old. Although the FAC alleges that Bowen “was [plaintiff’s child since he was approximately six years old,” all agree that Bowen was not plaintiff’s biological, step, adopted, or foster child.
Webb, as the agent for the insurer, stated, “‘the rider covers all your children for $7.00.”
The three-page rider contained the following relevant provisions. The rider “provides term life insurance coverage for each Insured Child.” An Eligible Child must be dependent upon the Insured for support and living within the Insured’s household or attending an educational institution as a full-time or part-time student.
In November 2020, about seven months after plaintiff’s policy became effective, tragically, Bowen was fatally shot. On the date of his death, Bowen was 17 years old, unmarried, financially dependent on plaintiff, and living in plaintiff’s household. Plaintiff contacted Webb to inform him of the death, and Webb “again represented to [plaintiff] that the Child Term Rider would provide coverage” and told plaintiff how he could initiate his claim. AAA formally denied plaintiff’s claim under the rider, stating in its final rejection letter that Bowen was “not a ‘qualifying child.’ ”
DISCUSSION
Breach of Contract (Express Contract Theory)
The trial court sustained the demurrer for failure to plead a breach of the rider by AAA.
Here, the definition of “Eligible Child” as it appears in the rider’s first paragraph is, on its face, ambiguous, in that it is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation as to whom the term covers . The Court of Appeals noted that definition of this term as denoted in the first paragraph, can reasonably be read as the trial court read it, to limit coverage as of the policy’s effective date, to children who meet all of the undisputed criteria and are the insured’s biological, adopted, step, or foster children (that is, children who are encompassed in the categories specified in the second paragraph of the definition). The definition can also reasonably be read to provide coverage, as of the policy’s effective date, for children who meet all of the undisputed criteria and are openly held out by the insured to be his children, consistent with California parentage law. As discussed below, “California parentage law creates a presumption that a person who openly holds out a child as his own is the child’s natural parent.” (emphasis added)
To the extent the rider can reasonably be interpreted to provide coverage for a child with a relationship to the insured akin to Bowen’s relationship with plaintiff, the FAC properly pleads the element of breach-the only element the trial court found missing.
Defendants’ contention that the phrase “all of the Insured’s. children” an interpretation of the rider to the effect it covers children who were adopted by the insured or became his stepchildren or court-appointed foster children after it took effect, but not the insured’s existing adopted children, stepchildren, and court-appointed foster children as of its effective date, would be unreasonable.
The Court of Appeals concluded that “Eligible Child” in the first paragraph of the rider is ambiguous, in that it is reasonably susceptible to two interpretations.The FAC, liberally construed, indicates that plaintiff held Bowen out as his child; the FAC also alleges that Bowen lived in plaintiff’s household and was dependent on plaintiff for support. Accordingly, in light of its ambiguity, the definition of “Eligible Child” in the first paragraph must be construed to protect that expectation.
In addition, in Shade Foods, Inc. v. Innovative Products Sales &Marketing, Inc. (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 847 (Shade Foods) the Court of Appeals held that an insurance carrier is “bound by its agent’s interpretation of coverage under the policy,” and an agent’s authority to bind the principal “unquestionably extends to giving ambiguous contract provisions an interpretation that the insurer itself might reasonably adopt.” As a result, the court concluded, the insurer was “bound by its agent’s interpretation of the contract.”
Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
The mere fact that an insurer withholds coverage based on an erroneous interpretation of the policy does not necessarily mean there was a breach of the covenant; to be liable in tort, the insurer must have acted unreasonably. Although the reasonableness of an insurer’s denial of benefits” ‘is ordinarily a question of fact,'” a court can conclude as a matter of law that an insurer’s denial of a claim is not unreasonable, as long as there existed a genuine issue as to the insurer’s liability.
The trial court’s dismissal of the FAC’s cause of action for breach of contract on an express contract theory, defendants argue in the alternative that plaintiff cannot plead this tort claim (i.e., breach of the covenant) because AAA’s interpretation of the rider was reasonable and therefore shielded by the genuine dispute doctrine. The Court of Appeals agreed with AAA and it affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s breach of covenant claim.
Negligence
An insurance agent has an obligation to use reasonable care, diligence, and judgment in procuring insurance requested by an insured. The law is well established in California that an agent’s failure to deliver the agreed-upon coverage may constitute actionable negligence and the proximate cause of an injury. Accordingly, it concluded the FAC alleges adequate facts to show a special duty of care, breach of that duty, causation, and damages.
The judgment of dismissal was, therefore, reversed. The matter is remanded with instructions to the trial court to vacate the order sustaining the demurrer without leave to amend and to enter a new order (1) overruling the demurrer to the breach of contract (express contract theory) cause of action and (2) sustaining the demurrer to the breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing cause of action with leave for plaintiff to further amend his complaint to allege, if he is able, causes of action against AAA for breach of contract by estoppel, against AAA and Webb for violation of Business and Professions Code section 17200 et seq., against AAA and Webb for negligent misrepresentation, against AAA and Webb for negligence, and for reformation based on mutual mistake. The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.
ZALMA OPINION
This case, over a $10,000 dispute, went through a claim denial, a demurrer dismissing the entire action, an appeal, a reversal of the breach of contract claim, and a return to the trial court to allow amendment of a statutory breach claim, if possible, and trial on the breach of contract case. No bad faith because it took the court to find a statute making a person “held out as a son” to be a son even if there is no physical, natural relationship nor a relationship by adoption. This is a case where the concept of “millions for defense and not a dime for tribute” requires reconsideration, mediation and settlement.
(c) 2024 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Notice of Claim Later than 60 Days After Expiration is Too Late
Post 5089
Injury at Massage Causes Suit Against Therapist
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Hiscox Insurance Company (“Hiscox”) moved the USDC to Dismiss a suit for failure to state a claim because the insured reported its claim more than 60 days after expiration of the policy.
In Mluxe Williamsburg, LLC v. Hiscox Insurance Company, Inc., et al., No. 4:25-cv-00002, United States District Court, E.D. Missouri, Eastern Division (May 22, 2025) the trial court’s judgment was affirmed.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, the operator of a massage spa franchise, entered into a commercial insurance agreement with Hiscox that provided liability insurance coverage from July 25, 2019, to July 25, 2020. On or about June 03, 2019, a customer alleged that one of Plaintiff’s employees engaged in tortious ...
ZIFL – Volume 29, Issue 11
The Source for the Insurance Fraud Professional
Posted on June 2, 2025 by Barry Zalma
Post 5087
See the full video at and at
Read the full article and the full issue of ZIFL June 1, 2025 at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ZIFL-06-01-2025.pdf
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter – June 1, 2025
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ZIFL – Volume 29, Issue 11
The Source for the Insurance Fraud Professional
Read the full article and the full issue of ZIFL June 1, 2025 at https://lnkd.in/gTWZUnnF
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 29th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at ...
No Coverage if Home Vacant for More Than 60 Days
Failure to Respond To Counterclaim is an Admission of All Allegations
Post 5085
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In Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company v. Rebecca Massey, Civil Action No. 2:25-cv-00124, United States District Court, S.D. West Virginia, Charleston Division (May 22, 2025) Defendant Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company's (“Nationwide”) motion for Default Judgment against Plaintiff Rebecca Massey (“Plaintiff”) for failure to respond to a counterclaim and because the claim was excluded by the policy.
BACKGROUND
On February 26, 2022, Plaintiff's home was destroyed by a fire. At the time of this accident, Plaintiff had a home insurance policy with Nationwide. Plaintiff reported the fire loss to Nationwide, which refused to pay for the damages under the policy because the home had been vacant for more than 60 days.
Plaintiff filed suit ...
ZIFL Volume 29, Issue 10
The Source for the Insurance Fraud Professional
See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gK_P4-BK and at https://lnkd.in/g2Q7BHBu, and at https://zalma.com/blog and at https://lnkd.in/gjyMWHff.
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 29th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/ You can read the full issue of the May 15, 2025 issue at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ZIFL-05-15-2025.pdf
This issue contains the following articles about insurance fraud:
Health Care Fraud Trial Results in Murder for Hire of Witness
To Avoid Conviction for Insurance Fraud Defendants Murder Witness
In United States of America v. Louis Age, Jr.; Stanton Guillory; Louis Age, III; Ronald Wilson, Jr., No. 22-30656, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (April 25, 2025) the Fifth Circuit dealt with the ...
Professional Health Care Services Exclusion Effective
Post 5073
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This opinion is the recommendation of a Magistrate Judge to the District Court Judge and involves Travelers Casualty Insurance Company and its duty to defend the New Mexico Bone and Joint Institute (NMBJI) and its physicians in a medical negligence lawsuit brought by Tervon Dorsey.
In Travelers Casualty Insurance Company Of America v. New Mexico Bone And Joint Institute, P.C.; American Foundation Of Lower Extremity Surgery And Research, Inc., a New Mexico Corporation; Riley Rampton, DPM; Loren K. Spencer, DPM; Tervon Dorsey, individually; Kimberly Dorsey, individually; and Kate Ferlic as Guardian Ad Litem for K.D. and J.D., minors, No. 2:24-cv-0027 MV/DLM, United States District Court, D. New Mexico (May 8, 2025) the Magistrate Judge Recommended:
Insurance Coverage Dispute:
Travelers issued a Commercial General Liability ...
A Heads I Win, Tails You Lose Story
Post 5062
Posted on April 30, 2025 by Barry Zalma
"This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud that explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is designed to help everyone to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the Perpetrators than any Other Crime."
Immigrant Criminals Attempt to Profit From Insurance Fraud
People who commit insurance fraud as a profession do so because it is easy. It requires no capital investment. The risk is low and the profits are high. The ease with which large amounts of money can be made from insurance fraud removes whatever moral hesitation might stop the perpetrator from committing the crime.
The temptation to do everything outside the law was the downfall of the brothers Karamazov. The brothers had escaped prison in the old Soviet Union by immigrating to the United...