Naugle v. Allstate Insurance Co.
Naugle v. Allstate Insurance Co.
Opinion of the Court
George Naugle appeals the district court’s dismissal of his claim for damages under the Kentucky Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (KUCSPA), Ky.Rev. Stat. § 302.12-302.230. For the following reasons, we AFFIRM the district court’s judgment.
Although Naugle contends that Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate) violated KUCSPA in a number of respects, the gravamen of his complaint is that Allstate failed to promptly settle his bodily injury claim arising out of an automobile accident caused by the negligence of Allstate’s insured. We apply Kentucky law in this diversity case. Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 821, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938). Indeed, plaintiffs claim is based solely upon a Kentucky statute as interpreted by the Kentucky Supreme Court.
RELEVANT FACTS
On January 24, 1996, an automobile driven by Rebecca Everhart struck, from the rear, a vehicle operated by George Naugle on Interstate 75 in Kenton County, Kentucky. At the time of the accident, Naugle was acting within the course and scope of his employment with International Paper Company. Following the accident Naugle experienced back problems. Approximately one month after the accident, he underwent back surgery to repair a herniated disc. On March 3, Naugle advised an adjuster with defendant Allstate, Ms. Everhart’s automobile insurer, that he had sustained a back injury in the accident and that he had undergone back surgery. On April 16, Naugle mailed a letter to Kelly Volpenhein, the Allstate adjuster handling the claim at that time, requesting payment of the medical bills enclosed with the letter. During a telephone conversation with an Allstate adjuster, Naugle told the adjuster that “all [he] wanted to do was get the medical bills taken care of and move on.” Naugle concedes that it was an Allstate adjuster who informed him that he had a claim for pain and suffering.
In May 1999, Naugle filed suit in a Kentucky state court against Allstate, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for violations of the following subsections of KUCSPA:
It is an unfair settlement practice for any person to commit or perform any of the following acts or omissions:
(2) Failing to acknowledge and act reasonably promptly upon communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies;
(3) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims arising under insurance policies;
(4) Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation based upon all available information;
(6) Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair, and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear; and
(14) Failing to promptly provide a reasonable explanation of the basis in the insurance policy in relation to the facts or applicable law for denial of a claim or for the offer of a compromised settlement.
Ky.Rev.Stat. § 304.12-304.230. Following removal of the suit to federal court and extensive discovery, Allstate filed a motion for summary judgment. The district court granted the motion and entered judgment dismissing the suit. Naugle timely appealed.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Rannals v. Diamond Jo Casino, 265 F.3d 442, 447 (6th Cir. 2001), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 1132, 122 S.Ct. 1074, 151 L.Ed.2d 976 (2002). Summary judgment is properly granted only when there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 56(c). We view the evidence and the inferences to be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. A mere scintilla of evidence is insufficient to overcome a motion for summary judgment; “there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-movant].” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2512, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).
DISCUSSION
The parties dispute the standard to be applied to a claim under KUCSPA against an insurer by someone other than the insured. Relying upon Farmland Mutual
We need not resolve the dispute as to which line of Kentucky Supreme Court cases applies; summary judgment was proper even under the Farmland “unreasonable” standard relied upon by appellant. Allstate did not act unreasonably, notwithstanding that Naugle’s claim was not settled for thirty-five months after the accident.
Allstate was not obligated to initiate settlement discussions with Naugle; its duty was to respond reasonably to a demand by plaintiff.
Although an insurer is under a duty to promptly investigate and pay claims where it has no reasonable grounds to resist in good faith, neither this duty nor any provision of [KUCSPA] requires the insurer to assume responsibility to investigate the amount of the claimant’s loss for the claimant.
Wittmer v. Jones, 864 S.W.2d at 891-892. Neither appellant nor his lawyer demanded payment for anything other than the medical bills prior to September 1998, when Naugle’s counsel wrote to Allstate advising that Naugle would settle for the policy limit of $100,000. The delay prior to that demand is not attributable to Allstate. Within three months thereafter, Allstate agreed to pay its policy limit.
It is significant that Allstate never attempted to settle the claim for an unreasonable amount or, in fact, for any amount less than the full policy limit. Additionally, there is no evidence that Allstate delayed payment of the claim in an attempt to gain some advantage over appellant or that Allstate made any misrepresentation concerning the applicable coverage.
Appellant contends that the “Customer Service Pledge” provided to him by Allstate was deceptive and contained misrepresentations which create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Allstate’s conduct was unreasonable. The “Customer Service Pledge” states in pertinent part that “we consider you our customer” and indicates that Allstate will “keep you informed throughout the claim process ... will conduct a quick, fair investigation of the facts in your case ... [and] will help you determine if you are eligible to receive compensation for any injuries you may have suffered.” Naugle asserts that Allstate did not follow through on these promises. We note that Allstate did, in fact, help Naugle determine that he was
CONCLUSION
The district court did not err in entering judgment dismissing plaintiff’s action with prejudice.
. Allstate was aware that plaintiff had made a claim for worker’s compensation benefits and that he had sought payment of his medical bills from his health insurer; there is no suggestión that Allstate’s requirement of an indemnity agreement for any subrogation claim was inappropriate.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- George NAUGLE v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY
- Status
- Published