DECEMBER 2017 BAD FAITH CASES: MOTION TO DISMISS DENIED WHERE ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING LACK OF SETTELEMENT OFFERS ARE SPECIFIC ENOUGH AND SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT BAD FAITH CLAIM (Western District)
This is a report and recommendation written by the U.S. Magistrate Judge. Final determination on the issues is subject to future rulings by the District Court Judge.
The insured suffered numerous injuries after being hit head-on by a drunk and underinsured driver. The insured allegedly suffered facial scarring, facial lacerations, a cervical strain, head injuries, headaches, a broken finger, and ligament tears, among other injuries. The insured settled the underlying action with the tortfeasor’s insurer for the maximum policy limits of $15,000.
Arguing that his damages exceeded that amount, the insured filed a UIM claim under his own policy, which contained UIM benefits up to $250,000. The complaint alleges that despite providing the insurer with reasonable proofs of damages, the insurer has failed to offer any amount and has failed to offer an explanation as to why it has not made an offer.
The action was then removed to federal court. The insurer filed a motion to dismiss the bad faith claim, arguing that there exists a genuine dispute as to the value of the insured’s UIM claim. The insured argued the motion to dismiss should be denied, because the insurer’s refusal to make any offer or provide an explanation constitutes bad faith.
In construing a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the Magistrate Judge stated that “when there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement for relief.”
The magistrate recommended that the motion to dismiss be denied, because the insured’s allegations that “[the insurer] has failed to make any offers of payment on the UIM claim or any evaluations of it” are specific and sufficient to constitute bad faith at this stage of the litigation.
Lastly, the magistrate judge wrote that whether the bad faith claim survives a motion for summary judgment is a completely separate matter, which would need to be decided with a more developed discovery record.
