JULY 2018 BAD FAITH CASES: NO BAD FAITH WHERE (1) DENIAL WAS REASONABLE AND (2) THERE WAS NO DELAY IN MAKING DECISION TO DENY; COURT ALSO EXPLAINS DUTY TO REIMBURSE VS. DUTY TO DEFEND (New Jersey Appellate Division)
The central discussion in this case focused on the duty to defend as distinguished from the duty to reimburse. Where there is coverage on the face of the complaint a defense must be provided, with two exceptions. If there are covered and uncovered claims, or the coverage issue is of a kind that cannot be determined through the underlying action against the insured, then the obligation to defend becomes an obligation to reimburse defense costs if it is later determined coverage was due. Thus, an insurer can reserve its rights and dispute coverage, which can turn the duty to defend into a duty to reimburse.
In this case, there was a policy exclusion with anti-concurrent and anti-sequential language, when compared to the allegations in the complaint, made it premature “to order [the insurer] to assume responsibility for the defense since it was unclear, based on the anti-concurrent and anti-sequential language in the exclusion, whether any claims would be covered.” Thus, the duty to defend became a duty to reimburse.
The insured settled the claim, and sought recovery under the Griggs rule. Under Griggs: “Where an insurer wrongfully refused coverage and a defense to its insured, so that the insured is obliged to defend himself in an action later held to be covered by the policy, the insurer is liable for the amount of the judgment obtained against the insured or of the settlement made by him. The only qualifications to this rule are that the amount paid in settlement be reasonable and that the payment be made in good faith.” The Court refused to apply Griggs to this case where a duty to deny a defense and coverage was made in good faith.
Further, the insurer did not breach its duty of good faith in the steps taken to deny the claim. There was no unreasonable delay in denying the claim, and no purported to prejudice the insured.
This opinion provides a good overview of New Jersey law on policy interpretation and coverage disputes, coverage disputes involving exclusions, and anti-concurrent/anti-sequential clauses.
Date of Decision: July 20, 2018
Wear v. Selective Insurance Co., New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division, DOCKET NO. A-5526-15T1 A-0033-16T1, 2018 N.J. Super. LEXIS 108 (App. Div. July 20, 2018) (Koblitz, Manahan, Suter, JJ.)
