AUGUST 2017 BAD FAITH CASES: BASIS FOR DENYING CLAIM RELEVANT TO BOTH BAD FAITH AND BREACH OF CONTRACT CLAIMS, SUPPORTING COURT’S CERTIFYING CASE FOR IMMEDIATE APPEAL (Philadelphia Commerce Court)
In a lengthy opinion, the court ruled against the insurer on how to interpret the meaning of “actual cash value” under the policy. The issue was sufficiently significant that the Commerce Court certified its decision as a final appealable order to the Superior Court.
The case also involved a bad faith claim, which came into play when determining whether to certify the appeal. The interpretation of pertinent policy language was intertwined with the issue of whether the insurer had a reasonable basis to deny benefits and/or recklessly disregarded the potential lack of a reasonable basis to deny benefits. The “statutory bad faith analysis is quite clearly related to whether plaintiff is entitled to damages on its breach of contract claim.”
Later, the court stated that “immediate appellate review promotes judicial economy because appellate analysis will provide instruction, one way or the other, on open trial level issues relating to both class certification and bad faith. Pre-trial review in the event of affirmance is expected to be extensive and should be provided only after the threshold legal question is settled.”
Date of Decision: July 21, 2017
Kurach v. Truck Insurance Exchange, July Term 2015, No. 339, 2017 Phila. Ct. Com. Pl. LEXIS 228 (C.C.P. Phila. July 21, 2017) (Djerassi, J.) (Commerce Court)
