The insureds submitted claims under their homeowner’s insurance policy after Hurricane Irene damaged the property in August 2011, and after Hurricane Sandy damaged the property in October 2012. After the insurer initially denied coverage, the insureds filed a declaratory judgment action in state court seeking coverage under the policy. The insureds also alleged breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, among other claims. The insurer moved to dismiss the breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing claim, among others.
The Court reiterated the test to establish a claim for bad faith in New Jersey. The insured must show “‘(1) the insurer lacked a “fairly debatable” reason for its failure to pay a claim, and (2) the insurer knew or recklessly disregarded the lack of a reasonable basis for denying the claim.’” The Court held, “[the insureds] do not allege that [the insurer] knowingly or with reckless disregard denied their claim without a ‘fairly debatable reason’ for doing so.” The insureds merely alleged that they suffered property damage because of Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, and that the insurer denied these claims in breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Such conclusory allegations cannot defeat an insurer’s motion to dismiss. However, the Court gave the insureds an opportunity to amend their complaint.
Additionally, the Court dismissed the insureds’ claim for coverage as to the Hurricane Irene damage because these claims are facially untimely, and the insured failed to plead facts suggesting that equitable tolling should apply. Lastly, the Court denied the insurer’s motion to dismiss the claim for coverage of the Hurricane Sandy damage due to a factual dispute as to whether the insured’s failure to cooperate prejudiced the insurer.
Date of Decision: September 19, 2017
Kurz v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., No. 16-8681, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 152540 (D. N.J. Sept. 12, 2017) (Bumb, J.)