MERE EXISTENCE OF CONTINUING INVESTIGATION AND NEGOTIATION RATHER THAN AN ARBITRARY AND IMMEDIATE DENIAL IMPLIES REASONABLENESS ON THE PART OF THE INSURER (Philadelphia Federal)
The insureds brought breach of contract and bad faith claims in connection with water damage to their home. Eastern District Judge Tucker granted the insurer summary judgment on the bad faith claim. She states
When Plaintiffs’ home was damaged by an overflowing toilet, [the insurer] inspected the loss and made payments on the dwelling damage and personal items it determined to be related to the loss. Later, when Plaintiffs submitted other estimates, [the insurer] reviewed those estimates to determine if payment was warranted, and that the scope of those estimates was in line with its own damage observations. When there were concerns on scope and pricing, [the insurer] asked for re-inspections and negotiated with Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs argue that the denial of payment is unreasonable because under a “replacement cost policy” like theirs, Defendant is to make payment on an actual cash value basis until the repairs are made, after which depreciation is payable to the policy holders. … But Plaintiffs fail to present sufficient evidence of unreasonableness in their claim processing. While claim negotiations were ongoing at the time suit was initiated, and reimbursement or denial of depreciation costs may have eventually taken place, the mere existence of continuing investigation and negotiation rather than an arbitrary and immediate denial implies reasonableness on the part of Defendant.
