TWO SHORT EASTERN DISTRICT SUMMARIES: TAKING CONTRARY POSITIONS IN SUBROGATION AND UIM CLAIMS NOT BAD FAITH; ESTATE HAS STANDING TO PURSUE BAD FAITH CLAIM (Philadelphia Federal)
Here are quick summaries of two recent Pennsylvania Eastern District bad faith cases.
TAKING CONTRARY POSITIONS IN SUBROGATION AND UNINSURED MOTORIST CASES ON INSURED’S CULPABILITY NOT BAD FAITH PER SE
The carrier denied the insured’s uninsured motorist claim on the basis that the insured was at fault. However, the carrier brought a property damage subrogation action against the other driver, claiming the other driver was solely at fault.
The insured brought breach of contract and bad faith claims on the basis the carrier admitted or conceded via the subrogation action that the other driver was wholly at fault, and could not now argue its insured was at fault. The insured moved for summary judgment on this basis. Eastern District Judge Younge denied the motion.
Judge Younge rejected the idea that either judicial estoppel or collateral estoppel applied to bind the carrier to its legal assertions in the subrogation action. Absent their application, he found summary judgment inappropriate as the insured had not met the clear and convincing evidence standard of proof for bad faith.
Finally, Judge Younge rejected the argument that the carrier breached its contract or acted in bad faith by not making a partial payment. “Plaintiff also failed to establish that he is entitled to an advance of proceeds under policy provisions. Under Pennsylvania law, the Court is not aware of any duty on the part of an insurer to make a partial payment on a UIM claim in the absence of a contractual provision requiring a partial payment or an agreement between the parties as to the value of a UIM claim.”
Date of Decision: June 29, 2021
Marrone v. Geico Insurance Company, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania No. 20-CV-4405-JMY, 2021 WL 2681388 (E.D. Pa. June 29, 2021) (Younge, J.)
ESTATE HAS STANDING TO PURSUE LIFE INSURANCE BAD FAITH CLAIM
In this life insurance bad faith case, Eastern District Judge Surrick held that the estate has standing to bring the bad faith claim, even though the decedent was not a beneficiary.
Date of Decision: July 6, 2021
Hudson v. Columbia Life Insurance Company, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania No. CV 20-5252, 2021 WL 2823074 (E.D. Pa. July 6, 2021) (Surrick, J.)
