| Alaska Supreme Court Opinions made Available byTouch N' Go Systems and Bright Solutions |
|
|
|
| Alaska Supreme Court Opinions made Available byTouch N' Go Systems and Bright Solutions |
|
|
|
|
You can search the entire site. or go to the recent opinions, or the chronological or subject indices. Government Employees Insurance Co. v. Gonzalez (8/25/2017) sp-7195
Notice: This opinion is subject to correction before publication in the P ACIFIC REPORTER.
Readers are requested to bring errors to the attention of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts,
303 K Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, phone (907) 264-0608, fax (907) 264-0878, email
corrections@akcourts.us.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES )
INSURANCE COMPANY and ) Supreme Court Nos. S-15637/15657
MICHAEL J. LINA JR., )
) Superior Court No. 3AN-00-12188 CI
Appellants and )
Cross-Appellees,
) O P I N I O N
)
v.
) No. 7195 - August 25, 2017
)
SANDRA GONZALEZ, )
)
Appellee and )
Cross-Appellant. )
)
Appeal from the Superior Court of the State of Alaska, Third
Judicial District, Anchorage, Sen K. Tan, Judge.
Appearances: Rebecca J. Hozubin, Hozubin, Moberly,
Lynch & Associates, Anchorage, for Appellants/Cross-
Appellees. W. Michael Moody and Sarah A. Marsey,
Atkinson, Conway & Gagnon, Anchorage, and Dennis M.
Mestas, Law Offices of Dennis M. Mestas, PC, Anchorage,
for Appellee/Cross-Appellant.
Before: Stowers, Chief Justice, Winfree, Maassen, Bolger,
and Carney, Justices.
WINFREE, Justice.
----------------------- Page 2-----------------------
I. INTRODUCTION
An insured sued her auto insurer and one of its adjusters, alleging that the
insurer breached the insurance contract and committed tortious bad faith by withholding
underinsured motorist benefits and that the adjuster negligently handled her claim for
those benefits. The insurer then paid all available underinsured motorist benefits to the
insured, including interest. The insured continued her tort claims, alleging additional
financial and emotional harm from the delayed benefits payment. The insured proposed
a jury instruction addressing the effect of the insurer's belated payment, but the superior
court rejected that instruction. After trial the jury determined that (1) the insurer had
acted in bad faith, but its conduct was not a substantial factor in causing the insured's
asserted harm, and (2) the adjuster had not been negligent. The superior court
subsequently ordered the jury to award the insured nominal damages. The jury then
awarded the insured $2 in nominal damages and later awarded $450,000 in punitive
damages.
Thesuperiorcourtawardedtheinsured prevailing party costsandattorney's
fees against the insurer. The court also awarded the adjuster prevailing party attorney's
fees against the insured. The court rejected the insured's request that judgment against
the insurer be entered nunc pro tunc to the date of the jury verdict so that post-judgment
interest on the punitive damages award would start earlier.
The insurer appeals the nominal and punitive damages awards and the
prevailing party determination. The insured cross-appeals the adjuster's attorney's fees
award, the jury's failure to award compensatory damages, the court's rejection of the
insured's proposed jury instruction, and the court's refusal to enter judgment effective
from the jury verdict date. We affirm all aspects of the decision except the adjuster's
attorney's fees award - we remand for further proceedings on that issue.
-2- 7195
----------------------- Page 3-----------------------
II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
Sandra Gonzalez was injured in a 1996 car accident. Gonzalez's sister was
driving the car and pulled into the path of an oncoming vehicle; the other vehicle struck
the car's passenger side where Gonzalez was seated. Gonzalez's mother, the car's
owner, had an insurance policy with Government Employees Insurance Company
(GEICO), and GEICO paid Gonzalez $58,593.75 - the bodily injury liability coverage
policy limit with interest - to release all bodily injury claims against her mother and
sister.
In the months following the accident Gonzalez repeatedly requested
payment under the policy's underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage as well, but GEICO
did not respond to her requests. Gonzalez explicitly stated that by accepting the bodily
injury settlement she was "not waiving any right to an underinsured motorist claim later
on." Gonzalez requested UIM coverage again in 1998, and GEICO responded only by
questioning her status as an insured. In 2000, after Gonzalez again requested UIM
coverage, GEICO adjuster Michael Lina reviewed Gonzalez's UIM claim and paid her
$83,487.50, including the UIM coverage policy limits and interest. But by then
Gonzalez already had filed suit against GEICO and Lina.
Gonzalez initially tried to bring two class action claims against GEICO, but
1 and she later voluntarily
our holding in a previous appeal effectively eliminated one,
dismissed the other. That left two claims relevant to this appeal: (1) a negligent
adjusting claim against Lina, and (2) a claim that GEICO acted in bad faith by failing to
timely investigate and pay her UIM coverage benefits.
1 See Gov't Emps. Ins. Co. v. Graham-Gonzalez , 107 P.3d 279, 287 (Alaska
2005) (holding that Alaska law did not require GEICO to list premiums for each level
of optional UIM coverage on insurance application forms).
-3- 7195
----------------------- Page 4-----------------------
GEICO moved for partial summary judgment, asserting that at the time
Gonzalez's claim arose an insurer could not, as a matter of law, be liable for bad faith
failure to pay both bodily injury and UIM claims (known as "stacking"). GEICO noted
that Progressive Insurance Co. v. Simmons - holding that Alaska law required stacking
2 GEICO relied on an earlier unpublished memorandum
- had not yet been decided.
decision in Peter v. Progressive Corp., upholding a decision not to hold an insurer liable
for bad faith failure to stack.3 The superior court determined that our Peter decision had
limited precedential value because it was an unpublished decision4 and because it was
based partly on the insurer's alternative grounds for denying coverage.5 The court
denied summary judgment because Gonzalez had presented evidence of GEICO's
potentialbad faith, showing that "GEICOoffered someinsureds,butnotothers, standstill
agreements pending resolution of Simmons." Consequently the "insurer could honestly
believe that [Alaska law] required stacking but conceal that information from some
6
insureds in bad faith."
2 See 953 P.2d 510 (Alaska 1998).
3 No. S-11416, 2006 WL 438658, at *6-7 (Alaska Feb. 22, 2006).
4 Id. at *1.
5 Id. at *6 ("Progressive had two reasonable bases for denying the claim.
nder the policy and a literal interpretation of the applicable statute, the vehicles
U
involved were not 'underinsured motor vehicle[s].' Further, whether either driver was
at fault, and if so the extent of her fault, had not been determined." (alteration in
original)).
6 GEICO appeals the denial of its summary judgment motion. But because
the case proceeded to trial on the merits of the same factual issue on which the denial was
based - whether GEICO's actions constituted bad faith - we decline to consider
GEICO's summary judgment claim. See Larson v. Benediktsson, 152 P.3d 1159, 1169
(continued...)
-4- 7195
----------------------- Page 5-----------------------
A jury trial began in August 2012. Gonzalez testified about the accident
and its consequences. Prior to the accident she had worked as a housekeeper and at an
office supply store; she briefly resumed housekeeping after the accident, but the pain and
swelling in her leg and ankle prevented her from working even part time. In addition to
physicalchallenges, shesuffered financialhardship and emotional distress between1996
and 2000. Because she was unable to work, her family lived on her husband's $1,200
monthly income. During that time period she financially relied on her mother, who
loaned Gonzalez about $30,000; housed Gonzalez's family for three months; and helped
pay for a crib, diapers, a baby dresser, and expensive auto repairs. Gonzalez said that
asking her mother for money felt "terrible" and embarrassing.
After the close of evidence the parties submitted final objections to
proposed jury instructions. Gonzalez objected to the court's rejection of her proposed
Jury Instruction 38; it stated that an insurer's belated payment of contract benefits does
not relieve the insurer from liability for bad faith. The superior court nonetheless
declined to give the disputed instruction.
The next day the jury issued a special verdict finding that (1) Lina did not
negligently adjust Gonzalez's claim, and (2) GEICO acted in bad faith, but its conduct
was not "a substantial factor in causing harm to . . . Gonzalez." The bad faith finding is
at the heart of this dispute.
After the verdict Gonzalez asserted that, given the finding of bad faith, the
jury must award her at least nominal damages. The parties and the court discussed the
6 (...continued)
(Alaska 2007) (holding that when summary judgment "motions are denied on the basis
that there are genuine issues of material fact," then "the order becomes unreviewable
after a trial on the merits" (quoting Ondrusek v. Murphy, 120 P.3d 1053, 1055 n.2
(Alaska 2005))).
-5- 7195
----------------------- Page 6-----------------------
issue, and the court - to create a full record for appeal - gave the jury a supplemental
instruction on nominal damages. The instruction directed the jury to assume that
GEICO's bad faith was a substantial factor in causing Gonzalez's harm and to award
Gonzalez nominal damages, describing those as "a trivial sum of money awarded to a
litigant who has established a cause of action but has not established that she is entitled
to compensatory damages." The jury asked the court whether $0 could be a trivial sum;
the court responded that the jury must award at least $1. The jury returned a verdict
awarding Gonzalez $1 for "[m]ental suffering, anxiety, humiliation, and emotional
distress" and $1 for financial hardship. The jury then found Gonzalez also was eligible
for punitive damages. After more trial testimony and a supplemental instruction, the jury
awarded Gonzalez $450,000 in punitive damages. The jury then was excused.
The parties later disputed how to treat the jury's supplemental verdict and
damages awards. In June 2013 the superior court rejected GEICO's assertion that it was
improper for the jury to award nominal and punitive damages after finding GEICO's
conduct was not a substantial factor in causing Gonzalez's harm. The court reasoned the
jury's finding that GEICO acted in bad faith meant Gonzalez was entitled to nominal
7 The court interpreted
damages under our holding in Ennen v. Integon Indemnity Corp.
the jury's verdict to mean "the jury found that there was harm but that [Gonzalez] had
failed to prove the amount of harm to the requisite degree of certainty," consistent with
7 268 P.3d 277, 291 (Alaska 2012) (holding on facts in insurance bad faith
action that "[i]nterest alone does not compensate [the insured] for his financial hardship
and related distress, and at a minimum he is entitled to nominal damages" (citing
Anchorage Chrysler Ctr., Inc. v. DaimlerChrysler Motors Corp. , 221 P.3d 977, 990
(Alaska 2009))).
-6- 7195
----------------------- Page 7-----------------------
our nominal damages explanation in Anchorage Chrysler Center, Inc. v.
8
DaimlerChrysler Motors Corp.
The superior court then assessed the jury's punitive damages award under
the United State Supreme Court's due process guideposts outlined in BMW of North
9 The court also assessed whether the jury's punitive damages
America, Inc. v. Gore .
award impermissibly punished GEICO for its conduct toward other insureds, as well as
whether the statute allowing punitive damages was unconstitutional as applied, and
found the punitive damages award constitutional in all respects.
In November 2013 the superior court issued a judgment and an
accompanying order explaining that Gonzalez was entitled to 10.5% pre- and post-
judgment interest, with prejudgment interest accruing from August 15, 1996. The
judgment accordingly awarded Gonzalez prejudgment interest on her nominal damages
and post-judgment interest on her total judgment, including nominal and punitive
damages. Gonzalez then moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and a partial
new trial. She asked the court to change the jury's answer to the question whether
GEICO's conduct was a substantial factor in causing her harm from "no" to "yes." She
sought a new trial on "compensatory damages because the jury's failure to award any
compensatory damages was against the weight of the evidence." The court denied those
motions in a June 2014 order.
8 221 P.3d at 990 (holding that nominal damages are available "when actual
loss or injury is shown, but plaintiff has failed to prove the extent and amount of
damages" (quoting Zok v. State , 903 P.2d 574, 577-78 (Alaska 1995))).
9 517 U.S. 559, 584-86 (1996) (holding that, although thereis no "bright line
marking the limits of a constitutionally acceptable punitive damages award," jury's $2
million punitive damages award for BMW's failure to disclose that some of its cars were
repainted before sale "transcends the constitutional limit").
-7- 7195
----------------------- Page 8-----------------------
The parties also had sought attorney's fees, and in the June 2014 order the
court determined that both Gonzalez and Lina were prevailing parties. The court
awarded Gonzalez attorney's fees and costs against GEICO in the amount of
$164,019.69. A final judgment was issued awarding Gonzalez a total of $614,025.31,
including nominaland punitivedamages, attorney'sfees,costs,andprejudgmentinterest.
In August 2014 Gonzalez moved to amend the judgment nunc pro tunc for
post-judgment interest to accrue as of August 2012, when the jury verdict was issued,
rather than as of the November 2013 judgment date. The court denied that motion.
Finally, the court calculated Lina's attorney's fees. Because Lina was represented by
GEICO's counsel in the proceedings and did not adequately segregate fees he incurred
from fees GEICO incurred, the court chose to "apportion the fees in a reasonable manner
to assign to Lina his share," awarding him percentages of the requested fees for different
litigation periods.
GEICO appeals the nominal and punitive damages awards, pre- and post-
judgment interest determination, and prevailing party determination. Gonzalez cross-
appeals the denial of her proposed jury instruction, related denials of her post-trial
motions, and Lina's attorney's fees award.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
"Jury instructions involve questions of law to which we apply our
10 "[W]e review de novo whether a punitive damages award is
independent judgment."
grossly excessive under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."11 "The
determination of when prejudgment interest begins to accrue presents a legal question
10 City of Hooper Bay v. Bunyan , 359 P.3d 972, 978 (Alaska 2015) (quoting
Thompson v. Cooper , 290 P.3d 393, 398 (Alaska 2012)).
11 Casciola v. F.S. Air Serv., Inc., 120 P.3d 1059, 1062 (Alaska 2005) (citing
Cent. Bering Sea Fishermen's Ass'n v. Anderson, 54 P.3d 271, 277 (Alaska 2002)).
-8- 7195
----------------------- Page 9-----------------------
12
that we review de novo." "When applying the de novo standard of review, we apply
our 'independent judgment to questions of law, adopting the rule of law most persuasive
in light of precedent, reason, and policy.' " 13
14
We review for an abuse of discretion the denial of a motion for a new trial.
But "[m]otions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict present questions of law that
are reviewed on appeal de novo rather than deferentially."15 The parties agree that we
should review for abuse of discretion the trial court's denial of Gonzalez's motion to
16
amend the judgment nunc pro tunc.
"We review for abuse of discretion a trial court's prevailing party
determination. Prevailing party determinations will be overturned only if they are
manifestly unreasonable."17 We also review attorney's fees awards for abuse of
12 Pederson v. Barnes , 139 P.3d 552, 563 (Alaska 2006) (citing Lloyd's &
Inst. of London Underwriting Cos. v. Fulton , 2 P.3d 1199, 1210 (Alaska 2000)).
13 ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. v. Williams Alaska Petroleum, Inc., 322 P.3d
114, 122 (Alaska 2014) (quoting Russell ex rel. J.N. v. Virg-In, 258 P.3d 795, 802
(Alaska 2011)).
14 Hunter v. Philip Morris USA Inc., 364 P.3d 439, 447 (Alaska 2015)
(quoting Kava v. Am. Honda Motor Co., 48 P.3d 1170, 1173 (Alaska 2002)).
15 Borgen v. A & M Motors, Inc., 273 P.3d 575, 584 (Alaska 2012) (citing
Cameron v. Chang-Craft, 251 P.3d 1008, 1016-18 (Alaska 2011)).
16 See Snook v. Bowers, 12 P.3d 771, 775-76 (Alaska 2000) (citing Johnson
v. Doris, 933 P.2d 1139, 1142 (Alaska 1997)) (applying abuse of discretion standard to
nunc pro tunc motion treated as Alaska Civil Rule 60(b) motion).
17 Progressive Corp. v. Peter ex rel. Peter, 195 P.3d 1083, 1092 (Alaska
2008) (footnote omitted) (first citing Interior Cabaret, Hotel, Rest. & Retailers Ass'n v.
Fairbanks N. Star Borough, 135 P.3d 1000, 1002 (Alaska 2006); then citing Curran v.
Hastreiter, 579 P.2d 524, 531 (Alaska 1978)).
-9- 7195
----------------------- Page 10-----------------------
discretion and "will not find an abuse of discretion absent a showing that the award was
18
arbitrary, capricious, manifestly unreasonable, or stemmed from improper motive."
IV. DISCUSSION
The parties' points on appeal fall into four categories: jury instructions,
damages, post-trial motions, and attorney's fees.
A. Gonzalez's Proposed Jury Instruction
Gonzalez contends that the superior court erred when it rejected her
proposed Jury Instruction 38 and failed to instruct the jury about "the legal effect of
19
GEICO's belated payment." The proposed instruction, based on our Ennen decision,
stated: "The fact that an insurer ultimately pays benefits due under the contract does not
relieve it from liability for negligence or bad faith if, in its handling of the claim, it
unreasonably delayed payment of those benefits or otherwise breached its obligation of
good faith and fair dealing." Gonzalez argues that the instruction was necessary to
ensure that the jury did not believe the belated UIM benefits payment with interest cured
GEICO's bad faith. In support she notes GEICO's closing argument statement that it
"corrected" its error and "fully compensated" Gonzalez.
GEICO responds that Gonzalez mischaracterizes its closing argument and
that no prejudice resulted because Jury Instructions 26 and 30 adequately informed the
jury of the law regarding bad faith damages. Jury Instruction 26 described the bad faith
cause of action, including the requirement that Gonzalez prove "[GEICO]'s bad faith
actions were the legal cause of . . . Gonzalez's damages, if any." Jury Instruction 30
18 Alaskasland.com, LLCv. Cross , 357 P.3d 805, 825 (Alaska 2015) (quoting
Bush v. Elkins , 342 P.3d 1245, 1251 (Alaska 2015)) (citing Baker v. Ryan Air, Inc. , 345
P.3d 101, 106 (Alaska 2015); M-B Contracting Co. v. Davis , 399 P.2d 433, 437 (Alaska
1965); Tobeluk v. Lind , 589 P.2d 873, 878 (Alaska 1979)).
19 268 P.3d 277, 291 (Alaska 2012).
-10- 7195
----------------------- Page 11-----------------------
described Gonzalez's burden to prove damages. It stated that the jury "must decide how
much money, if any, will reasonably compensate . . . Gonzalez for the harm." And it
stated that "[t]he amount of damages must include an award for all harm that was caused
by [GEICO], even if the particular harm could not have been anticipated." It placed the
burden on Gonzalez to "prove the amount of her damages, if any, by a preponderance
of the evidence." Neither instruction mentioned the effect of GEICO's post-lawsuit
payment of UIM benefits with interest.
We see no reason the superior court should not have issued the proposed
instruction. It was a correct statement of the law and was consistent with Gonzalez's
20 No other jury
theory that GEICO's delayed payment did not absolve it of bad faith.
instruction expressly addressed the effect of GEICO's post-lawsuit payment,21 and
GEICO may have caused some confusion by stating at closing that "[Gonzalez] received
all of the coverages in the file. She received every last penny from that policy of
insurance. The $144,000 fully compensated her. . . . GEICO did not act in bad faith."
But we note that neither party discusses Jury Instruction 27 in this context.
That instruction set out what Gonzales was required to prove for her bad faith delayed
payment claim:
1) . . . Gonzalez suffered a loss covered under an insurance
policy with [GEICO];
2) [GEICO] was notified of the loss;
20 See Parnell v. Peak Oilfield Serv. Co. , 174 P.3d 757, 764 (Alaska 2007)
("We have previously recognized that a plaintiff is generally entitled to a jury instruction
'consonant with the theory of her case' if the evidence supports the plaintiff's theory."
(quoting Clary Ins. Agency v. Doyle , 620 P.2d 194, 201 (Alaska 1980))).
21 See id. at 765 (noting that "[t]he trial court's instructions did not otherwise
make this point"); see also Thompson v. Cooper, 290 P.3d 393, 401 (Alaska 2012)
(holding failure to instruct jury on issue central to theory of case was erroneous).
-11- 7195
----------------------- Page 12-----------------------
3) [GEICO] unreasonably, or without proper cause, denied or
delayed payment of policy benefits;
4) . . . Gonzalez was harmed; and
5) [GEICO's] denial or delay in payment of policy benefits
was a substantial factor in causing . . . Gonzalez's harm.
By stating that mere delay can lead to bad faith liability, Instruction 27
presumes that late payment of benefits is no defense to a bad faith claim, perhaps filling
much of the gap left by proposed Jury Instruction 38's absence.
And even assuming the court's failure to issue the proposed instruction was
22 Notwithstanding the proposed instruction's
error, we cannot say it caused prejudice.
absence, the jury actually found that GEICO acted in bad faith.23 And the jury's finding
that GEICO's bad faith was not a substantial factor in causing Gonzalez's harm does not
necessarily reflect a misunderstanding of the law. The harm alleged at trial - additional
damages resulting from financial and emotional distress - was separate from the direct
financial harm earlier remedied by GEICO's post-lawsuit contractual payment. In light
of Instruction 27's language expressing that Gonzalez was entitled to recover for bad
faith if GEICO had unreasonably delayed payment, we believe the jury's substantial
factor finding reflects only its assessment of these additional damages. And even if the
jury would have answered the substantial factor question differently had it received the
disputed instruction, the superior court subsequently ordered the jury to assume the
22 "When reviewing a trial court's denial of a proposed instruction, our
inquiry focuses upon whether the instructions given, when read as a whole, adequately
inform the jury of the relevant law." City of Hooper Bay v. Bunyan , 359 P.3d 972, 978
(Alaska 2015) (quoting Thompson, 290 P.3d at 398). "An error in jury instructions is
grounds for reversal only if it caused prejudice." Id. (quoting Thompson, 290 P.3d at
398-99).
23 Cf. Parnell, 174 P.3d at 765 (finding prejudice where "the jury may have
returned a different verdict").
-12- 7195
----------------------- Page 13-----------------------
answer to that question was "yes," correcting any prejudicial error relating to the
24
substantial factor question.
Although the court probably should have issued the proposed instruction,
no prejudice resulted from that decision and reversal of the compensatory damages
award is not warranted.
B. Damages
GEICO disputes the awards of nominal and punitive damages, as well as
the superior court's determination of the pre- and post-judgment interest rate for those
damages.
1. Gonzalez was entitled to nominal damages.
The jury initially found that GEICO acted in bad faith but that its bad faith
was not a substantial factor in causing Gonzalez the asserted additional harm beyond the
delayed payment. The superior court then instructed the jury "to assume that the answer
to [the substantial factor question] is 'YES' " and then "award a nominal amount of
damages." GEICO contends that the superior court erred by ordering the jury to award
nominal damages and that doing so relieved Gonzalez of the burden of proving
causation.
In its order addressing GEICO's arguments the superior court determined
that "[g]iven the jury's finding that [GEICO] acted in bad faith, under Ennen, Gonzalez
is entitled to an award of nominal damages, regardless of the jury's finding on causation
and harm." The court reasoned that "there could be multiple explanations" for the jury's
finding that GEICO's bad faith was not a substantial factor in causing Gonzalez's harm:
24 Cf. Kodiak Island Borough v. Roe , 63 P.3d 1009, 1017 (Alaska 2003)
(holding erroneous instruction was not prejudicial in part because error was not
exploited).
-13- 7195
----------------------- Page 14-----------------------
"For example, it could be that the jury found that there was harm but that plaintiff had
failed to prove the amount of harm to the requisite degree of certainty."
We agree with the superior court that the jury's finding of bad faith compels
a nominal damages award on the facts of this delayed-payment case. In Ennen we held
that the insured was entitled to nominal damages when he received the insuranceproceeds
25 We were concerned that
he was entitled to, plus interest, but only after years of delay.
allowing an insurance company to "arbitrarily deny coverage and delay payment of a
claim with no more penalty than interest on the amount owed" would undermine the
purpose of the bad faith cause of action.26 We concluded that the insured "was deprived
of the UIM benefits to which he was entitled under the policy," and the insurer's eventual
payment of those benefits did not cure its initial bad faith.27
As in Ennen, Gonzalez was deprived of the benefits to which she was
entitled, and her harm was not necessarily fully remedied by GEICO's 2000 post-lawsuit
28 GEICO's post-lawsuit payment of all the monies due Gonzalez under the
payment.
policy resolved Gonzalez's breach of contract claim. But the undisputed delay in
payment and the jury's related bad faith finding demonstrate that GEICO's delay in
paying the policy benefits caused a harm that, for bad faith tort claim purposes, cannot be
vitiated. As we similarly discuss below in connection with the punitive damages award,
an insurance company should not be allowed to buy immunity from a bad faith tort claim
25 Ennen v. Integon Indem. Corp. , 268 P.3d 277, 291 (Alaska 2012).
26 Id. (quoting State Farm Fire &Cas. Co. v. Nicholson , 777 P.2d 1152, 1156
(Alaska 1989)).
27 Id.
28 See id.
-14- 7195
----------------------- Page 15-----------------------
29
merely by belatedly paying all sums due under the contract. Therefore the superior
court correctly mandated that the jury award Gonzalez at least nominal damages for
GEICO's bad faith, post-lawsuit UIM benefits payment.
We further note that the jury instructions and the jury's verdict reflect that
the jury found the original payment delay harmed Gonzalez. Again we look to Jury
Instruction 27, which set out what Gonzalez had to prove for her bad faith claims:
Gonzalez must prove that it is more likely true than not true
that:
1) . . . Gonzalez suffered a loss covered under an insurance
policy with [GEICO];
2) [GEICO] was notified of the loss;
3) [GEICO] unreasonably, or without proper cause, denied or
delayed payment of policy benefits;
4) . . . Gonzalez was harmed; and
5) [GEICO]'s denial or delay in payment of policy benefits
was a substantial factor in causing . . . Gonzalez's harm.
By answering "yes" to the question "Did [GEICO] act in bad faith?" the jury by
implication seems to have found that each of the first four elements was satisfied with
respect to the undisputed original delay in payment, including that "Gonzalez was
harmed." As we noted earlier, this jury instruction and the related jury verdict are
precisely the reason there was no prejudicewhen Gonzalez's proposed Instruction 38 was
not given.
29 See In re Exxon Valdez , 490 F.3d 1066, 1091 (9th Cir. 2007), vacated,
Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker , 554 U.S. 471 (2008) ("A defendant cannot buy full
immunity frompunitive damages by paying the likely amount of compensatory damages
before judgment."); Ennen, 268 P.3d at 291 (without bad faith liability "insurers can
arbitrarily deny coverage and delay payment of a claim with no more penalty than
interest on the amount owed" (quoting Nicholson, 777 P.2d at 1156)).
-15- 7195
----------------------- Page 16-----------------------
The special verdict form contains other questions that appear to be drawn
from the elements listed in Instruction 27, such as "Was [GEICO]'s denial and/or delay
in payment of policy benefits unreasonable or without proper cause?" and "Was
[GEICO]'s bad faith a substantial factor in causing harm to . . . Gonzalez?" The jury in
its verdict found both unreasonable payment delay and bad faith. Given Gonzalez's
request only for damages over and above the post-lawsuit payment, the jury's answer of
"no" to the causation question cannot be interpreted to mean that GEICO did not actually
30 It is clear from the facts and the verdict that GEICO caused direct
harm Gonzalez.
pecuniary harm by its bad faith delay in paying policy benefits. But the real question,
again, is whether the post-lawsuit payment of the policy benefits can foreclose an award
of at least nominal damages based on the tortious conduct.
The superior court suggested that the jury's disputed substantial factor
finding might mean that Gonzalez "failed to prove the amount of harm to the requisite
degree of certainty." We interpret the superior court's statement to mean that Gonzalez
failed to prove additional damages, such as those resulting from financial and emotional
distress, with sufficient certainty;31 under that interpretation nominal damages would still
30 Cf. Alaska Interstate Constr., LLC v. Pac. Diversified Invs., Inc. , 279 P.3d
1156, 1174 (Alaska 2012) (holding superior court erred by not granting judgment
notwithstandingtheverdictwhenjurydeterminedoneparty committed fraud, compelling
conclusion that agreement was breached "as a matter of law"); ASRC Energy Servs.
Power &Commc'ns, LLC v. Golden Valley Elec. Ass'n , 267 P.3d 1151, 1166-67 (Alaska
2011) (ordering new trial where jury found breach of contract and although "the jury
could reasonably have disputed the amount of damage caused by the breaches, there can
be no dispute that the breaches caused . . . some damage"); Grant v. Stoyer , 10 P.3d 594,
596-97, 600 (Alaska 2000) (ordering new trial after jury found no compensable personal
injury because "there was no genuine dispute that the collision had caused [plaintiff] to
suffer some pain").
31 We recently noted the distinction between a finding of harm and a finding
(continued...)
-16- 7195
----------------------- Page 17-----------------------
be available to Gonzalez. In Anchorage Chrysler we held "that nominal damages are
typically awarded in two situations"; first as a result of "a technical invasion of a
plaintiff's rights" such as a false arrest, or second "when actual loss or injury is shown,
32 We stated that "an
but plaintiff has failed to prove the extent and amount of damages."
award of nominal damages is appropriate where a party incurs a pecuniary loss of
undetermined amount."33 Therefore, even if Gonzalez failed to adequately prove
additional damages beyond the post-lawsuit payment, she still was entitled to nominal
damages for the harm caused by GEICO's bad faith payment delay.
In sum, the jury found that GEICO acted unreasonably and in bad faith by
delaying payment of Gonzalez's UIM benefits. That bad faith payment delay caused
Gonzalez pecuniary harm. We bear in mind: (1) our Ennen holding that eventual
payment cannot cure prior bad faith; (2) our previous distinction between "harm" and
"damages";34 and (3) the actual jury instructions and special verdict in this case. Given
thesethreeconsiderations, Gonzalezwasentitledtonominal damagesdespitenot proving,
31 (...continued)
of damages resulting from that harm. See Recreational Data Servs., Inc. v. Trimble
Navigation Ltd., __ P.3d __, Op. No. 7162, 2017 WL 2951450, at *3, *14-15, *17
(Alaska Mar. 24, 2017, as amended Aug. 3, 2017) (observing that "fact of harm" and
"amount of damages" were separate issues and ordering award of nominal damages after
plaintiff sufficiently proved harm but not damages amount).
32 221 P.3d 977, 990 (Alaska 2009) (quoting Zok v. State, 903 P.2d 574, 577-
78 (Alaska 1995)).
33 Id. at 991.
34 See Recreational Data Servs., 2017 WL 2951450, at *14 (distinguishing
"the fact of damages (i.e., the fact that the plaintiff suffered harm)" from "the amount of
damages" (emphases in original)).
-17- 7195
----------------------- Page 18-----------------------
to the requisite degree of certainty, additional damages for pre-payment emotional and
35
financial distress.
We therefore affirm the superior court's rulings on this issue.
2. The punitive damages award did not violate due process.
GEICO argues that the $450,000 punitive damages award was "grossly
excessive" in violation of its constitutional due process rights. GEICO also claims that
the award unconstitutionally "punishes hypothetical injuries inflicted on non-parties."
GEICO's first argument is based on the United States Supreme Court's
interpretation of Fourteenth Amendment due process. The Court held in State Farm
Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Campbell that "[t]he Due Process Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the imposition of grossly excessive or arbitrary
36
The Court reiterated three guideposts for measuring
punishments on a tortfeasor."
punitive damages: "(1) the degree of reprehensibility of the defendant's misconduct;
(2) the disparity between the actual or potential harm suffered by the plaintiff and the
punitive damages award; and (3) the difference between the punitive damages awarded
37
by the jury and the civil penalties authorized or imposed in comparable cases."
35 The jury's second special verdict form awarded Gonzalez $1 for emotional
distress and $1 for financial hardship. But in light of our conclusion that Gonzalez was
entitled to nominal damages as a result of GEICO's bad faith, post-lawsuit payment, we
do not need to parse whether Gonzalez was entitled to nominal damages for her alleged
additional financial and emotional harm or instead for the harm resulting directly from
the delayed payment of policy benefits. Cf. Ennen v. Integon Indem. Corp. , 268 P.3d
277, 291 (Alaska 2012) (discussing additional financial and emotional distress, but
noting Ennen was entitled to at least nominal damages because "[i]nterest alone" did not
cure prior bad faith).
36 538 U.S. 408, 416 (2003) (citing Cooper Indus., Inc. v. Leatherman Tool
Grp., Inc., 532 U.S. 424, 433 (2001)).
37 Id. at 418 (citing BMW of N. Am., Inc. v. Gore, 517 U.S. 559, 575 (1996)).
-18- 7195
----------------------- Page 19-----------------------
Thefirst andmost importantguidepost,reprehensibility, consists ofmultiple
subfactors, including:
whether[] the harm caused was physical as opposed to
economic; the tortious conduct evinced an indifference to or
a reckless disregard of the health or safety of others; the target
of the conduct had financial vulnerability; the conduct
involved repeated actions or was an isolated incident; and the
harm was the result of intentional malice, trickery, or deceit,
or mere accident. [38]
Although Gonzalez was financially vulnerable, the harm was not physical
and did not implicate health or safety. There was no evidence of malice, although GEICO
repeatedly failed to investigate her UIM claim. Perhaps most favorable to Gonzalez was
the evidence that GEICO failed to disclose potentially available UIM coverage to at least
15 other insureds around the time that Gonzalez's claim was pending. Based on that
evidence GEICO's conduct was repeated, rather than isolated, indicating some
reprehensibility.
Under the second guidepost - the disparity between actual and punitive
damages - we have "not prescribe[d] a fixed ratio, or range of ratios, between punitive
and compensatory damages,"39 although we have recognized the Supreme Court's
preference for single-digit ratios.40 GEICO urges us to consider this a 225,000:1 ratio,
based on the $2 compensatory damages award and the $450,000 punitive damages award.
But the actual harm Gonzalez suffered was greater than $2. We are
persuaded by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' reasoning in In re Exxon Valdez that
38 Id. at 419 (citing Gore, 517 U.S. at 576-77).
39 Casciola v. F.S. Air Serv., Inc., 120 P.3d 1059, 1064 (Alaska 2005) (citing
Fyffe v. Wright, 93 P.3d 444, 457 (Alaska 2004)).
40 See id. at 1064, 1067 (citing Campbell, 538 U.S. at 408, 424-25).
-19- 7195
----------------------- Page 20-----------------------
Gonzalez's earlier post-lawsuit recovery of $83,487.50 in UIM benefits and interest
should be included in calculating the ratio of actual to punitive damages. 41
In that case
the court held that although an "amount that a defendant voluntarily pays before judgment
should generally not be used as part of the numerator, because that would deter
settlements prior tojudgment,"in somecasesvoluntary paymentsareproperly considered
42 As the court aptly noted,
if removing them would result in meager punitive damages.
"[a] defendant cannot buy full immunity from punitive damages by paying the likely
amount of compensatory damages before judgment."43 Although we do not wish to deter
settlements, $2 in actual harm would permit only the most meager punitive damages
under GEICO's proposed rule. And more importantly GEICO's post-lawsuit voluntary
payment did not cure its original tortious wrongdoing or immunize its conduct44 and
should not rule out the possibility of punitive damages. GEICO's calculation of the ratio
is therefore flawed. When the full UIM coverage payment GEICO made after the lawsuit
was filed is included in the calculation, the comparison of actual harm to punitive
damages is reduced to a reasonable single-digit ratio.
Under thethird guidepost -thedifferencebetweenthepenaltyimposed and
comparable civil penalties - AS 21.36.910 put GEICO on notice of the possibility of
$250,000 in penalties for violating Alaska's insurance trade practices, and
AS 09.17.020(f) expressly permits punitive damages of up to $500,000. The $450,000
41 See 490 F.3d 1066 (9th Cir. 2007), vacated, Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker,
554 U.S. 471 (2008).
42 Id. at 1079 (quoting In re Exxon Valdez, 270 F.3d 1215, 1244 (9th Cir.
2001)).
43 Id. at 1091.
44 See Ennen v. Integon Indem. Corp., 268 P.3d 277, 291 (Alaska 2012)
(holding that "[i]nterest alone does not compensate" insured for insurer's bad faith).
-20- 7195
----------------------- Page 21-----------------------
punitive damages award in this case is not significantly greater than a comparable civil
penalty and is less than the maximum punitive damages allowed by statute.45
GEICO repeatedly failed to investigate Gonzalez's and at least 15 other
insureds' UIMbenefits claims; this suggests reprehensible conduct. The ratio of the harm
suffered by Gonzalez to the punitive damages award was within a reasonable range. And
GEICO was on notice of a possible punitive damages award of up to $500,000.
Therefore, none of the three guideposts suggests that the jury's punitive damages award
violated GEICO's due process rights.
GEICO further argues that "[t]he record leaves little if any reasonable doubt
that the jury impermissibly relied on GEICO's actions in other cases in determining the
amount of its punitive damages award." GEICO cites the United States Supreme Court's
Philip Morris USA v. Williams decision, holding that "us[ing] a punitive damages award
to punish a defendant for injury that it inflicts upon nonparties . . . , i.e., injury that it
inflicts upon those who are, essentially, strangers to the litigation," would violate the
46 But the Supreme Court noted that "[e]vidence of actual
defendant's due process rights.
harm to nonparties can help show that the conduct that harmed the plaintiff also posed a
substantial risk of harm to the general public, and so was particularly reprehensible."47
In that case the plaintiff's counsel expressly - and improperly - asked the jury to
consider Philip Morris's responsibility for harm to its "market share" of smokers.48 The
trial court then denied Philip Morris's request for an instruction that the jury could not
45 See Casciola , 120 P.3d at 1066 n.22, 1069 (upholding $300,000 punitive
damages award with comparable $100,000 criminal fine).
46 549 U.S. 346, 353 (2007).
47 Id. at 355.
48 Id. at 350.
-21- 7195
----------------------- Page 22-----------------------
49
"punish the defendant for the impact of its alleged misconduct on other persons." The
Supreme Court reversed, holding that courts must protect against the risk of the jury
attempting to punish the defendant for harm to nonparties. 50
GEICOargues that the jury's punitive damages awardcanbeattributed only
to an attempt to punish the defendant for harm to other insureds, stating that "[w]ith the
finding of no harm, and the desire to award plaintiff zero damages, there can be no other
explanation other than the fact that the jury relied on the other cases as presented and
argued by plaintiff." At the close of the punitive damages portion of the trial Gonzalez's
attorney estimated that GEICO's nondisclosure of UIM coverage benefits led to about
$450,000 of financial gain. The superior court later observed "that the jury's punitive
damages award of $450,000 is suspiciously close to the figure suggested by Gonzalez's
counsel for harm incurred by other, nonparty insureds." But the court correctly noted that
the resemblance between the figures is not enough to overturn the punitive damages
award. Alaska Statute 09.17.020 permits the fact finder to consider "the amount of
financial gain" when making a punitive damages award, and that appears to have been the
51 The discussion of harm to others also was
context of Gonzalez's attorney's statement.
used as evidence of GEICO's "particularly bad conduct," a permissible reference to
reprehensibility.52 In context Gonzalez's attorney's statement was much less potentially
49 Id. at 351.
50 Id. at 357-58.
51 AS 09.17.020(c) ("[T]o determine the amount of punitive damages to be
awarded, the fact finder may consider . . . the amount of financial gain the defendant
gained or expected to gain as a result of the defendant's conduct.").
52 See Philip Morris, 549 U.S. at 355.
-22- 7195
----------------------- Page 23-----------------------
53
misleading than the express request to consider "market share"of harmin Philip Morris.
We are not persuaded that the jury in this case used punitive damages to punish GEICO
for harm to others.
GEICO lastly argues that "AS 09.17.020(f)(2) and (g)(3) are
unconstitutional because these subsections permit recovery of up to $500,000.00 and
$7,000,000.00, respectively." But those figures represent the upper limits of punitive
damages in Alaska, and that statute does not demand such awards when they would
violate the United States Supreme Court's due process decisions. GEICO's final
argument is unpersuasive, and we affirm the jury's punitive damages award.
3. The superior court correctly identified the claim accrual date
and pre- and post-judgment interest rate.
Thesuperior courtdetermined that Gonzalez's bad faithclaimarosein 1996,
54
requiring GEICO to pay 10.5% pre- and post-judgment interest. GEICO argues that
Gonzalez's claim did not arise until 1998, resulting in a much lower rate of pre- and post-
55 GEICO's argument rests on AS 09.30.070(b), which Gonzalez
judgment interest.
argues does not apply to this case.
Alaska Statute 09.30.070(b) states in pertinent part that "prejudgment
interest accrues from . . . the day the defendant received written notification that an injury
has occurred and that a claim may be brought against the defendant for that injury." But
53 Id. at 350.
54 Compare former AS 09.30.070(a) (1996), with AS 09.30.070(a); see
Marine Sol. Servs., Inc. v. Horton, 70 P.3d 393, 415 (Alaska 2003) (holding that former
version of AS 09.30.070(a), providing for 10.5% interest, applied to causes of action
accruing before August 7, 1997).
55 See Marine Sol. Servs., 70 P.3d at 415 (noting that for causes of action
accruing after August 7, 1997, interest rate is "three percentage points above the 12th
Federal Reserve District discount rate" (citing AS 09.30.070(a))).
-23- 7195
----------------------- Page 24-----------------------
we have held that AS 09.30.070(b) applies "only to actions for personal injury, death, or
56
damage to property, and does not apply to claims for purely economic loss."
In all other
cases interest begins to accrue when the claim arises, rather than when notice is
57 The superior court's decision appears to have been based both on
received.
AS 09.30.070(b) and our decision in Alderman v. Iditarod Properties, Inc. , a breach of
contract case to which that provision did not apply.58 But regardless whether
AS 09.30.070(b) applies here, the superior court did not err in its determination of the
prejudgment interest accrual date. Gonzalez's claim arose, and GEICO received notice
that Gonzalez might bring a claim, at least by August 1996. On August 7 Gonzalez's
attorney demanded UIM benefits and expressly stated that "[i]f you fail to respond to this
demand within [15 days] you will, undoubtedly, be placing your insured in an excess
59 GEICO failed to respond to
position and subjecting [GEICO] to a bad faith suit."
Gonzalez's UIM claim, leading her attorney to reiterate in an August 15 letter that
60 Gonzalez's claim
Gonzalez "will not waive her right to pursue the UIM further."
56 K & K Recycling, Inc. v. Alaska Gold Co., 80 P.3d 702, 724 (Alaska 2003)
(quoting Beaux v. Jacob, 30 P.3d 90, 100 (Alaska 2001)).
57 See Rice v. Denley, 944 P.2d 497, 501 (Alaska 1997).
58 104 P.3d 136, 145 (Alaska 2004).
59 See Pagenkopf v. Chatham Elec., Inc., 165 P.3d 634, 645 (Alaska 2007)
(holding, under AS 09.30.070(b), that a defendant "does not need to receive notice of an
actual claim, but rather only needs to receive notice that a claim may be brought"
(emphasis in original)).
60 Although we prescribe slightly different tests for when contract claims and
tort claims arise, here the "date of injury" and the "date of breach" are both August 15,
when GEICO first failed to respond to Gonzalez's demand for UIM coverage. Morris
v. Morris, 724 P.2d 527, 529 (Alaska 1986) ("In contract actions, rights to prejudgment
(continued...)
-24- 7195
----------------------- Page 25-----------------------
accrued at least as of that letter, when it became apparent that GEICO was unwilling to
investigate or pay her claim. And Gonzalez expressly put GEICO on notice of a potential
lawsuit by threatening a bad faith claim and preserving her right to continue seeking UIM
benefits. Under any theory Gonzalez was entitled to prejudgment interest as of August
1996.
C. Post-Trial Motions
Gonzalez filed a number of post-trial motions related to the verdict and
judgment, seeking judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV), a new trial, and
amendment of the judgment nunc pro tunc . Her motions for JNOV and a new trial both
arose from the jury's verdict awarding nominal damages but not compensatory damages,
an award she claims was insufficient to remedy her harm.
1. The court did not err by denying Gonzalez's JNOV motion.
Gonzalez argues that the superior court erred by denying her motion for
JNOV. Gonzalez requested that the superior court change the jury's answer to the
question whether GEICO's bad faith was a substantial factor in causing her harm from
"no" to "yes." The superior court denied the motion, stating that "[t]he evidence at trial
could lead a reasonable jury to conclude that Gonzalez did not suffer financial hardship
from the delayed payment." The court noted that Gonzalez ultimately did receive the
UIM benefits and that in the meantime she had received a bodily injury settlement. On
appeal Gonzalez argues that the superior court's reliance on those facts to support its
61
decision was flawed and that the decision was contrary to our holding in Ennen.
60 (...continued)
interest generally arise on the date of breach. In tort actions, they arise on the date of
injury.").
61 268 P.3d 277, 291 (Alaska 2012).
-25- 7195
----------------------- Page 26-----------------------
"In reviewing the denial of motions for a directed verdict or JNOV, we do
62
not weigh conflicting evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses."
"[W]e determine
whether the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party,
63
is such that reasonable persons could not differ in their judgment as to the facts."
As we interpret the verdict, the jury found that although GEICO acted in bad
faith by delaying payment and therefore caused Gonzalez some harm, Gonzalez failed to
prove that GEICO's bad faith was a substantial factor in causing additional compensatory
damages beyond GEICO's post-lawsuit payment of the policy benefits plus interest.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to GEICO, reasonable minds could
differ whether additional harm resulted from GEICO's bad faith, making JNOV
inappropriate. Although Gonzalez testified about her financial distress the jury could
have attributed her difficulties to ordinary life events, such as having a child and car
trouble, rather than to GEICO's bad faith. The superior court did not err in relying on the
facts of Gonzalez's financial circumstances, such as her receipt of the bodily injury policy
limits, as those were relevant considerations for whether Gonzalez sufficiently proved
financial and emotional damages. Nor was the court's decision contrary to Ennen,
because the issue was not whether Gonzalez was harmed by GEICO's bad faith delay of
payment - she was - but rather whether she adequately proved additional financial and
emotional harm.64 We therefore affirm the superior court's decision denying Gonzalez's
JNOV motion.
62 Ben Lomond, Inc. v. Schwartz , 915 P.2d 632, 635 (Alaska 1996) (citing
Mullen v. Christiansen , 642 P.2d 1345, 1348 (Alaska 1982); Richey v. Oen , 824 P.2d
1371, 1374 (Alaska 1992)).
63 Id. (citing Mullen, 642 P.2d at 1348).
64 See 268 P.3d at 291.
-26- 7195
----------------------- Page 27-----------------------
 |
| Case Law Statutes, Regs & Rules Constitutions Miscellaneous |
|
