Fadeef v. State Farm General Insurance Co. ( 2020 )

Filed 7/1/20 (unmodified opn. attached)
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
LEONARD FADEEFF et al.,
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
A155691
v.
STATE FARM GENERAL (Mendocino County Super. Ct.
INSURANCE COMPANY, No. SCTMCVG1768908)
ORDER MODIFYING OPINION
Defendant and Respondent.
AND DENYING REHEARING
BY THE COURT:
It is ordered that the opinion filed herein on May 22, 2020, be modified as follows:
In the last sentence on page 13, the words “the reasonableness of State Farm’s
coverage position” should be deleted and replaced with the word “it”. The sentence will
now read “The problem with this argument is that it was not the basis for the motion for
summary judgment.”
This modification does not change the judgment. The Petition for Rehearing is
denied.
Dated:___________________ _________________________
Kline, P.J.
1
Filed 5/22/20; Certified for publication 6/8/20 (order attached) (unmodified opinion)
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
LEONARD FADEEFF et al.,
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
A155691
v.
STATE FARM GENERAL (Mendocino County Super. Ct.
INSURANCE COMPANY, No. SCTMCVG1768908)
Defendant and Respondent.
Leonard and Patricia Fadeeff’s home and personal property were
damaged by the 2015 Valley Fire that swept across a wide swath of northern
California. Their insurer, State Farm General Insurance Company (State
Farm), paid for cleaning, repairs and some living expenses, but denied the
Fadeeffs’ supplemental demand for policy benefits for additional repairs and
contents replacement. The Fadeeffs sued State Farm for breaching the
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in their property policy,
commonly known as insurance bad faith, and sought punitive damages. The
trial court granted State Farm’s motion for summary judgment. The
Fadeeffs appeal, and we now reverse.
1
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The Fadeeffs’ home in Hidden Valley Lake, California was insured
under a State Farm homeowners’ policy that covered building loss and
personal property. In September 2015, the Valley Fire in Lake County
caused smoke damage to the Fadeeffs’ property, which they timely reported.
Shortly thereafter State Farm was aware that the linen wall covering inside
the home had started to buckle and that one of the Fadeeffs had asthma and
other health concerns. With State Farm’s approval, the Fadeeffs retained
ServPro to assist with smoke and soot mitigation and cleaning. State Farm
“call[ed] the shots” with respect to what ServPro could do in connection with
the Fadeeffs’ claim. ServPro power washed the exterior siding of the home to
clean smoke, soot and ash.
State Farm inspected the Fadeeffs’ property on October 3, 2015. The
file notes from its independent adjuster Greg Gannaway state that the home
was “well maintained with no apparent deferred maintenance” and that “[a]ll
damage is related to smoke and soot.” State Farm found smoke and soot on
the interior walls, ceilings and carpeting, and on all exterior elevations
including on the very large deck and handrail.
State Farm made a series of payments in October, November and
December on the Fadeeffs’ claim totaling about $50,000.1
The Fadeeffs hired a public adjuster and submitted supplemental
claims for further dwelling repairs and additional contents replacement in
January 2016, totaling approximately $75,000.
1 The payments on the claim were allocated to Coverage A (Building)
$17,444.72, Coverage B (Contents) $29,603.20, and Coverage C (Additional
Living Expenses) $5,053.94, less the $2,038 deductible.
2
State Farm used a different independent adjuster (James Carpenter) to
investigate the supplemental claims. Carpenter is not a licensed adjuster in
California, nor is he licensed in any building trade. He inspected the
Fadeeffs’ property in March 2016 and stated he could not find smoke damage.
In connection with the supplemental claims, State Farm retained
Forensic Analytical Consulting Services (FACS) to inspect the Fadeeffs’ home
and a company called HVACi to inspect the Fadeeffs’ HVAC system.
State Farm has an internal “Operations Guide” for the use of third-
party experts in handling first party claims. It requires that adjusters
prepare a written referral letter to the third-party expert that “provide[s]
clear and concise instructions, and list[s] the specific question(s) to be
addressed by the independent expert.” The Operations Guide includes a
template letter for this purpose.2 Carpenter was unaware of the Operations
Guide regarding the use of third-party experts, and the retention letter
issued by State Farm to FACS did not provide “[a list of] the specific
questions to be addressed,” as required by the Operations Guide. State Farm
did not issue a referral letter at all when it retained HCAVi.
FACS took only surface samples from the Fadeeffs’ home. David
Brinkerhoff (the certified industrial hygienist for FACS), did not sample the
backside of any materials, from wall cavities, behind outlets and light switch
plates, or under floor coverings. According to Brinkerhoff, air samples were
not within FACS’s scope of work. FACS’s report states that it “recommends
cleaning and restoration” in cases of “distinct observable smoke odor” or
2 The template is formatted as a letter, with blanks for the claim
number and policy holder. It includes this language: “Specifically, we are
seeking an objective expert opinion, including supporting information,
relating to the following question(s):” “(insert one or more questions)” and
then has three blank lines numbered 1, 2, 3.
3
“clearly visible debris, staining, or corrosion indicative of fire related smoke
particle deposition.” Brinkerhoff determined that no additional cleaning was
required to address smoke or fire damage.
The FACS report noted other “sources of combustion” at the Fadeeffs’
property, including an outdoor propane barbeque, a wood fireplace in the
bedroom, a wood stove, and candles that had been burned in the living room.
Brinkerhoff testified that he never asked the Fadeeffs when they had last
used any of these sources of combustion.
The FACS and HVACi reports supported Carpenter’s conclusion to
deny those portions of the supplemental claims they addressed. State Farm
sent a letter dated April 25, 2016, to the Fadeeffs’ public adjuster denying all
of the supplemental claims and included copies of the two reports.
Two specifics of State Farm’s April 25, 2016 denial letter (signed by
Carpenter) are particularly relevant to the issues before us:
State Farm denied the Fadeeffs’ supplemental claim for repairs to the
exterior paint and for the interior “wallpaper and . . . carpet” based on
Carpenter’s conclusion that the damage was due to wear, tear, and
deterioration.
State Farm denied coverage for the rear deck because it concluded that
this portion of the exterior “did not sustain accidental direct physical loss and
therefore, there is no apparent smoke or fire (ember) damage.” (This is
apparently contrary to the initial inspection on October 3, stated above,
describing smoke and soot on the very large deck.)
The Fadeeffs filed suit against State Farm for insurance bad faith and
punitive damages. They also sued ServPro for negligence in its performance
of emergency services, causing further damage to the Fadeeffs’ property.
4
State Farm moved for summary judgment on the ground that the
“genuine dispute” doctrine defeats the bad faith claim where an insurer
reasonably relies upon an expert opinion in reaching a claim decision. State
Farm’s theory was that the retention of FACS and HVACi demonstrated its
“good faith effort to investigate the claim,” and without regard to whether the
Fadeeffs contest those opinions, it is “undisputed that State Farm reasonably
relied upon them in determining that no additional amounts were owed on
the claim. At the very least, this is a classic ‘genuine dispute’ upon which
plaintiffs cannot, as a matter of law, base a bad faith cause of action.”
The Fadeeffs’ written opposition to the motion included a request for a
continuance to take discovery under Code of Civil Procedure section 437c,
subdivision (h).3 As to the merits, the Fadeeffs argued that there were
multiple material disputes as to whether State Farm acted unreasonably in
denying the Fadeeffs’ supplemental claims. The Fadeeffs submitted the
declaration of James Irmiter, a senior project manager for Forensic Building
Science, Inc. (FBS) who they had retained to conduct a survey of fire debris
damage to their home. FBS’s preliminary report, included in the Fadeeffs’
evidence, concluded that based on site inspection and soot sampling, the
Fadeeffs’ property was damaged by deposits of soot throughout the structure
that had not yet been completely removed, and that removal of all wall and
ceiling finishes, exposed wall and roof insulation, HVAC equipment, cavity
insulation and conduit with any opening would be required for proper
cleaning and remediation. The FBS preliminary report also contained a
section entitled “[r]eview of FACS report,” with comments on specific
statements in the FAC report. The Fadeeffs also submitted a declaration of
3All statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure unless
otherwise stated.
5
their independent public adjuster, David DeTinne, and a declaration of their
trial counsel, Christopher Carling, addressing the continuance issue and
authenticating certain documents.
At the hearing on the summary judgment motion, the trial court did
not address the request for continuance. It sustained State Farm’s objections
to portions of the Irmiter declaration and to the entire attached FBS report
on foundation and hearsay grounds, the effect of which was to gut the
Fadeeffs’ proffered evidence contradicting State Farm’s expert FACS. The
court then granted State Farm’s motion for summary judgment, and later
signed without modification the proposed order prepared by State Farm.
This appeal followed, raising two issues: whether the trial court erred
in not granting appellants’ request for continuance, and whether the trial
court erred in granting the motion for summary judgment.
DISCUSSION
I.
For a defendant to prevail on a motion for summary judgment, it must
show that at least one element of plaintiff’s cause of action cannot be
established, or the defendant has an affirmative defense. (§ 437c, subd. (o);
Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 853.) We review de
novo the trial court’s grant of summary judgment. (Duarte v. Pacific
Specialty Ins. Co. (2017) 13 Cal.App.5th 45, 52.) We view the evidence in the
light most favorable to the nonmoving party. (Saelzer v. Advanced Group 400
(2001) 25 Cal.4th 763, 768.)
In insurance policies, as in all contracts, the law implies a covenant of
good faith and fair dealing, and an insurer’s denial or delay in paying policy
benefits can give rise to tort damages if the denial or delay was unreasonable.
6
(Wilson v. 21st Century Ins. Co. (2007) 42 Cal.4th 713, 720, 723 (Wilson).)4
“As a close corollary of that principle, it has been said that ‘an insurer
denying or delaying the payment of policy benefits due to the existence of a
genuine dispute with its insured as to the existence of coverage liability or
the amount of the insured’s coverage claim is not liable in bad faith even
though it might be liable for breach of contract.’ (Chateau Chamberay
Homeowners Assn. v. Associated International Ins. Co. (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th
335, 347 [(Chateau Chamberay)].) This ‘genuine dispute’ or ‘genuine issue’
rule was originally invoked in cases involving disputes over policy
interpretation, but in recent years courts have applied it to factual disputes
as well. [Citations.]
“The genuine dispute rule does not relieve an insurer from its
obligation to thoroughly and fairly investigate, process and evaluate the
insured’s claim. A genuine dispute exists only where the insurer’s position is
maintained in good faith and on reasonable grounds.” (Wilson, supra, 42
Cal.4th at p. 723.)
Ordinarily, reasonableness is a factual issue to be decided by a jury.
(See CACI No. 2331 [in insurance bad faith action, plaintiff must prove “that
4 As the court explained in Wilson, “While an insurance company has
no obligation under the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing to pay
every claim its insured makes, the insurer cannot deny the claim ‘without
fully investigating the grounds for its denial.’ . . . By the same token, denial of
a claim on a basis unfounded in the facts known to the insurer, or
contradicted by those facts, may be deemed unreasonable. ‘A trier of fact
may find that an insurer acted unreasonably if the insurer ignores evidence
available to it which supports the claim. The insurer may not just focus on
those facts which justify denial of the claim.’ [Citations.]” (Wilson, supra, 42
Cal.4th at pp. 720-721.)
7
the [insurer] unreasonably [failed to pay/delayed payment of] policy
benefits”].)
Our Supreme Court in Wilson explained how the “ ‘genuine dispute’ ”
rule (sometimes known as the “ ‘genuine issue’ ” rule or doctrine) works with
the standards for determining motions for summary judgment. The short
answer is that it does not change the rules. (Wilson, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p.
724.) “ ‘The genuine issue rule in the context of bad faith claims allows a
[trial] court to grant summary judgment when it is undisputed or
indisputable that the basis for the insurer’s denial of benefits was
reasonable—for example, where even under the plaintiff’s version of the facts
there is a genuine issue as to the insurer’s liability under California law.
[Citation.] . . . On the other hand, an insurer is not entitled to judgment as a
matter of law where, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the
plaintiff, a jury could conclude that the insurer acted unreasonably.’
[Citation.] Thus, an insurer is entitled to summary judgment based on a
genuine dispute over coverage or the value of the insured’s claim only where
the summary judgment record demonstrates the absence of triable issues (. . .
§ 437c, subd. (c)) as to whether the disputed position upon which the insurer
denied the claim was reached reasonably and in good faith.” (Ibid.)
As Justice Croskey wrote in Chateau Chamberay, whether the genuine
dispute doctrine can be applied in cases involving “purely a factual dispute”
between an insurer and its insured can only be decided on a case-by-case
basis. (Chateau Chamberay, supra, 90 Cal.App.4th at p. 348.) “[W]here an
insurer, for example, is relying on the advice and opinions of independent
experts, then a basis may exist for invoking the doctrine and summarily
adjudicating a bad faith claim in the insurer’s favor. (Fraley v. Allstate Ins.
Co. [(2000)] 81 Cal.App.4th [1282,] 1293; Guebara v. Allstate Ins. Co. [(9th
8
Cir. 2001)] 237 F.3d [987,] 994.) We concur, however, with the caveat
advanced by the Guebara court. It cautioned that an expert’s testimony will
not automatically insulate an insurer from a bad faith claim based on a
biased investigation. It suggested several circumstances where a biased
investigation claim should go to jury: (1) the insurer was guilty of
misrepresenting the nature of the investigatory proceedings . . .; (2) the
insurer’s employee’s lied during the depositions or to the insured; (3) the
insurer dishonestly selected its experts; (4) the insurer’s experts were
unreasonable; and (5) the insurer failed to conduct a thorough investigation.
[Citation.]” (Chateau Chamberay, supra, at pp. 348-349.)
Justice Croskey cautioned that this list is “certainly not intended to be
exhaustive” of the circumstances that might justify submitting the existence
of whether there was a “ ‘genuine dispute’ ” to a jury. “Nor, we must also add,
may an insurer insulate itself from liability for bad faith conduct by the
simple expedient of hiring an expert for the purpose of manufacturing a
‘genuine dispute.’ ” (Chateau Chamberay, supra, 90 Cal.App.4th at p. 349, fn.
8.)
Put another way, the “dispute . . . must be genuine. An insurer cannot
claim the benefit of the genuine dispute doctrine based on an investigation or
evaluation of the insured’s claim that is not full, fair and thorough.” (Bosetti
v. United States Life Ins. Co. (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 1208, 1237.)
II.
The Fadeeffs requested continuance of the summary judgment hearing5
on the ground that since State Farm’s motion was based on the retention of
5 Section 437c subdivision (h) provides in pertinent part that if it
appears from “affidavits submitted in opposition to a motion for summary
judgment . . . that facts essential to justify opposition may exist but cannot,
for reasons stated, be presented, the court shall deny the motion, order a
9
experts as demonstrating its reasonableness as a matter of law, they needed
discovery as to whether those firms were biased, truly independent, or
otherwise interested in the outcome.
The request was supported by the declaration of trial counsel
Christopher Carling, identifying and attaching copies of then-outstanding
discovery requests, and describing the status of the responses (or non-
responses).
State Farm opposed the request for continuance. It argued that the
Fadeeffs had already taken discovery of the State Farm claims handlers and
Brinkerhoff, who had written the FACS report, and that the outstanding
discovery was untimely, went beyond the scope of the claim and would not
provide admissible evidence.
A leading practical treatise summarizes section 437c, subdivision (h)
this way: “[A] continuance (normally a matter within the court’s discretion)
is ‘virtually mandated’ where the nonmoving party makes the requisite
showing. The party need not show that essential evidence does exist, but
only that it may exist. [Dee v. Vintage Petroleum Inc. (2003) 106 Cal.App.4th
30, 34 (emphasis added; internal quotes omitted); Frazee v. Seely (2002) 95
Cal.App.4th 627, 634.]” (Weil et al., Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Procedure
Before Trial (The Rutter Group 2019) ¶ 10.207, p. 10-87.)
We review a trial court’s decision on a continuance under the abuse of
discretion standard. (Knapp v. Doherty (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 76, 100.)
Having made the written request for continuance, the Fadeeffs’ trial
counsel did not bring up the issue at the hearing on the motion for summary
judgment. The trial court did not rule on the motion for continuance either at
continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or discovery to be had, or
make any other order as may be just.”
10
the hearing or in its written order. The court simply did not exercise its
discretion to determine whether a continuance was warranted and on what
terms. A trial court’s failure to exercise discretion is itself an abuse of
discretion. (Kim v. Euromotors West/The Auto Galley (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th
170, 176.) The Fadeeffs urge us to remand for the trial court to exercise its
discretion. But we need not do that here, because as we will explain below,
State Farm did not demonstrate that the insurance bad faith claim failed as a
matter of law.
III.
A.
On appeal, the Fadeeffs argue that there were several separate aspects
to their supplemental claims, as enumerated in the April 25, 2016 denial
letter written by State Farm adjuster Carpenter. Some supplemental claims
were related to the exterior of the home, some related to the interior, others
related to contents. Some of those claims, the Fadeeffs argue, were denied by
State Farm without reliance on any expert and are simply the conclusions of
the adjuster, Carpenter; the Fadeeffs argue that as to these claims, State
Farm did not establish a good faith dispute as a matter of law that would
defeat their bad faith claim.
One example, amplified by the Fadeeffs in their briefing, is itself
sufficient to deny summary judgment. The Fadeeffs made a supplemental
claim for damage to the exterior of their home. As we have noted, ServPro
power washed the exterior siding of the home to clean smoke, soot and ash.
Patricia Fadeeff testified that after the power washing, paint was chipped all
over the house, and that none of the paint had been chipped before the fire.
Accordingly, the Fadeeffs argued that the power washing caused damage,
and damage consequential to the repairs should have been covered as
11
required by state claims handling regulations.6 But in the April 25, 2016
denial letter, State Farm denied the claim on the ground that it was due to
wear and tear. (“The exterior paint is peeling and is chipped and this is not
smoke or fire (ember) damage. Peeling and chipped paint is representative of
wear, tear and deterioration of the painted exterior surface of the home.”)
In making its motion for summary judgment, State Farm did not
contend that its conclusion about wear and tear damage to the exterior of the
home was based on the finding of its expert. State Farm did not dispute that
it “denied coverage for the exterior paint based on its unlicensed adjuster,
Mr. Carpenter’s conclusion that the damage was due to wear, tear and
deterioration.”
To begin, State Farm’s reliance on Carpenter undermines its argument
that it reasonably relied on experts in denying the Fadeeffs’ claim.
Furthermore, recall that the record shows that different State Farm
independent adjuster (Greg Gannaway) had inspected the Fadeeffs’ home on
October 3, 2015, and found the home was “well maintained with no deferred
maintenance. All damage [was] related to smoke and soot.” Yet in the April
25, 2016 supplemental claims denial letter, adjuster Carpenter concluded
that the exterior damage was due to wear and tear. The Fadeeffs contend
from this evidence that State Farm denied a supplemental claim based on the
unsupported (and contradicted) conclusions of its second adjuster that the
damage was preexisting. Was there preexisting wear and tear or was there
damage to a well-maintained home by power washing after a wildfire? To
6 Appellants cite California Code of Regulations, title 10,
section 2695.9(a)(1) (“consequential physical damage incurred in making the
repair or replacement not otherwise excluded by the policy will be included in
the loss”).
12
ask the question shows that State Farm has not established that it is
“undisputed or indisputable that the basis for the insurer’s denial of benefits
was reasonable.” (Wilson, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 724.)
State Farm counters by citing the declaration of Brinkerhoff (the
industrial hygienist for FACS) that he visually inspected the interior and
exterior of the home, and collected samples from various areas on the interior
and exterior, that he prepared a report with photographs of the structure and
contents, and that the April 25, 2016 claim denial letter to the Fadeeffs’
public adjuster states it was “[b]ased upon the results of our discussions, site
inspections, received reports and investigation.”
But even assuming all of this is true, State Farm’s argument is
unavailing because nothing in the FACS report or Brinkerhoff’s declaration
refers to peeling or chipped exterior paint or wear, tear or deterioration.
State Farm also argues that the apparent contradiction between the
two independent adjusters retained by State Farm about the condition of the
exterior is insufficient to create a dispute as to the reasonableness of State
Farm’s actions because Gannaway’s notes in the State Farm claim file from
October 3, 2015, are inadmissible hearsay. We may, and do, decline to
consider this argument because it is raised only in a footnote. (Sabi v.
Sterling (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th 916, 947.) In any event, Gannaway’s notes
bear the earmarks of a business record. (Evid. Code, § 1271.)
Finally, State Farm argues that even if the Fadeeffs are correct that
ServPro caused damage, this damage would be excluded from the Fadeeffs
State Farm coverage, and therefore its denial of additional benefits for this
claim is indisputably reasonable. The problem with this argument is that the
reasonableness of State Farm’s coverage position was not the basis for the
13
motion for summary judgment. At trial, of course, State Farm will be free to
argue this position.
Briefly, we conclude there are other disputed facts that make summary
judgment inappropriate on similar grounds. As another example, State Farm
denied coverage for the “wallpaper and . . . carpet” aspect of the supplemental
claim based on adjuster Carpenter’s conclusion that the damage was due to
wear, tear and deterioration. In its motion for summary judgment, State
Farm did not contend that its conclusion about wear and tear damage to the
wall covering was based on the finding of its expert per se. Although
Carpenter had no special expert qualifications to make a judgment about
wear and tear of the linen wall covering, State Farm does not dispute that it
denied coverage for the wall covering based on the conclusion of its
unlicensed adjuster that the damage was due to wear, tear and
deterioration.7 Plus, it is undisputed that on September 23, 2015, State
Farm was aware (according to its claim file) that the Fadeeffs’ home had
suffered smoke damage and that the linen wall covering in the home had
started to “buckle up.”
Also, Carpenter’s conclusion about the condition of the wallpaper and
paint in the April 25, 2016 denial letter was inconsistent with Gannaway’s
inspection six months earlier that the home was well maintained. In sum,
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, we
cannot conclude that it is undisputed or indisputable that the basis for State
Farm’s denial of the supplemental claims was reasonable.
7 The logic was somewhat circular. Carpenter testified at his
deposition that he made the determination about the wallpaper and carpet
being damaged due to wear, tear and deterioration “based on there was no
smoke, soot, or ash noted in the FACS report.”
14
B.
The Fadeeffs also contend that there are triable issues regarding
whether State Farm could have reasonably relied on its experts in denying
the supplemental claims. We agree.
We independently determine the facts as a matter of law, and we
strictly construe the moving party’s papers. (Hamburg v. Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc. (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 497, 502.) As we read them, State Farm’s moving
papers focus on its retention of and reasonable reliance on experts to
establish there was a “genuine dispute” regarding payment of the
supplemental claims. Under the heading “Genuine Dispute Doctrine Negates
Claim of Bad Faith,” State Farm emphasizes that “[r]egardless of whether
plaintiffs now contest those experts’ opinions, it is undisputed that State
Farm reasonably relied upon them in determining that no additional
amounts were owed on the claim. At the very least, this is a classic ‘genuine
dispute’ upon which plaintiffs cannot as a matter of law, base a bad faith
cause of action.”
As we have noted, adjuster Carpenter retained FACS as a third-party
expert. But he was unaware of State Farm’s operational guide regarding the
use of third party experts, and issued a retention letter to FACS that does not
(contrary to the guide) “provide[] clear and concise instructions and list the
specific questions to be addressed.” It says nothing at all about the
assignment.
By way of an example, the Fadeeffs’ supplemental claim for personal
property loss was presented as an inventory with dozens of items on a
spreadsheet. Carpenter could not remember having reviewed it, nor could
Carpenter state any steps he took to analyze whether State Farm would
provide coverage for these items. Carpenter also testified that he never
15
asked FACS to investigate or inspect any items on the Fadeeffs’ personal
property spreadsheet of damaged items. Carpenter admitted he took no steps
to determine whether the conclusions in the FACS report were reliable or
accurate. But State Farm did not dispute that it denied the Fadeeffs’
additional personal property claim by relying on the FACS report.
Appellants argue that from this set of circumstances, a jury could
conclude that FACS was not retained to offer an unbiased report, but instead
was retained to “rubber stamp” the decision to pay the Fadeeffs no additional
benefits.
And the appellants point to other evidence from which a jury might
infer that FACS’s investigation could not reasonably be relied on because of
its limited scope. FACS recommends cleaning and restoration in cases of
distinct observable smoke odor or clearly visible debris. But FACS’s samples
were limited to surface samples; as noted above, Brinkerhoff conceded he did
not sample the backside of any materials, from wall cavities, behind outlets,
light switch plates, or under floor coverings.
In these circumstances, we cannot conclude that it is undisputed or
indisputable that the denial of supplemental claims was reasonable based on
a genuine dispute created by the retention of experts.8
IV.
State Farm moved for summary adjudication on the punitive damages
claim, based on the identical asserted undisputed facts upon which it sought
summary judgment on the insurance bad faith claim. Having found that
8 Because we conclude that the trial court erred in granting summary
judgment for the reasons stated above, we need not address appellants’
arguments about whether the trial court erred in sustaining several
evidentiary objections to appellants’ evidence.
16
there was no triable issue of fact as to the sole cause of action, the trial court
also concluded that appellants had failed to show a triable issue of fact “as to
the request for punitive damages.” This was the only conclusion it could have
reached, because without an underlying cause of action there can be no
damages. Having concluded that summary adjudication of the bad faith
claim in State Farm’s favor was error, we now consider appellants’ argument
that the trial court erred in summarily adjudicating the punitive damage
claim in State Farm’s favor.
State Farm argued in its motion for summary adjudication on punitive
damages that appellants could not meet their burden of showing that State
Farm’s conduct constituted malice, oppression or fraud by clear and
convincing evidence because the undisputed facts showed that State Farm
dealt fairly and reasonably with the Fadeeffs. State Farm contended that it
investigated, paid the Fadeeffs certain amounts on their claim, and then,
when the supplemental claims were made, hired and reasonably relied on
experts before denying the supplemental claims in the April 25, 2016 denial
letter. State Farm argued that the Fadeeffs themselves had never seen the
building or content estimates submitted by their public adjuster on their
behalf and had not reviewed the expert reports (FACS and HVACi) before
filing the lawsuit.9 State Farm also asserted that when the Fadeeffs were
asked questions at their depositions about what it characterizes as the
“factual basis for their punitive damages request,” the Fadeeffs “could not
9 This was disputed by the Fadeeffs. At her deposition, Patricia
Fadeeff testified “I don’t know” and “I don’t recall” when asked whether she
had seen “exhibit 16” (apparently the FACS report) before, and she answered
“no” when asked if she recalled having any conversations or communications
with the public adjuster about the findings of FACS after they inspected her
home.
17
point to anything that constituted a pattern of egregious practices.” State
Farm cited this testimony: Patricia was asked: “Did you ever get a feeling
from any of your interactions with people at State Farm that they wanted to
harm you or hurt you intentionally?” She answered “[n]o.” Leonard was
asked whether anyone from State Farm ever “refuse[d] to return a call or
answer a question,” whether he got the “impression from anyone from State
Farm that [it] wanted to harm [him] or his wife in any way,” and whether he
was aware of any “correspondence” that he, his wife or their public adjuster
sent to State Farm that it “refused to respond to.” He answered “no” to all
three questions. State Farm takes the same tack on appeal, arguing that
appellants “produced no actual evidence of malicious conduct” to support a
punitive damages claim, and cite the answer from Patricia Fadeeff’s
deposition described above.
The Fadeeffs responded below that the jury should be permitted to
consider whether punitive damages are appropriate. This argument has
more heft in light of our conclusion that the issue of reasonableness cannot be
decided on summary judgment on the facts of this case.
In the first instance, the burden is on State Farm to show that the
Fadeeffs cannot prove that State Farm acted with an absence of malice,
oppression or fraud. (Civ. Code, § 3294, subd. (a); § 437c, subd. (f)(1); Basich
v. Allstate Ins. Co. (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 1112, 1118.) Then the burden shifts
to the Fadeeffs to establish evidence supporting punitive damages with the
clear and convincing standard of proof. (Basich at pp. 1118-1119.)
State Farm has not met its burden. The fact that an individual
plaintiff may not believe that the people at State Farm “wanted to harm you
or hurt you intentionally” does not conclusively answer the question whether
State Farm intentionally misrepresented or concealed a material fact, or
18
acted with knowing disregard of the rights of others. (See CACI No. 3946—
Punitive Damages.) Nor is the fact that the Fadeeffs may have relied on
their public adjuster to review materials enough to shift the burden to the
Fadeeffs to rebut a showing of no malice, oppression or fraud by State Farm.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed. Costs on appeal are awarded to the
Fadeeffs.
19
_________________________
Miller, J.
We concur:
_________________________
Kline, P.J.
_________________________
Richman, J.
A155691, Fadeeff v. State Farm General Ins. Co.
20
Filed 6/8/20
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
LEONARD FADEEFF et al.,
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
A155691
v.
STATE FARM GENERAL (Mendocino County Super. Ct.
INSURANCE COMPANY, No. SCTMCVG1768908)
Defendant and Respondent.
BY THE COURT:
The opinion in the above-entitled matter filed on May 22, 2020, was not certified
for publication in the Official Reports. For good cause and pursuant to California Rules
of Court, rule 8.1105, it now appears that the opinion should be published in the Official
Reports, and it is so ordered.
Dated: _______________________ ________________________________
Kline, P.J.
1
Court: Mendocino County Superior Court
Trial Judge: Hon. Janine E. Nadel
Kerley Schaeffer LLP, Dylan L. Schaeffer, Christopher Carling, for Plaintiffs
and Appellants
Pacific Law Partners, LLP, Sandra E. Stone, Jenny J. Chu, for Defendant
and Respondent
A155691, Fadeeff v. State Farm General Insurance Company
2