S. THOMAS ANDERSON, District Judge.
Before the Court is Defendant State Farm Fire & Casualty Company's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (D.E. #8) filed on July 13, 2011. Plaintiffs Tameka Wardlow
The following facts are not in dispute for purpose of this Motion unless otherwise noted.
On March 2, 2010, Plaintiffs submitted their personal property inventory form with only minimal documentation to support the claim. (Id. ¶ 10.)
On July 8, 2010, payment was issued for the amount of the claim which had been documented by Plaintiffs, totaling $3,057.26 after a $500.00 deductible was subtracted from the total amount. (Id. ¶ 15.) Between July 8, 2010 and December 21, 2010, Thomas made further efforts to discuss and obtain documentation from Plaintiffs. (Id. ¶¶ 16-25.)
At no point did State Farm deny Plaintiffs' claim. (Id. ¶ 28).
In its Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, Defendant asks the Court to dismiss Plaintiffs' claims for fraud/fraudulent misrepresentation, bad faith, estoppel, and violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA"). Defendant argues that Plaintiffs cannot make out their claimof fraud/fraudulent misrepresentation because Plaintiffs cannot prove that Defendant misstated or misrepresented a material fact. With respect to Plaintiffs' claim for bad faith, Plaintiffs have failed to comply with the Tennessee statutory requirement for formal demand giving notice of Plaintiffs' intent to seek the statutory penalty. Defendant further contends that Plaintiffs have no proof that the policy became due and payable because Plaintiffs failed to properly document their loss. Defendant denies that Plaintiff has adduced any evidence that Defendant acted in bad faith. Defendant next seeks summary judgment on Plaintiffs' claim for estoppel. Defendant asserts that the basis for this claim is simply Defendant's determination that Plaintiffs had not adequately documented all of their losses. Plaintiffs cannot prove that they were misled about the requirement for documentation. Finally, as for Plaintiffs' TCPA claim, Defendant argues that denial of an insurance claim, even if in error, does not rise to the level of a deceptive or misleading practice. Defendant maintains that it did not actually deny Plaintiffs' claim but would only pay losses that were properly substantiated. Therefore, the Court should grant Defendant judgment as a matter of law as to these claims.
Plaintiffs have responded in opposition to Defendant's summary judgment motion. Plaintiffs argue that Thomas's conduct forms the basis of their claims against Defendant. With respect to the allegations of fraud, Plaintiffs contend that they relied to their detriment on their contract for insurance with Defendant and on Thomas's statements that he did not require additional documentation. Plaintiffs further argue that Defendant misrepresented the time frame for the submission of Plaintiffs' claim, in one instance stating that Plaintiffs had six months to submit documentation and at another time one year. Thus, questions of fact remain as to this claim. Plaintiffs also argue that they can prove the elements of their claim for bad faith. Plaintiffs base their claim on Defendant's refusal to pay and on the conduct of Thomas who failed to keep appointments with Plaintiffs and insinuated that Plaintiffs' personal property was ill-gotten. Turning to their estoppel theory, Plaintiffs contend that they relied to their detriment on Defendant's contract to cover their losses and on Thomas' representation that no further documentation was needed to process their claim. Plaintiffs argue that they can prove their TCPA claims based on Thomas's conduct in handling their claim, including inappropriate remarks Thomas made, misrepresentations about what Plaintiffs needed to produce in support of their claim, and his failure to keep appointments. Therefore, Plaintiffs ask the Court to deny Defendant's Motion.
In its reply Defendant argues that Plaintiffs have failed to comply with the Local Rules on responding to a moving party's statements of fact. Specifically, Defendant objects to the manner in which Plaintiffs have simply stated that certain assertions of fact are "Denied" without any citation to the record. Under the circumstances Defendant asks the Court to deem those facts admitted for failure to comply with the Local Rules. Defendant also objects to Plaintiffs' failure to recite their own version of facts in the form prescribed by the Local Rules. Plaintiffs have simply attached affidavits and other evidence to their response without providing an actual statement of facts based on the evidence. Defendant again requests that the Court not consider this evidence. As for the merits of Plaintiffs' claims, Defendant argues that Plaintiffs have not shown how they suffered any loss as a result of their reliance on Defendant's alleged misrepresentations about how Plaintiffs should submit their claim. Defendant contends that under the express terms of the policy, Plaintiffs had sixty days in which to produce their supporting documentation, and Plaintiffs failed to do so with respect to all of the items they claimed were stolen. Defendant emphasizes that Plaintiffs have not shown that they complied with Tennessee's statutory requirements for bringing a claim of bad faith. Defendant argues that Plaintiffs' estoppel theory is in reality a breach of contract claim. Furthermore, Defendant contends that Plaintiffs' insurance claim was never actually denied. Plaintiffs simply did not produce sufficient documentation for all of their losses. For these reasons Plaintiffs cannot show detrimental reliance. With respect to the TCPA, Plaintiffs have no proof that Defendant ever misrepresented any facts to them or that their claim was denied. Defendant simply adhered to the terms of the policy and as Plaintiffs cannot prove any unfair or deceptive conduct.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a) provides that a party is entitled to summary judgment if the moving part "shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Summary judgment must be entered "against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial."
As an initial matter, the Court must evaluate which facts are truly not in dispute for purposes of this Motion. In their response, Plaintiffs have failed to respond in the proper way to Defendant's asserted statement of undisputed facts. To assist the Court "in ascertaining whether there are any material facts in dispute," Local Rule 56.1(b) provides
The Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to comply with the Local Rules and adequately dispute the material facts upon which Defendant has relied. Plaintiffs have not reproduced the facts using Defendant's corresponding numbering and have not cited to the record for the purpose of showing that the fact is disputed. Instead, Plaintiffs have simply stated that Defendant's asserted facts are either "Admitted" or "Denied." Pursuant to Local Rule 56.1(d), Plaintiffs' "[f]ailure to respond to a moving party's statement of material facts," especially those facts which Plaintiffs deny, indicates to the Court that "the asserted facts are not disputed for purposes of summary judgment."
Furthermore, each Plaintiff has filed a summary judgment affidavit (D.E. #10-2, 10-8). Plaintiffs have also attached the affidavits of Wordlow's step-father Rodney Hughes (D.E. #10-9)
Despite counsel's failure to comply with the Local Rules, the Court will consider the affidavits here. Rule 56(c)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure gives the Court discretion to "consider other materials in the record" even when the materials are not cited on summary judgment.
Plaintiffs have alleged fraud, pleading that Defendant through Thomas made false misrepresentations that led to the denial of Plaintiffs' insurance claim. The parties do not dispute that Tennessee law applies to Plaintiffs' claims. In order to prove a claim based on fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation under Tennessee law, a plaintiff must show that (1) the defendant made a representation of an existing or past fact; (2) the representation was false when made; (3) the representation was in regard to a material fact; (4) the false representation was made either knowingly or without belief in its truth or recklessly; (5) plaintiff reasonably relied on the misrepresented material fact; and (6) plaintiff suffered damage as a result of the misrepresentation.
The Court holds that Plaintiffs have failed to offer evidence from which a reasonable juror could find that Plaintiffs reasonably relied to their detriment on any representation about the deadline for completing the claim paperwork Plaintiffs have produced a letter dated October 28, 2009, and addressed by Thomas to Plaintiffs, in which Thomas stated, "You were provided [sic] Personal Property Inventory to complete and return with supporting documentation in order to substantiate your claim. To date the forms have not been received. We are sending under seperate [sic] letter the same forms along with a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss which must be completed within 60 days."
Plaintiff has produced another letter dated February 5, 2010, addressed by Thomas to Plaintiffs in which Thomas stated that he still had not received the forms and documentation and that if he did not receive them by April 5, 2010, he would assume that Plaintiffs were not presenting a claim and close the file.
Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, Thomas gave Plaintiffs two different deadlines for completing the documentation for their claim. However, Plaintiffs have failed to adduce any evidence that Thomas's statements amounted to misrepresentations, that is, that Thomas made a false statement knowingly or without belief in its truth or recklessly. There is evidence that Plaintiffs telephoned Defendant's hotline shortly after the loss occurred and were informed that they had one year to file their claim.
Moreover, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have no evidence that they relied on any alleged misrepresentation to their detriment. In other words, Plaintiffs have not shown that Defendant did not pay the full amount of their claim because of a missed deadline or the inconsistent information Thomas provided. According to Plaintiffs, Thomas notified them in the February 10, 2010 letter that they had one year to complete their claim. Plaintiffs actually submitted their inventory form and documentation on March 2, 2010. Defendant has asserted that it did not pay the full amount of the claim because Plaintiffs could not produce sufficient documentation to substantiate all of their losses. In the absence of any proof of reliance, the Court holds that Defendant is entitled to summary judgment as to this theory.
Likewise, Plaintiffs have failed to show that they suffered some damage in reliance on Thomas's comments that "he had everything." The only evidence Plaintiffs have adduced in support of Thomas's statement is the affidavit of Plaintiff Wordlow's step-father, Rodney Hughes. According to Hughes, he was acting as his step-daughter's agent during the process and that Thomas told him on several occasions that "he had everything" as far as the claim paperwork.
Plaintiffs argue that Defendant through its agent Thomas acted in bad faith. Plaintiffs point to evidence that Thomas questioned how they were able to afford the personal property they claim was stolen. Plaintiffs further allege that Thomas failed to keep appointments with them throughout the claims process. Tennessee law provides a statutory penalty where an insurance company denies a claim in bad faith. Tennessee Code Annotated § 56-7-105 states
Although the Tennessee Supreme Court has not addressed the issue, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has held that formal demand for payment is a prerequisite for seeking the statutory penalty in a judicial proceeding.
Under the caption "Estoppel," the Complaint alleges that Defendant has knowingly accepted Plaintiffs' premiums for insurance coverage and has nevertheless denied coverage and refused payment for Plaintiffs' losses. In their response brief, Plaintiffs argue that they have adduced evidence of two kinds in support of a promissory estoppel theory: their insurance contract with Defendant and the statements Thomas made to Hughes that "he had everything." Viewing the record in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, however, the Court holds that Plaintiffs cannot make out their claim for promissory estoppel.
The Tennessee Supreme Court has defined promissory estoppel as "a promise which the promisor should reasonably expect to induce action or forbearance on the part of the promisee or a third person and which does induce such action or forbearance."
The Court holds that the claim for promissory estoppel is moot in this case. The parties do not dispute that they had a contract for insurance that applied to Plaintiffs' losses of personal property due to theft. The parties do, perhaps, disagree over the terms, scope or effect of the insurance contract. Nevertheless, based on the existence of an express contract between the parties, the Court holds that Plaintiffs cannot establish their claim for promissory estoppel. As for Thomas's statements, Plaintiffs have not adduced evidence that Thomas's statements amounted to a promise, let alone a promise to pay the full amount of the losses Plaintiffs sought. Therefore, Defendant's Motion is
Finally, Plaintiffs assert that Defendant's conduct in the claims process violated the TCPA. In order to recover under the TCPA, a plaintiff must demonstrate "(1) that the defendant engaged in an unfair or deceptive act or practice declared unlawful by the TCPA and (2) that the defendant's conduct caused an `ascertainable loss of money or property, real, personal, or mixed, or any other article, commodity, or thing of value wherever situated.'"
The Court holds that Defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on Plaintiffs' TCPA claim. Plaintiffs' brief explains that their TCPA claim is based on Defendant's denial of their claim as well as the conduct of Thomas. With respect to the denial of their claim, Plaintiffs apparently rely on the TCPA's "catch-all" provision.
As for Plaintiffs' theory that Thomas's conduct violated the TCPA, the Court also holds that Plaintiff has failed to prove that Thomas acted unfairly or deceptively and that Plaintiffs suffered an ascertainable loss as a result of such conduct. Plaintiffs state that Thomas "spoke with Plaintiff Wordlow concerning the health of her child"
Viewing their summary judgment affidavits in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, it is clear that Thomas offended Plaintiffs by behaving in what Plaintiffs believed was an insensitive and unprofessional way. However, Plaintiffs have failed demonstrate how Thomas deceived them or how that deception led to their losses. As a result the Court holds that Plaintiffs have not shown how Thomas's conduct violated the TCPA. At most Plaintiffs have shown that Thomas expressed skepticism about the amount of Plaintiffs' claimed losses and about how Plaintiffs were able to afford all of the items they claimed were stolen. The Court finds that this conduct, though perhaps offensive, does not amount to a violation of the TCPA. Instead, Thomas's acts were consistent with his suspicion about the amount and extent of Plaintiffs' theft losses.
The Court holds that Plaintiffs have failed to adduce evidence from which a reasonable juror could find Defendant liable under Plaintiffs' theories for fraud/fraudulent misrepresentation, bad faith, estoppel and the TCPA. Therefore, Defendant's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is