González, J.
¶ 1 In 2007, the legislature passed, and the voters of this state ratified, the Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA), RCW 48.30.015. IFCA gives insureds a new cause of action against insurers who unreasonably deny coverage or benefits. RCW 48.30.015(1). IFCA also directs courts to grant attorney fees and authorizes courts to award triple damages if the insurer either acts unreasonably or violates certain insurance regulations. RCW 48.30.015(2)-(3), (5). These regulations broadly address unfair practices in insurance, not just unreasonable denials of coverage or benefits. RCW 48.30.015(5). We are asked to decide whether IFCA also created a new and independent private cause of action for violation of these regulations in the absence of any unreasonable denial of coverage or benefits.
¶ 2 In November 2010, Isidoro Perez-Crisantos was waiting to turn left off snowy Wellesley Avenue in Spokane when his car was struck from behind by Martin Reyes. Clerk's Papers (CP) at 5, 391. Perez-Crisantos
¶ 3 Perez-Crisantos sued on a variety of grounds. Among other things, he alleged that State Farm had violated IFCA, several of IFCA's implementing regulations, and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), chapter 19.86 RCW. He also brought bad faith and negligence claims. Most of the claims were stayed while the UIM claim was sent to arbitration. The arbiter largely found for Perez-Crisantos. Based on the damages awarded, it appears the arbiter concluded the shoulder injury was related to the accident, disallowed some of the chiropractic physical therapy treatments as excessive, and awarded Perez-Crisantos a gross amount of about $51,000. After adjusting for Reyes's settlement, PIP benefits, and attorney fees, Perez-Crisantos received about $24,000 from the UIM arbitration. The court lifted the stay, and Perez-Crisantos amended his complaint to make clear he was alleging an IFCA claim based on the violation of IFCA regulations relating to unfair settlement practices. Specifically, he alleged that State Farm forced him to litigate in order to get payments that were due to him.
¶ 4 Meanwhile, Perez-Crisantos sought discovery about State Farm's incentive programs and the personnel files of State Farm employees involved in processing his claim, apparently seeking evidence that State Farm's incentive program was improperly encouraging its employees to deny claims or settle them for unreasonably low amounts. While it is not in the record, it appears State Farm provided discovery on the incentive programs but resisted release of the personnel files. The trial court allowed some discovery about the employee compensation and reviewed some materials under seal. The judge declined to order State Farm to release the personnel files themselves, finding Perez-Crisantos had not made a sufficient showing.
¶ 5 State Farm moved for summary judgment dismissal, largely on the merits. It argued that there was no genuine dispute that it had acted reasonably and in good faith throughout the claims process, that Perez-Crisantos had not alleged a cognizable claim, and that the parties merely had a reasonable disagreement about the value of the claim. Unfortunately, the record does not reveal State Farm's valuation of the UIM claim. Relying largely on unreported cases out of federal court, State Farm argued that a delay in payment of UIM benefits until after arbitration is not a denial of payment under IFCA. CP at 56-57 (citing Beasley v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2014 WL 1494030, at *6 (W.D. Wash. Apr. 16, 2014) and Country Preferred Ins. Co. v. Hurless, 2012 WL 2367073, at *4 (W.D. Wash. June 21, 2012)). Perez-Crisantos moved for partial summary judgment, contending that State Farm had violated WAC 284-3 0-330(7)'s prohibition on making a first party claimant litigate to recover "`amounts due under an insurance policy by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in such actions.'" CP at 104 (quoting WAC 284-30-330(7)). He also argued that State Farm's summary judgment motion was premature because discovery on State Farm's employee incentive program was not complete.
¶ 7 This case is before us on appeal from summary judgment and asks us to interpret a statute. Our review of both is de novo. Auto. United Trades Org. v. State, 183 Wn.2d 842, 853-54, 357 P.3d 615 (2015) (citing Freeman v. State, 178 Wn.2d 387, 393, 309 P.3d 437 (2013); Lummi Indian Nation v. State, 170 Wn.2d 247, 257-58, 241 P.3d 1220 (2010)). Summary judgment "may be granted if the pleadings, affidavits, and depositions before the trial court establish that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that as a matter of law the moving party is entitled to judgment." Ruff v. County of King, 125 Wn.2d 697, 703, 887 P.2d 886 (1995) (citing Dickinson v. Edwards, 105 Wn.2d 457, 461, 716 P.2d 814 (1986)).
¶ 8 For many years, insureds have been able to sue their insurers for violations of certain insurance regulations in a CPA or bad faith action. See Truck Ins. Exch. v. VanPort Homes, Inc., 147 Wn.2d 751, 764, 58 P.3d 276 (2002); Indus. Indemn. Co. v. Kallevig, 114 Wn.2d 907, 921-22, 792 P.2d 520 (1990). We must decide whether first party insureds can also sue their insurance companies under IFCA for regulatory violations. This requires us to determine the legislature's intent, which in this case includes the intent of the voters who ultimately ratified IFCA. Dep't of Ecology v. Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wn.2d 1, 9-10, 43 P.3d 4 (2002) (citing State v. J.M., 144 Wn.2d 472, 480, 28 P.3d 720 (2001)); see also Parents Involved in Cmty. Sch. v. Seattle Sch. Dist. No. 1, 149 Wn.2d 660, 671, 72 P.3d 151 (2003) (citing State v. Thorne, 129 Wn.2d 736, 763, 921 P.2d 514 (1996)). If the statute, read in the context of all the legislature has said on the subject, is plain on its face, we will give it that plain meaning. Campbell & Gwinn, 146 Wash.2d at 11-12, 43 P.3d 4. If after reading the statute in context, it "remains susceptible to more than one reasonable meaning, the statute is ambiguous and it is appropriate to resort to aids to construction, including legislative history." Id. at 12 (citing Cockle v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 142 Wn.2d 801, 808, 16 P.3d 583 (2001)).
¶ 9 RCW 48.30.015 says in most relevant part:
¶ 10 The relationship between subsections (2), (3), and (5) is, as Judge Peterson put it, "vexing." Workland & Witherspoon, PLLC v. Evanston Ins. Co., 141 F.Supp.3d 1148, 1155 (E.D. Wash. 2015). Subsections (2) and (3) give the trial court the discretion to award triple damages and directs that it award attorney fees if the insurer is found to have acted unreasonably or violated listed insurance regulations. Subsection (5) lists the relevant regulations. But given that the trier of fact must find that the insurer acted unreasonably under subsection (1), and that such a finding mandates attorney fees under subsection (3) and gives the trial court discretion to award treble damages under subsection (2), it is not clear what a finding of a regulatory violation accomplishes.
¶ 11 The regulations in question are long-standing and have long been enforceable by the insurance commissioner, and, in some cases, by first party insureds in bad faith or CPA actions. LAWS OF 1947, ch. 79 § 30.01 (partially codified at RCW 48.30.010); Wash. St. Reg. 78-08-082 (Aug. 16, 1978); Truck Ins. Exch., 147 Wash.2d at 764, 58 P.3d 276; Kallevig, 114 Wash.2d at 921-22, 792 P.2d 520. These regulations largely direct insurance companies to act fairly and promptly. WAC 284-30-330, -350, -360, -370, -380. The violation of some of these regulations could themselves be potentially actionable under IFCA for that reason. See, e.g., WAC 284-30-330(4) (declaring "[r]efusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation" unfair). The violation of some of these regulations are not necessarily enough, on their own, to be actionable. For example, insurers are required to respond within 10 working days to "communications from [an individual] claimant reasonably suggesting that a response is expected." WAC 284-30-360(3). This would be violated by a response on the 11th day.
¶ 12 Perez-Crisantos argues that State Farm compelled him to litigate his UIM claim through "a pre-suit offer of $0," CP at 104, which, he contends, violated insurance regulations that deem it unfair or deceptive to "[c]ompel[ ] a first party claimant to initiate or submit to litigation, arbitration, or appraisal to recover amounts due under an insurance policy by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in such actions or proceedings." WAC 284-30-330(7). He contends that this regulatory violation is independently actionable under IFCA. State Farm contends that the statute clearly sets forth the basis for private causes of action and those causes of action do not include regulatory violations.
¶ 13 Local federal courts have split on this question.
¶ 14 Perez-Crisantos urges us to follow the Langley decision.
¶ 15 We respectfully disagree with the Langley opinion that legislative intent supports creating an implicit IFCA cause of action. IFCA explicitly creates a cause of action for first party insureds who were "unreasonably denied a claim for coverage or payment of benefits." RCW 48.30.015(1). IFCA does not state it creates a cause of action for first party insureds who were unreasonably denied a claim for coverage or payment of benefits or "whose claims were processed in violation of the insurance regulations listed in (5)," which strongly suggests that IFCA was not meant to create a cause of action for regulatory violations. "`[W]here a statute specifically designates the things upon which it operates, there is an inference that the Legislature intended all omissions.'" State v. LG Elecs., Inc., 186 Wn.2d 1, 9, 375 P.3d 636 (2016) (quoting In re Pers. Restraint of Hopkins, 137 Wn.2d 897, 901, 976 P.2d 616 (1999)). And where the legislature includes particular language in one section of a statute but omits it in another, the exclusion is presumed intentional. Millay v. Cam, 135 Wn.2d 193, 202, 955 P.2d 791 (1998).
¶ 16 We recognize that IFCA is ambiguous, and as it is ambiguous, courts have appropriately turned to extrinsic evidence of legislative intent. See Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wash.2d at 12, 43 P.3d 4 (citing Cockle, 142 Wash.2d at 808, 16 P.3d 583). The Langley court found evidence of legislative intent in the 2007 Voters' Pamphlet, which explained that
Langley, 89 F.Supp.3d at 1090 (emphasis added) (quoting Explanatory Statement, Referendum Measure 67, State of Washington Voters Pamphlet, General Election 14 (Nov. 6, 2007)). This court has considered the official voter's pamphlet to determine the meaning of initiatives before. Parents Involved in Cmty. Sch., 149 Wash.2d at 671, 72 P.3d 151 (citing Thorne, 129 Wash.2d at 763, 921 P.2d 514). The Langley court reasonably found the emphasized language evidence of legislative intent to create a private cause of action for violation of insurance regulations. See also FINAL B. REP. ON ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE S.B. 5726, at 1-2, 60th Leg., Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2007) (noting that under the act, "[a] plaintiff may also recover damages upon a finding that the insurer violated one of five rules adopted by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner").
¶ 17 However, as amicus curiae the American Insurance Association notes, the ballot title that would have been in front of voters as they voted on IFCA did not suggest IFCA creates private cause of action for regulatory violations. The official ballot title said:
State of Washington Voters Pamphlet, General Election 13 (Nov. 6, 2007), http://www. sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/Voters'% 20Pamphlet% 202007.pdf, [https://perma.cc/9QB9-Y9 QU]. This language does not suggest an intent to create a private cause of action for regulatory violations. Quite the opposite: it suggests that IFCA creates a cause of action for unreasonable denials of coverage and also permits treble damages in some circumstances. On balance, we conclude that the legislative history suggests that IFCA does not create a cause of action for regulatory violations.
¶ 18 We recognize that the pattern jury committee recently came to the opposite conclusion. The pattern jury instruction for an IFCA claim provides:
6A WASHINGTON PRACTICE: WASHINGTON PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS: Civil 320.06.01 (6th ed. 2013 Supp.) (alterations in original). Put another way, the pattern jury committee concluded that IFCA created a cause of action if an insurer "unreasonably denied a claim for coverage," or "unreasonably denied payment of benefits," or "violated a statute or regulation governing the business of insurance claims handling." Id. (emphasis added). That last alternative contemplates, at least, violations of the regulations listed in RCW 48.30.015(5).
¶ 19 But jury instructions are not the law. State v. Brush, 183 Wn.2d 550, 557, 353 P.3d 213 (2015). It is not at all clear that implying a cause of action is consistent with the legislature's intent as expressed in the actual statutory language. As the Workland opinion observed in rejecting the claim that IFCA made regulatory violations actionable, "If the legislature truly intended to create a third IFCA cause of action arising out of subsection (5), they would have utilized the same or similar language as in subsection (1)." Workland, 141 F.Supp.3d at 1155. See also Morella v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Illinois, 2013 WL 1562032, at *3 n.2 (W.D. Wash. April 12, 2013) (rejecting similar claim); Hurless, 2012 WL 2367073, at *3-4 (same); Cardenas v. Navigators Ins. Co., 2011 WL 6300253, at *6 (W.D. Wash. Dec. 16, 2011) (same). Instead, IFCA makes regulatory violations relevant to the apportioned attorneys' fees and damages associated with that derivative violation. See Mut. of Enumclaw Ins. Co. v. Myong Suk Day, No. 75633-8-I, 2016 WL 7210718, at *8 (Wash. Ct. App. Dec. 12, 2016) (apportioning attorney fees based on the issues prevailed upon at appeal). This interpretation is consistent with our canons of statutory construction prohibiting us from reading language into subsection (1) that the legislature expressly omitted and from rendering any portion of subsections (2) and (3) superfluous. Moreover, this interpretation is consistent with existing precedent and avoids absurd results. We note that the only reported Washington state case on IFCA described the statute consistently with Workland. See Ainsworth v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 180 Wn.App. 52, 79, 322 P.3d 6 (2014). Ainsworth notes that "[s]ubsection (1) describes two separate acts giving rise to an IFCA claim. The insured must show that the insurer unreasonably denied a claim for coverage or that the insurer unreasonably denied payment of benefits. If either or both acts are
¶ 20 Finally, we note that it is unlikely the legislature would have intended to create a private cause of action for violation of only some of the specific regulations listed in RCW 48.30.015(5). For example, if we found that violation of regulations listed in IFCA was independently actionable, then "[m]aking a claim payment to a first party claimant or beneficiary not accompanied by a statement setting forth the coverage under which the payment is made," not responding until the 11th working day to "pertinent communications from a claimant reasonably suggesting that a response is expected," and notifying a claimant on the 16th day that a claim had been accepted would all be actionable even if the insured was never unreasonably denied coverage or the payment of benefits. See WAC 284-30-330(9), -360(3), -380(1).
¶ 21 We conclude that IFCA does not create an independent cause of action for regulatory violations.
¶ 22 Perez-Crisantos argues that summary judgment dismissal of his claims was inappropriate because there were material facts in dispute. He also contends that his partial summary judgment motion should have been granted and that more discovery into State Farm's incentive programs was required. The trial judge dismissed the case on the merits because she concluded that State Farm had acted reasonably and that State Farm had not "`lowball[ed]' their insured such that their insured was required to litigate." VRP at 24.
¶ 23 Disparity between an offer and an arbitration award alone does not establish a violation of WAC 284-30-330(7). Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Osborn, 104 Wn.App. 686, 701, 17 P.3d 1229 (2001) (citing Keller v. Allstate Ins. Co., 81 Wn.App. 624, 915 P.2d 1140 (1996)). There has to be something more. Id. In this case, Perez-Crisantos suggests that something more can be found in the fact PIP benefits were allowed based on the same evidence and his suspicion that the incentive program created bad incentives. But State Farm never disputed that some of Perez-Crisantos's injuries came from the accident; it is not necessarily inconsistent for an insurer to pay the one and balk at the other based on its valuation of the claim. The fact State Farm paid PIP benefits is not sufficient to create a material question of fact that State Farm violated insurance regulations by rejecting some of Perez-Crisantos's UIM claim.
¶ 24 As to the CPA claim, in order to prevail "a plaintiff must establish five distinct elements: (1) unfair or deceptive act or practice; (2) occurring in trade or commerce; (3) public interest impact; (4) injury to plaintiff in his or her business or property; (5) causation." Hangman Ridge Training Stables, Inc. v. Safeco Title Ins. Co., 105 Wn.2d 778, 780, 719 P.2d 531 (1986). A CPA claim can be predicated on a violation of WAC 284-30-330. Kallevig, 114 Wash.2d at 923, 792 P.2d 520 ("A violation of WAC 284-30-330 constitutes a violation of RCW 48.30.010(1), which in turn constitutes a per se unfair trade practice by virtue of the legislative declaration in RCW 19.86.170."). State Farm agrees that an insured can establish the first and second elements of a CPA claim by showing the insurer violated one of the relevant WAC provisions. But State Farm contends that Perez-Crisantos has failed to make that showing because he did not present a genuine issue of fact that it violated any provision of WAC 284-30-330. We agree. Even taking the facts in the light most favorable to Perez-Crisantos, as we must, he has not shown a genuine issue that State Farm acted unreasonably.
¶ 25 Perez-Crisantos also argues that summary judgment was premature because more discovery into State Farm's incentive
¶ 26 We hold that an IFCA claim cannot be predicated on a regulatory violation alone. We find that summary judgment was appropriately granted and affirm.
WE CONCUR:
Fairhurst, C.J.
Johnson, J.
Owens, J.
Madsen, J.
Wiggins, J.
Gordon McCloud, J.
Yu, J.
STEPHENS, J. (concurring in result only)
¶ 27 In 2007, the legislature enacted and the people ratified the Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA), RCW 48.30.015, to strengthen the remedies and penalties available for the unfair handling of first-party insurance claims. To date, litigation under IFCA has proceeded mainly in federal court, with this case marking the first time this court has been asked to entertain arguments as to the statute's meaning. Encouraged by amici, the majority embraces this opportunity to offer an interpretation, even though interpreting IFCA is unnecessary and irrelevant to the resolution of this case.
¶ 28 We should await an appropriate case before taking such a significant step, and instead resolve this appeal on the grounds reached below. The superior court dismissed this case on summary judgment because the plaintiff could not establish a violation of Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 284-30-330(7). The majority affirms this holding. It is therefore entirely unnecessary to decide whether a WAC violation gives rise to an implied cause of action under IFCA. I fear that the majority's gratuitous "holding" on IFCA will lead to confusion and will frustrate the intent of this remedial statute. I respectfully dissent from that holding, though I concur in the decision to affirm the superior court's order on summary judgment.
¶ 29 The majority frames the issue in this case as whether a violation of WAC 284-30-330(7) supports an implied cause of action under IFCA. Majority at 477-78, 479. Nonetheless, it ultimately agrees with the superior
¶ 30 In granting summary judgment of dismissal, the superior court drew no distinction between the plaintiff's allegations based on the WAC provision and his overarching allegation that State Farm Fire and Casualty Company acted unreasonably. The court noted, "We do not have a lot of law on IFCA. We have quite a bit of law on some of these WACs. The point is that the issue for the court is to determine if the insurance company is acting reasonably or unreasonably." Verbatim Report of Proceedings (Aug. 21, 2015) (VRP) at 23. The court continued, "The issue before the court is whether or not State Farm reasonably handled this claim, and that their position was a reasonable position. And that they did not `lowball' their insured such that their insured was required to litigate. That is what this claim is about." Id. at 24. Here, the superior court was plainly describing a claim under WAC 284-30-330(7), which addresses unfair settlement conduct that forces an insured to arbitrate or litigate. That provision states:
WAC 284-30-330(7). The superior court explained:
VRP at 26-27. Having concluded that State Farm did not violate WAC 284-30-330(7) — or more generally act unreasonably — the superior court determined that further proceedings (including additional discovery) were unnecessary. Id. at 29 ("Really, the discussion ends at that point.").
¶ 31 Understanding the basis for the superior court's summary judgment ruling, which the majority affirms, this case is not an appropriate vehicle for deciding whether a WAC violation (if proved) could support liability under IFCA. While the briefing before this court invites consideration of that broader issue, we should resist. I would await better briefing and a full opportunity to consider the impact of an IFCA holding in a case where it matters.
¶ 32 The majority concludes that "an IFCA claim cannot be predicated on a regulatory violation alone." Majority at 484. To reach this conclusion, it frames the issue in terms of whether the cause of action created in IFCA's subsection (1) is exclusive, or whether instead "IFCA also created a new and independent private cause of action for violation of these regulations in the absence of any unreasonable denial of coverage or benefits." Id. at 477 (emphasis added). This framing of the issue is somewhat confusing and leaves many questions unanswered.
¶ 33 As the majority notes, federal district courts in Washington have considered whether there is an implied cause of action under IFCA premised on violations of certain WAC provisions. See Langley v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., 89 F.Supp.3d 1083 (E.D. Wash. 2015) (holding there is an implied cause of action); Workland & Witherspoon, PLLC v. Evanston Ins. Co., 141 F.Supp.3d 1148 (E.D. Wash. 2015) (disagreeing with Langley). These courts have found it difficult to make sense of all the language in IFCA under such a framework, with Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson
¶ 34 Chapter 48.30 RCW addresses unfair practices and fraud in the business of insurance. RCW 48.30.010 generally outlines available "remedies and penalties" against insurers who engage in unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Amended alongside the enactment of RCW 48.30.015, RCW 48.30.010(7) references IFCA's language prohibiting insurers from "unreasonably deny[ing] a claim for coverage or payment of benefits to any first party claimant." Importantly, chapter 48.30 RCW does not purport to enumerate all available causes of action; instead, it contemplates a range of possible private actions, in addition to enforcement actions by the insurance commissioner. Private actions may include claims sounding in bad faith, negligence, or breach of contract, as well as statutory claims.
¶ 35 IFCA, as part of chapter 48.30 RCW, must be understood in this context. While RCW 48.30.015(1) creates a new cause of action based on unreasonable denials of claims for coverage or benefits, subsections (2) and (3) speak to new remedies and penalties superior courts are authorized or required to impose when certain findings are made. Subsections (2) and (3) refer to remedies and penalties based upon a finding "that an insurer has acted unreasonably in denying a claim for coverage or payment of benefits or has violated a rule in subsection (5) of this section." RCW 48.30.015(2), (3) (emphasis added). The majority's interpretation renders the second half of this sentence inoperative, requiring the superior court to find a violation of subsection (1) as a precondition to affording IFCA remedies and penalties — despite the obvious disjunctive phrasing.
¶ 36 I believe a problem with the majority's analysis is that it asks the wrong question, i.e., whether subsections (2), (3), and (5) of IFCA create an implied cause of action in addition to that expressly created in subsection (1).
¶ 37 After the dust settles on this case, questions will remain as to what remedies and penalties IFCA authorizes, even if we accept as a holding the majority's unnecessary conclusion that subsections (2), (3), and (5) do not create an implied cause of action. I believe today's opinion will engender only further debate and not the definitive interpretation the majority is apparently reaching for. I would resolve this case on the grounds reached by the court below without addressing the question of whether a WAC violation alone can support a claim under IFCA. Accordingly, I dissent from the majority's analysis of IFCA but concur in its decision to affirm the summary judgment order of dismissal.