The Olga J. Nowak Irrevocable Trust v. Voya Financial, Inc. ( 2022 )

IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
THE OLGA J. NOWAK )
IRREVOCABLE TRUST, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) C.A. No. 2021-0830-FW
)
VOYA FINANCIAL, INC. and )
SECURITY LIFE OF DENVER )
INSURANCE COMPANY, )
)
Defendants. )
Submitted: March 9, 2022
Decided: June 30, 2022
Upon Defendants Security Life of Denver’s and Voya Financial, Inc.’s Motion to
Dismiss,
GRANTED.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
R. Bruce McNew, Esquire, COOCH AND TAYLOR, P.A., The Nemours Building,
1007 N. Orange Street, Ste. 1120, P.O. Box 1680, Wilmington, Delaware 19899,
Attorney for Plaintiff The Olga J. Nowak Irrevocable Trust.
Tiffany Geyer Lydon, Esquire, ASHBY & GEDDES, 500 Delaware Avenue, 8th
Floor, P.O. Box 1150, Wilmington, Delaware 19899, Attorney for Defendants Voya
Financial, Inc. and Security Life of Denver Insurance Company.
David T. McDowell, Esquire, Robert P. Debelak, Esquire, Avi Moshenberg,
Esquire, McDOWELL & HEATHERINGTON LLP, 1001 Fannin, Suite 2700,
Houston, Texas 77002, Of Counsel for Defendants Voya Financial, Inc. and Security
Life of Denver Insurance Company
WHARTON, J.1
1
Sitting as Vice Chancellor on the Court of Chancery by special designation
pursuant to Del. Const. Art. IV, § 13(2).
2
I. INTRODUCTION
Olga Nowak turned 100 on August 23, 2015. That milestone is significant
beyond reflecting her remarkable longevity. More precisely, under the insurance
policy at issue here she reached an “attained age” of 100 on February 21, 2016. She
died on June 29, 2016. Had she died a few months earlier, before she reached the
“attained age of” 100, the parties would have been spared the protracted litigation in
which they are now engaged.
Olga Nowak’s unusually long life and the timing of her passing unfortunately
generated litigation that The Olga J. Nowak Irrevocable Trust (“Trust”) brought first
in the Superior Court, then to the Delaware Supreme Court on appeal, and now in
the Court of Chancery. In the Superior Court, the Trust sued Security Life of Denver
Insurance Company (“SLD”) and SLD’s parent company, Voya Financial, Inc.
(“Voya”) (collectively “Defendants”). It brought that case on May 18, 2017 alleging
breach of contract related claims and contract reformation claims. The Superior
Court granted summary judgment to the Defendants. The Superior Court held that
the Defendants did not breach the insurance contract with the Trust and that it was
without jurisdiction to resolve the equitable claims. The Delaware Supreme Court
affirmed. In the interim, the Superior Court granted the Trust’s request to transfer
its equitable claims – the contract reformation claims – to this Court. In its
Complaint here, the Trust has added two new equitable fraud claims to the claims
3
transferred from Superior Court. The Defendants move to dismiss citing an alleged
lack on standing to bring the suit by the Trust, laches, and a failure to allege certain
necessary elements of their claims. After carefully considering the Motion to
Dismiss (“Motion”), the Court is satisfied that it must be granted. All of the Trust’s
claims are barred by laches. Because the Court finds all of the Trust’s claims are
time-barred, it need not address the Defendants’ theory that the Complaint fails to
allege fundamental elements of its claims. Indeed, even if the Court granted the
Motion on that basis, it would likely allow leave to amend the Complaint, leaving
the Court still to resolve the laches issue. Thus, a decision based on laches provides
the parties some measure of finality.
II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In the Superior Court action, the Trust alleged Breach of Contract, Bad Faith
Breach of Contract, Violation of Delaware Consumer Fraud Act (“DCFA”),
Reformation Based Upon Mutual Mistake, Reformation Based Upon Mistake
Coupled with Inequitable Conduct, Unconscionability, and Unjust Enrichment.2
The Breach of Contract claim—the primary claim—alleged that SLD breached the
Insurance Policy (the “Policy”) by failing to pay the outstanding amount due under
2
Second Amend. Compl. (“SAC”), Super. Ct. D.I. 55. Due to a typographical
error the SAC was incorrectly captioned “Amended Complaint.”
4
the Policy after the insured’s death.3 SLD and Voya denied the Trust’s allegations
and asserted numerous affirmative defenses.4
On November 30, 2020, the Superior Court granted summary judgment
against the Trust, dismissing all its claims.5 In particular, the Superior Court
dismissed three claims - Reformation Based Upon Mutual Mistake, Reformation
Based Upon Mistake Coupled with Inequitable Conduct, and Breach of Reformed
Contract because it determined that, as a court of law, it lacked the power to provide
the equitable relief requested by the three contract reformation counts.6
The Trust appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court. While the case was
before that Court, the Trust filed a Written Election of Transfer Pursuant to 10 Del.
C. § 1902 on January 20, 2021.7 In that document, the Trust stated that it elected to
have the three claims the Superior Court had found to request equitable relief
transferred to the Court of Chancery.8 In a brief Order, on July 7, 2021, the Delaware
3
Id.
4
Defs.’ Ans. to Pl.’s Second Am. Compl., Super. Ct. D.I. 60 & D.I. 61.
5
Olga Nowak Irrevocable Trust v. Voya Financial, Inc. et al., 2020 WL 7181368(Del. Super. Nov. 30, 2020).
6
Id.7
Super. Ct. D.I. 208.
8
Id.5
Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court “on the basis of and for the reasons
stated in its memorandum opinion and order dated November 30, 2020.”9 On July
16th, the Trust moved for an order of transfer.10 SLD and Voya opposed transfer.11
On August 20, 2021, the Superior Court ordered the three claims it had determined
requested equitable relief it was unable to provide – Reformation Based on Mutual
Mistake, Reformation Based on Mistake Coupled with Inequitable Conduct, and
Breach of Reformed Contract – transferred to this Court.12
The Trust’s Complaint here sets out five claims for relief – the three
transferred claims (Counts I, II, and V respectively) – plus two new claims –
Equitable and Constructive Fraud (Count III) and Aiding and Abetting Equitable or
Constructive Fraud (Count IV).13 SLD and Voya have moved to dismiss.14 Briefing
is complete, and the Court held argument on March 9, 2022.
9
Olga Nowak Irrevocable Trust v. Voya Financial, Inc., 2021 WL 2815225 at *1
(Del. July 7., 2021).
10
Super. Ct. D.I. 209.
11
Super. Ct. D.I. 211.
12
The Olga J. Nowak Irrevocable Trust v. Voya Financial, Inc., 2021 WL 3700815(Del. Super. Ct. Aug. 20, 2021)
13
Compl., D.I. 1.
14
Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss, D.I. 10.
6
The basic facts underlying the litigation as developed by the parties in the
Superior Court are set out as follows in that court’s opinion on summary judgment:
The Trust, through its trustee Robert J. Nowak (“Mr.
Nowak” or the “Trustee”), purchased the Policy to insure
the life of his mother, Olga J. Nowak (“Mrs. Nowak” or
the “insured”), with the assistance of insurance brokers
Mark Wilcock (“Wilcock”) and Ed Wetherell
(Wetherell).15 One of Wilcock’s then-existing clients
referred Mr. Nowak to Wilcock. Wilcock provided
financial advice to Mr. Nowak who also sought advice
from Marlin Anderson, a Certified Public Accountant, and
a financial analytics firm called Legacy Analytics.16
On August 2, 1999, after reviewing multiple
insurance contracts from various insurance companies,
Mr. Nowak, as Trustee, signed an application for the
Policy issued by Southland Life Insurance Company
(“Southland”).17 Both Wilcock and Wetherell facilitated
the issuance of the Policy by Southland to the Trust.18 The
Policy, signed by an executive officer of Southland at that
time, was issued from Southland’s Georgia office and
dated February 21, 1999.19 Mr. Nowak did not fully read
15
SAC, at ¶ 3, Super. Ct. D.I. 55.
App. to Defs.’ Mots. for Summ. J., at 330 (Trans. of Mr. Nowak’s 2/3/2020
16
Dep.), Super. Ct. D.I. 154.
17
Id. at 325; see also id at 767-772. (The Application for Life Insurance was
witnessed and signed in McLean, Virginia.).
18
Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J. on Aff. Def. of Limitations at 1, Super. Ct. D.I. 154.
19
Policy at 1.
7
the Policy before signing it.20 In 2004, Southland merged
into SLD, a wholly owned subsidiary of Internationale-
Nederland Group of The Hague (“ING”), and in 2014, ING
was rebranded as Voya.21
After the delivery of the Policy in 1999, the Trust
received periodic illustrations from Southland until
Southland’s merger into SLD and thereafter received
periodic illustrations from SLD. These illustrations
purport to show the value of the Death Benefit—the
benefit payable to the Trust at the insured’s death—at
specific age intervals. Initially, the illustrations reflect a
Death Benefit of $4 million available at age 100.22 Later,
however, some illustrations provided from 2004 to 2009,
reflect a $4 million Death Benefit available until age 110.
Defendants explain the difference in the illustrations as
being a result of an administration system conversion
when Southland merged with SLD in 2004.23 The Trust
does not accept this explanation. In the 2010 illustration,
SLD corrected this purported error.24
In 2010, Mr. Nowak discussed the Policy with
another financial advisor and came to the understanding
that the Trust would receive the Death Benefit of $4
million if his mother died before attained age 100 and the
Surrender Value if his mother passed away at attained age
100 or thereafter.25 Mr. Nowak contacted Wilcock and
20
App. to Defs.’ Mots. for Summ. J., at 339-340 (Mr. Nowak’s 2/3/2020 Dep.),
Super. Ct. D.I. 154.
21
SAC, at ¶ 2, Super. Ct. D.I. 55.
22
App. to Defs.’ Mots. For Summ. J. at 474-505, Super. Ct. D.I. 154.
23
Id. at 188-195 (Fisk Dep.).
24
Id.
25
Id. at 344-345 (Feb. 3, 2020 Mr. Nowak Dep.).
8
eventually SLD for clarification. Although Wilcock
thought differently, SLD confirmed Mr. Nowak’s
understanding that the Trust would receive a Death
Benefit of $4 million if his mother died before attained age
100 and the Surrender Value if she died at attained age 100
or thereafter. In 2011, after consulting with his other
financial advisor, Mr. Nowak contacted Wilcock and
sought to reduce the premiums on the Policy to the
minimum amount necessary to keep the Policy intact.
The Policy terms initially required annual premiums
of roughly $247,740. The Trust has paid total premiums
of $3,222,760. In 2011, prior to adjusting the annual
premium payments, the Surrender Value was
$1,268,102.43. Because Mr. Nowak reduced the Trust’s
annual premium payments, the Surrender Value decreased
accordingly and now amounts to $336,242.26
While it tracks much of the Amended Complaint in the Superior Court, at
times verbatim, the Complaint in this Court expands upon the Amended Complaint
and the above factual summary. In particular it highlights in some detail allegations
that both Wilcock and Wetherell as agents of the Defendants and fiduciaries of the
Trust, shared Mr. Nowak’s understanding that the Death Benefit of $4 million would
be paid without regard to whether Mrs. Nowak lived beyond 100.27
26
The Olga Nowak Irrevocable Trust v. Voya Financial, 2020 WL 7181368, at *2
(Del. Super. Ct. Nov. 30, 2020).
27
See, e.g., Compl. ⁋⁋ 3, 6, 9, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, and 50-59, D.I. 1.
9
THE PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
In their motion, SLD and Voya argue for dismissal based on three rationales
– a jurisdictional defect due to lack of standing, laches, and failure of the Trust to
plead fundamental elements of its claims.28 First, the Defendants argue that the Trust
lacks standing. Their thinking is that the Trust, not being a statutory trust under
Delaware law, is not an independent legal entity with the capacity to sue. Only its
Trustee can assert claims on its behalf.29 Next they argue that the Trust unreasonably
delayed asserting its equitable claims, warranting dismissal under the doctrine of
laches. In their view, the trust cannot justify its delay in asserting its contract
reformation claims until May 2017 (when it filed the Superior Court action), roughly
seven years after the Trust learned that the Policy supposedly contained a mistake
and 18 years after it had constructive knowledge of a claimed mistake.30 Further,
the equitable fraud claim and the aiding and abetting equitable fraud claim were
delayed even longer, having been brought for the first time in the Trust’s Complaint
in this Court.31 Lastly, the Defendants assert that the Trust has failed to plead
28
Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss, D.I. 10.
29
Id., at 11.
30
Id., at 12.
31
Id.
10
fundamental elements of its claims: (1) no grounds exists to apply Delaware law to
the equitable claims; (2) the equitable fraud claims fail because the Defendants had
no special relationship with the Trust and the Trust had adequate remedies at law;
and (3) the prior agreement necessary for reformation was not reflected in the
contract because there was no prior agreement.32
The Trust opposes the motion. First, it argues that the motion did not properly
present the Defendants’ facts and arguments in compliance with Chancery Rule 171,
thereby depriving it of an opportunity to understand the facts and legal authorities
on which the Defendants rely and to assess whether the Defendants have met their
burden to support the motion.33 More substantively, the Trust contends: (1) the law
of the case establishes that the Trust has standing, and the Trust also has standing as
the real party in interest;34 (2) Delaware law applies to all of its claims;35 (3) the
claims accrued no earlier than Mrs. Nowak’s death which was less than three years
before the Superior Court action was commenced;36 (4) under Chancery Rule 15(e),
32
Id., at 21-29.
33
Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 30-31, D.I. 12.
34
Id., at 35-37.
35
Id., at 37-39.
36
Id., at 40-44.
11
the timeliness of the equitable fraud claims relates back to the Superior Court
complaint;37 (5) even if any claim accrued earlier than Mrs. Nowak’s death, laches
was tolled until the Defendants failed to make payment upon her death;38 (6) the law
of the case does not bar any count of the Complaint;39 (7) the equitable fraud claims
are properly pled;40 and (8) the contract reformation claims are properly pled.41
Underlying the parties’ disputes about standing, laches, and pleading
sufficiency is a disagreement about the sources of information to which the Court
properly may look in order to resolve those disputes. The Defendants would like the
Court to consider documents referenced in the Complaint and take judicial notice of
matters not subject to reasonable dispute.42 In practical terms, the Defendants ask
the Court to rely on facts in the Superior Court’s opinion on summary judgment and
consider it the law of the case.43 Not surprisingly, the Trust takes a somewhat
37
Id., at 44.
38
Id., at 44-48.
39
Id., at 48-49.
40
Id., at 49-53.
41
Id., at 54-56.
42
Defs.’ Op. Br., at 4, D.I. 10.
43
Id., at 4-5.
12
different position. It emphasizes the language of the Complaint based on the
Trustee’s sworn allegations. The Trust allows that the Court may consider
documents integral to the claims, but only to police the complaint for indisputable
misquotations or mischaracterizations of essential documents.44
III. STANDARD AND SCOPE OF REVIEW
The Defendants have moved to dismiss under Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). A
motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) is addressed to the subject matter jurisdiction
of the court, which the plaintiff has the burden of establishing.45 ‘“Stranding is a
threshold jurisdictional requirement.”’46 In deciding whether the plaintiff has met
that burden, the Court is free to consider facts not alleged in the complaint and is not
limited to accepting plaintiff’s factual allegations as true.47
When considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule
12(b)(6), the Court (i) accepts all well pleaded allegations as true; (ii) credits vague
allegations if they give the opposing party notice of the claim, and (iii) draws all
44
Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 1-2, D.I. 12.
45
Ct. Ch. R. 12(b)(1); Lewis v. AimCo Props, L.P., 2015 WL 557995, at *2 (Del.
Ch. Feb. 10, 2015).
46
Microphage Theraputics, Inc. v. Goldberg, 2021 WL 2585429, at *4 (Del. Ch.
Jun., 23, 2021)(quoting Hall v. Coupe, 2016 WL 3094406, at *3 (Del. Ch. May 25,
2016)).
47
Id.13
reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff.48 But, the Court need not “accept
conclusory allegations unsupported by specific facts or…draw unreasonable
inferences in favor of the non-moving party.”49 “[T]he governing pleading standard
in Delaware to survive a motion to dismiss is reasonable ‘conceivability.’”50
Dismissal is inappropriate “unless the plaintiff would not be entitled to recover under
any reasonably conceivable set of circumstances.”51
IV. DISCUSSION
Before discussing the dispositive issue, the Court pauses briefly to dispose of
four preliminary matters. The first is the Trust’s contention that the Motion should
be denied because it failed to properly present the Defendants’ facts and arguments
in compliance with Chancery Rule 171.52 As a result, the Trust argues that it has
been deprived of an opportunity to understand the Defendants’ legal contentions, the
authorities upon which they rely, and to assess whether they have met their legal
48
Ct. Ch. R. 12(b)(6); Cent. Mortg. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortg. Cap. Hldgs.
LLC, 27 A.3d 531, 535 (Del. 2011).
49
Price v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 26 A.3d 162, 166 (Del. 2011),
overruled on other grounds by Ramsey v. Ga. S. Univ. Advanced Dev. Ctr., 189
A.3d 1227 (Del. 2018).
50
Cent. Mtg., at 537.
51
Id., at 535.
52
Pl.’s Ans. Br. at 30-31, D. I. 12.
14
burden to support the Motion.53 It also argues that the Defendants have improperly
withheld material for their reply brief.54 As to the former, counsel for the Trust is
too modest. Throughout the litigation counsel has demonstrated an impressive
command of the facts and the law in effectively representing the Trust. That
command was reflected in the Answering Brief and at argument. There is no
demonstrated reason to suspect that the Trust was impaired in any way by the
construction of the Defendants’ Opening Brief. As to the latter, the records belies
the assertion.
The second matter is the Defendants’ argument that the Trust lacks standing
to sue. After being content to litigate against the Trust in the Superior Court, the
Defendants apparently have realized for the first time in this Court that the Trust
lacked standing to sue them. The Court declines to be drawn into that argument.
Even if the Court were to agree with the Defendants, that agreement would only
bring them temporary relief. In that event, the Court simply would grant the Trust
leave to amend the Complaint to substitute the Trustee. The Court deems it more
pragmatic to resolve an issue that is dispositive.
53
Id.
54
Id. at 33-35.
15
The third matter is the Defendants’ claim that there is no basis to invoke
Delaware law.55 Aside from the fact that the Defendants have applied Delaware law
to all of their other arguments, which the Court takes as a concession to the
applicability of Delaware law, the Policy insured the life of a Delawarean, Mrs.
Nowak, making Delaware law applicable.56
The fourth matter deals with the scope of the record and the law of the case.
In that regard. the Court has relied only on the Complaint and the Superior Court’s
determination, as affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court, that the Defendants did
not breach the written Policy in reaching its decision.
A. The Laches Standard.
The Court first addresses the issue of laches because it is dispositive. Laches
is the equitable analog of a statute of limitations in a law court. It is rooted in the
maxim that “equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.”57
Equity, being equity, does not impose a hard and fast rule as to what constitutes
laches, preferring to define it generally as an unreasonable delay by the plaintiff in
bringing suit after the plaintiff has learned of the infringement of his rights, thereby
55
Defs.’ Op. Br., at 21, D.I. 12.
56
Clark Equip. Co. v. Liberty Mutual, 1994 WL 466325 (Del. Super. 1994).
57
Reid v. Spazio, 970 A.2d 176, 182 (Del. 2008).
16
resulting in material prejudice to the defendant.58 That definition broadly sets out
the elements of laches: (1) knowledge buy the claimant; (2) unreasonable delay in
bringing the claim; and (3) resulting prejudice to the defendant.59
While both laches and statutes limitations function to bar untimely lawsuits,
the limitations which set bright line time constraints on bringing claims in a court of
law are not controlling in equity.60 “A court of equity moves upon considerations of
conscience, good faith, and reasonable diligence. Knowledge and unreasonable
delay are essential elements of the defense of laches…What constitutes unreasonable
delay is a question of fact largely dependent upon the particular circumstances.”61
Nevertheless, although not determinative, statutes of limitations serve to limit the
outermost time when a claim may proceed and be timely.62 Thus, absent tolling, a
claim is barred if the analogous statute of limitations has passed.63 Further, “a filing
after the expiration of the analogous limitations period is presumptively an
58
Id. (citing Homestone, Inc. v Tafeen, 888 A.2d 204, 210 (Del. 2005).
59
Id., at 183.
60
Adams v. Jankauskas, 452 A.2d 148, 157 (Del. 1982).
61
Whittington v. Dragon Group, L.L.C., 991 A.2d 1, 9 (Del. 2009).
62
Sunrise Ventures, LLC v. Rehoboth Canal Ventures, LLC, 2010 WL 363845WL, at *6 (Del. Ch. Jan. 27, 2010).
63
Id.17
unreasonable delay for purposes of laches … and prejudice to defendants is thus
presumed.”64
B. The Facts Alleged in the Complaint.
The Court analyzes the timeliness of this action according to the facts alleged
in the Complaint. The Complaint alleges that the Trust purchased the Policy from
Defendants’ predecessor in 1999 for the purpose of estate planning for Mrs. Nowak
with the expectation that the $4 million Death Benefit would be paid upon her
death.65 Over the next decade, Defendants provided the Trust with illustrations
reflecting that that $4 million Death Benefit would be paid through Mrs. Nowak
reaching the age of 110.66 During that period, the Trust paid annual premiums
totaling more than $3 million to ensure that the Policy remained in effect.67
Approximately 12 years after the purchase of the Policy, a financial advisor
informed the Trustee that certain trusts and policies terminated at age 100, and that
the Trustee should recheck the Policy to assure that the Trust did not terminate at
64
Kim v. Coupang, LLC, 2021 WL 3671136, at *3, (Del. Ch. Aug. 19, 2021).
65
Compl., at ⁋⁋ 2, 3, D.I. 1.
66
Id., at ⁋ 3, 5.
67
Id, at ⁋ 5.
18
100.68 In 2010, after receiving a differently formatted illustration, the Trustee read
the Policy and discovered a clause “which might be contrary to the understanding of
the Nowak Trust, Wilcock, and Defendants.”69 Upon checking with Defendants’
agent, the Trustee was assured that clause would not terminate the $4 million Death
Benefit at age 100.70 In 2011, the Defendants provided an illustration showing that
the Death Benefit terminated at age 100 and thereafter the Policy would pay only the
cash Surrender Value.71 In various communications with Wilcock, the Trustee was
assured that the 2011 illustration was a mistake, and that it was Wilcock’s
understanding that the full Death Benefit would continue until Mrs. Nowak’s
death.72 At that time, Mrs. Nowak was 94 years old and the Trustee made the
prudential decision to conserve the Trust’s assets, keep the policy in force with the
minimum necessary payments, and forgo filing a legal action that might never
become necessary.73 Mrs. Nowak died on June 29, 2016, only four months after she
68
Id., at ⁋ 6.
69
Id.70
Id.71
Id., at ⁋ 7.
72
Id., at ⁋ 9.
73
Id., at ⁋⁋ 9,10.
19
reached her attained age of 100 under the Policy.74 The Defendants have refused to
pay the $4 million Death Benefit and maintain that the Trust is entitled only to the
cash Surrender Value of $336,242.75
C. The Analogous Statute of Limitations is Three Years.
The Defendants consider the analogous statute of limitations to be three years
for all claims.76 Trust appears to agree as to the breach of the reformed contract,77
but apparently is agnostic as to the fraud-based claims, preferring instead to argue
that those claims did not accrue until the Defendants refused payment.78 It
acknowledges that the right to reform a contract is subject to a defense of laches, but
denies that it is subject to an analogous statute of limitations, stating that there is no
analogous statute of limitations for that claim.79 Instead, laches requires a showing
74
Id., at ⁋ 11.
75
Id.76
Defs.’ Op. Br., at 13, 17, D.I. 10.
77
Pl.’s Ans. Br. at 40-41 (“Where a ‘claim sounds in contract…the analogous
statute of limitations is 10 Del. C. § 8106, under which a breach of contract action
must be brought within three years from the date the cause of action accrued.’ Levy
v. Brownstone Asset Management, LP, 76 A.3d 764, 768 (Del. 2013).’”, D.I. 12.
78
Id., at 43.
79
Id., at 41.
20
that the delay caused the Defendants to suffer a detrimental change in position.80
But then, the Trust states, “In effect, because reformation either applies to an
ongoing contract or to a claim for breach of the reformed contract, absent some
prejudicial delay, laches bars reformation claims only if it would bar a claim for the
breach of the reformed contract.” 81
The Defendants have the better argument. If the Court follows the Trust’s
reasoning, it seems to be saying that there is no analogous statute of limitations for
reformation claims, which require prejudicial delay for laches to bar them, but,
absent prejudicial delay, laches would bar a reformation claim if it would bar a
breach of a reformed contract claim for which the analogous statute of limitations is
three years. That statement either is a long way of saying the Trust agrees that the
analogous statute of limitations is three years, or the Trust’s position is beyond the
Court’s ability to comprehend. Either way, the Court takes three years as an
analogous limitations period for all claims.82
D. The Accrual Date is no Later than 2011.
80
Id.
81
Id., at 41 (citing Interim Healthcare, Inc. v. Sherion Corp., 2003 WL 22902879,
at *6 (Del. Ch. 2003).
82
See, Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Starr, 575 A.2d 1083, 1088-89 (Del. 1990);
Sunrise Ventures, LLC, at*6-7.
21
The parties real disagreement centers on when the Trust’s claims accrued.
The Defendants set the accrual date for constructive notice at the date the Policy
went into effect in 1999 and for actual notice in 2011 when the Trust first discovered
a “problem” with the Policy’s language.83 For the Trust, the accrual date is no earlier
that Mrs. Nowak’s death when the Trust alleges that the Defendants refused to pay
the Trust $4 million.84
In one sense, the accrual date is academic. The Court need not parse between
1999 and 2011. It is enough to say the accrual date for the reformation based claims
is no later than 2011, and decidedly not 2016. All of the facts necessary to initiate a
contract reformation suit, as alleged in the Complaint, were known to the Trustee by
2011 at the latest.
To the extent there was a pre-existing agreement as alleged between the
Trustee and the Defendants, through the Defendants’ representatives Wilcock and
Wetherell, to provide a Death Benefit of $4 million to the Trust without regard to
Mrs. Nowak’s age when she died, that agreement was not in accord with the written
Policy. As the Superior Court found after reciting the language of the Policy: “The
contractual obligation is unambiguous. If the insured died before attained age 100,
83
Defs.’ Op. Br., at 16, D.I. 10.
84
Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 40-43, D.I. 12.
22
Defendants were obligated to pay a Death Benefit of $4 million to the Trust.
However, if the insured died after attained age 100, the Defendants were obligated
to pay only the Surrender Value to the Trust.”85 This contradiction between the
parties’ alleged understanding of the Policy and its terms after it was reduced to
writing should have been apparent to the Trustee in 1999.86 Nonetheless, despite the
intervening incorrect illustrations and Wilcock’s assurances, after “rereading” the
Policy and receiving other corrected illustrations, it was apparent to the Trustee that
the “Defendants intended to interpret and rely upon certain language in the Insurance
Policy, which contradicted the parties’ understanding, prior to illustrations, and other
language in the Insurance Policy, to assert that the $4 million death benefit expired
at age 100 and instead would only be the cash surrender value.”87 A that point, the
Trustee considered litigation, but elected not to pursue it in order to conserve Trust
assets, considering that litigation might be unnecessary if Mrs. Nowak died before
she turned 100.88
85
The Olga J. Nowak Irrevocable Trust, at *6.
86
That it was not is attributed by the Defendants to the Trustee’s failure to read the
Policy in 1999. The Trust maintains that the Trustee never stated that he did not
read the Policy when it was delivered. Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 47, D.I. 12.
87
Compl., at ⁋ 7, D.I. 1; Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 18-19, D.I. 12.
88
Compl., at ⁋ 8, D. I. 1.
23
The Trust takes the position that no cause of action arose until the Defendants
refused payment. In other words, the Trust could not sue until the Defendants
breached the contract.89 Simply being on notice that the Defendants intended to
breach the contract did not commence the statute of limitations for breach.90 The
Trust cites multiple cases for the uncontroversial position that a party cannot sue for
breach of contract until that contract has been breached.91 But, a breach of contract,
as the contract was reduced to writing in the Policy, is not before this Court. That
claim was resolved against the Trust in the Superior Court. What is before this Court
is a contract reformation claim, paired with a claim for breach of that reformed
contract.
A breach of contract claim and a contract reformation claim are not the same.
The elements of a breach of contract claim are: (1) a contractual obligation; (2) a
breach of that obligation; and (3) resulting damages.92 There are two doctrines that
allow for contract reformation – mutual mistake and unilateral mistake coupled with
89
Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 41-42.
90
Id., at 42.
91
Id.
92
The Olga J. Nowak Irrevocable Trust, at *6 (quoting Interim Healthcare, Inc. v.
Spherion Corp., 884 A.2d 513, 548 (Del. Super. Ct. 2005).
24
knowledge and silence by the other party.93 Count I of the Complaint alleges the
former and Count II the latter.94 “Regardless of which doctrine is used, the plaintiff
must show by clear and convincing evidence that the parties came to a specific prior
understanding that differed materially from the written agreement.”95 Thus, in order
to warrant reformation, the Trust must allege that it was mistaken about the terms of
the Policy and that the Defendants shared that mistaken belief, or that the Defendants
knew of the Trust’s mistaken belief and remained silent. Breach of a contract is not
an element of a reformation claim. Were it otherwise, no contract could be reformed
before it was breached, an obviously inefficient and inequitable result. Accordingly,
The Trust’s cause of action for reformation accrued no later than 2011 when the
Trustee realized that the Defendants would not pay the $4 million Death Benefit if
Mrs. Nowak died after attained age 100.96
E. Laches is not Tolled.
The determination that the contract reformation claim accrued in 2011 does
not settle the issue, however. The Trust argues that even if any claim accrued prior
93
Cerberus Intern., Ltd. v. Apollo Management, L.P., 794 A.2d 1141, 1151 (Del.
2002).
94
Compl., at ⁋⁋ 42-49.
95
Cerberus, at 1151-52.
96
It is unnecessary to determine whether that actual accrual date is 1999 as the
Defendants argue since laches would bar a claim accruing in 2011 as well.
25
Mrs. Nowak’s death, laches was tolled until her death because: (1) the Defendants
fraudulently concealed their intention to deny payment of the $4 million Death
Benefit if Mrs. Nowak died after attained age 100; and (2) unusual conditions and
circumstances preclude laches. Neither tolling argument is persuasive.
The Trust characterizes itself as blamelessly ignorant of the Defendant’s true
intentions. Having justifiably relied on Wilcock’s expertise, the illustrations, and
the language of the Policy, the Complaint alleges that after reasonable inquiry, it was
“put off the trail of inquiry” by the Defendants so as to warrant tolling of laches until
Mrs. Nowak’s death.97 But, the allegations of the Complaint make clear,
notwithstanding Wilcock’s prior comments, that by 2011 it was the Defendants’
position that the Death Benefit converted to Surrender Value if Mrs. Nowak died
after attained age 100. If fact the Complaint contained the bolded, capitalized,
underlined heading;
IN 2010, VOYA ALTERS ITS ILLUSTRATIONS,
FIRST TERMINATIONG A CHART IN THE
ILLUSTRATIONS AT AGE 100 AND THEN, IN 2011
INCLUDING A CHART ILLUSTRATING THAT,
CONTRARY TO DEFENDANT’S
REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PREVIOUS 10
YEARS, AND THE TEXTUAL LANGUAGE OF
THE ILLUSTRATIONS, THE $4 MILLION DEATH
BENEFIT TERMINATED AT AGE 100.98
97
Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 46-47, D.I. 12.
98
Compl., at p. 17, D.I. 1.
26
The allegations in the paragraphs under that heading make it clear that the
Defendants considered the Death Benefit after attained age 100 to be the Surrender
Value, and not $4 million.99 The Complaint contains no allegations that the
Defendants, or anyone acting on their behalf, informed the Trustee after January
2011 that the Trust would be paid $4 million if Mrs. Nowak died after attained age
100. In fact, all of the allegations are to the contrary. Moreover, the Complaint
alleges that the Trustee considered litigation in 2011, but for financial reasons and
Mrs. Nowak’s age – she was then 94 - elected to “see how events played out.”100
That decision arguably was a prudent one to make at the time, but it is not one made
by someone from whom the true state of play was fraudulently concealed.101
The situation confronting the Trustee in 2011 – sue or “see how events played
out” is not such an unusual condition or circumstance to preclude laches. Potential
litigants face difficult choices every day when contemplating litigation. Balancing
the costs of litigation with the advisability of suing is only one such consideration.
While the Court in no way faults the choice made by the Trustee to “see how events
99
Id., at ⁋⁋ 27, 29. 30, and 34.
100
Id., at ⁋ 30.
101
See, Sunrise Ventures, LLC, at *6-7.
27
played out,” the present litigation has an element of past posting to it.102 The bugle
sounding the call to the post sounded in 2011 when the Trustee understood that the
Defendants would pay only the Surrender Value if Mrs. Nowak lived beyond
attained age 100. Having seen how the race turned out, he is now placing his bet. It
is too late.
F. The Contract Reformation Claims are Barred by Laches.
Two counts of the Complaint seek to reform the Policy. Count I seeks to
reform the Policy based on mutual mistake, while Count II seeks reformation based
on unilateral mistake and inequitable conduct. Count IV alleges a breach of the
reformed Policy. Under either theory of contract reformation – mutual mistake or
unilateral mistake coupled with inequitable conduct – the facts sufficient to bring a
claim were known to the Trustee no later than 2011. Six years later, the Trust sued.
By any reasonable analogous statute of limitations, the Trust waited too long.
There is a presumption of prejudice and unreasonableness when the analogous
statute of limitations is exceeded.103 Here, significant, material elements of the
102
“Late betting or past posting is making a bet after the time when no more bets
are to be taken…The term past posting originates from horse racing where a bugler
sounds a “call to the post” just before the race begins (“post time”). This is also
the signal that no more bets can be taken. Any bets made after that time occur
after or past ‘the post.”’ Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_betting.
103
Kim v. Coupang, LLC, 2021 WL 3671136, at *3 (Del. Ch. Aug. 19, 2021);
Forman v. CentrifyHealth, Inc., at *9 2008 WL 1810947 (Del. Ch. Oct. 14, 2008).
28
reformation claims involve oral communications occurring as far back as 1999 and
no more recently than 2011. It is unfair to any party to litigate the accuracy of such
long ago conversations. Further, while the actuarial risks are a matter of debate, it
is certainly arguable that the Defendants were prejudiced by collecting premiums for
a Policy paying a Death Benefit of $4 million until age 100 if that Death Benefit
actually extended indefinitely beyond 100.
Since the contract reformation claims are barred by laches, it follows that a
claim for breach of those claims is also barred. A contract that does not exist will
not support a claim for its breach.
G. The Equitable or Constructive Fraud Claims are Barred by
Laches.
Counts III and IV allege equitable or constructive fraud and aiding and
abetting equitable or constructive fraud respectively. Count III alleges that a special
relationship existed between the Defendants, through their agents Wilcock and
Wetherell, and the Trust under which the Trust relied upon the Defendants to provide
a suitable Policy for its needs.104 It further alleges that the Defendants “engaged in
acts, omissions, and concealments (whether innocent, negligent or willful and
intentional) which involve breaches of duty, trust, and confidence” injurious to the
Trust by misrepresenting the risks and disadvantages of the Policy, including
104
Compl., at ⁋ 51, D.I. 1.
29
through illustrations inducing the Trust to make premium payments not required by
the contract.105 Count IV alleges that the Defendants, to the extent they are not
primarily liable for equitable or constructive fraud, are liable through their agents
Wilcock and Wetherell.106 These claims were not made in the Superior Court action.
Rather, they were alleged for the first time in this Court in 2021 when the Superior
Court authorized the transfer of the contract reformation claims.
Obviously, if these new claims were to stand alone, untethered to the Superior
Court litigation, they would be barred by laches. Even if the accrual event is the
death of Mrs. Nowak in 2016, they are well beyond the analogous three-year statute
of limitations for fraud.107 But, the Trust contends these claims are timely, despite
being brought for the first time in 2021, because they relate back to the original
complaint in Superior Court pursuant to Chancery Rule 15(e), since they arise out
of the conduct, transaction or occurrence alleged in the Superior Court action.108
If the Court were to accept the Trust’s position, in order to be timely here, the
equitable fraud claims, if originally brought in the Superior Court, would have had
105
Id., at ⁋⁋ 52-54.
106
Id., at ⁋⁋ 56-59.
107
11 Del. C. § 8106(a); Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. v. Kee, 268 A.3d 178,
197 (Del. 2021).
108
Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 44, D.I. 12.
30
to be timely there. They would not have been. The Trust maintains that laches did
not commence on the equitable or constructive fraud claims, regardless of when the
fraud occurred, until the injury was knowable.109 According to the Trust, the injury
was unknowable because the Trust could not know that the Defendants
representations that they would pay $4 million upon the death of Mrs. Nowak were
false until the Defendants failed to make the payment.110 This argument is simply a
repackaging of the tolling argument the Court rejected when it determined that the
Trust was not “blamelessly ignorant” of the Defendant’s intentions. According to
the Complaint, the Trust knew as early as 2010, and certainly no later than 2011,
that the Defendants would not pay the $4 million Death Benefit if Mrs. Nowak died
after attained age 100.111 The Complaint alleges the Trustee faced a supposed
Hobson’s choice – whether to sue or conserve the Trust’s resources.112 The decision
to forgo bringing suit was based on a balancing of the costs and the likelihood that
Mrs. Nowak would die before attained age 100. It was not based on the lack of a
viable claim. Accordingly, the equitable or constructive fraud claim as well as the
aiding and abetting equitable or constructive fraud claim are barred by laches.
109
Pl.’s Ans. Br., at 43., D.I. 12.
110
Id.111
Compl., at p. 17; ⁋⁋ 24-34, D.I. 1.
112
See, Id., at ⁋⁋ 10, 34.
31
V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set out above, all claims in the Complaint are barred by
laches. The Motion to Dismiss of Defendants Voya Financial, Inc. and Security Life
of Denver Insurance Company is GRANTED. The Verified Complaint of The Olga
J. Nowak Irrevocable Trust is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Ferris W. Wharton
Ferris W. Wharton, J.
32