Merton v. Farmer's Ins. Co. ( 2016 )

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1 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
2 NICK MERTON,
3 Plaintiff-Appellant,
4 v. No. 35,571
5 FARMERS INSURANCE COMPANY,
6 Defendant-Appellee.
7 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY
8 Nancy J. Franchini, District Judge
9 Cravens Law, LLC
10 Richard H. Cravens, IV
11 Albuquerque, NM
12 for Appellant
13 O’Brien & Padilla, P.C.
14 Daniel O’Brien
15 Albuquerque, NM
16 for Appellee
17 MEMORANDUM OPINION
18 VIGIL, Chief Judge.
1 {1} Plaintiff has appealed the dismissal of his third-party insurance bad faith
2 complaint. We previously issued a notice of proposed summary disposition in which
3 we proposed to uphold the district court’s decision. Plaintiff has filed a memorandum
4 in opposition. After due consideration, we remain unpersuaded. We therefore affirm.
5 {2} The pertinent background information was set forth in the notice of proposed
6 summary disposition. We will avoid undue repetition here, and focus instead on the
7 content of the memorandum in opposition.
8 {3} Plaintiff appears to argue that there is no requirement of finality under Hovet
9 v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2004-NMSC-010, 135 N.M. 397, 89 P.3d 69. [MIO 4, 9]
10 However, Hovet unambiguously holds that “[a] third-party claimant’s statutory cause
11 of action against the insurer for unfair settlement practices must await the conclusion
12 of the underlying negligence action between the claimant and the insured.” Id. ¶ 26
13 (emphasis added). Given that under LR2-603 NMRA Plaintiff has obtained only “a
14 nonenforceable order” at this stage, Aragon v. Westside Jeep/Eagle, 1994-NMSC-060,
15 ¶ 10, 117 N.M. 720, 876 P.2d 235, we hold that the underlying negligence action
16 against the insured has not yet concluded.
17 {4} Plaintiff further asserts that, as applied to Hovet plaintiffs, LR2-603 violates
18 principles of due process and equal protection under the law. [MIO 11] These
19 arguments were not preserved in the district court and are undeveloped in the
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1 memorandum in opposition. [RP 18-20; MIO 11] Therefore, we refuse to address
2 them on appeal. See Corona v. Corona, 2014-NMCA-071, ¶ 28, 329 P.3d 701 (“This
3 Court has no duty to review an argument that is not adequately developed.”); ITT
4 Educ. Serv., Inc. v. Taxation & Revenue Dep’t, 1998-NMCA-078, ¶ 10, 125 N.M.
5 244, 959 P.2d 969 (stating that this Court will not consider propositions that are
6 unsupported by citation to authority); State v. Leon, 2013-NMCA-011, ¶ 33, 292 P.3d
7 493 (“We generally do not consider issues on appeal that are not preserved below.”)
8 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
9 {5} Lastly, as an alternative remedy, Plaintiff asks this Court to “direct the local
10 court to modify its rules[.]” [MIO 12] While we acknowledge Plaintiff’s arguments
11 that LR2-603 presents a potential for abuse, this Court has no such authority. As our
12 Supreme Court held in Spingola v. Spingola:
13 The power to make rules regarding practice and procedure in all the
14 courts of this State is vested by the Constitution solely in this Supreme
15 Court. By means of Rule [1-083 NMRA] we have delegated to the
16 district courts the power to promulgate rules, not inconsistent with ours,
17 regarding practice in the local courts. A valid rule of a district court has
18 the force and effect of law, the same as one published by this Court.
19 1978-NMSC-045, ¶¶ 28-29, 91 N.M. 737, 580 P.2d 958 (citations omitted). Further,
20 “the Court of Appeals remains bound by Supreme Court precedent.” State ex rel.
21 Martinez v. City of Las Vegas, 2004-NMSC-009, ¶ 20, 135 N.M. 375, 89 P.3d 47
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1 (alterations, internal quotation marks, and citations omitted). Therefore, this Court
2 may not order a lower court to amend its rules, and Plaintiff’s arguments are better
3 directed at our Supreme Court. See Duran v. Eichwald, 2009-NMSC-030, ¶ 5, 146
4 N.M. 341, 210 P.3d 238 (discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to suspend Rule 5-
5 604 NMRA on policy grounds).
6 {6} Accordingly, for the reasons stated above and in the notice of proposed
7 summary disposition, we affirm.
8 {7} IT IS SO ORDERED.
9 __________________________________
10 MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Chief Judge
11 WE CONCUR:
12 _________________________________
13 MICHAEL D. BUSTAMANTE, Judge
14 _________________________________
15 J. MILES HANISEE, Judge
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