Moor v. Am. Family Ins. Co. , 2009 Ohio 4442 ( 2009 )

[Cite as Moor v. Am. Family Ins. Co., 2009-Ohio-4442.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
DEFIANCE COUNTY
CHARISSA MOOR, ET AL.,
PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS, CASE NO. 4-09-13
v.
AMERICAN FAMILY OPINION
INSURANCE CO., ET AL.,
DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES.
Appeal from Defiance County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 07-CV-38934
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: August 31, 2009
APPEARANCES:
Robert P. Rutter for Appellants
Raymond H. Pittmam, III for Appellees
Case No. 4-09-13
SHAW, J.
{¶1} Although originally placed on our accelerated calendar, we have
elected, pursuant to Local Rule 12(5), to issue a full opinion in lieu of a judgment
entry.
{¶2} Plaintiffs-Appellants Charissa Moor (“Moor”) and Curtis Miller
(“Miller”) appeal from the April 16, 2009 Judgment Entry of the Court of
Common Pleas of Defiance County, Ohio granting summary judgment in favor of
Defendants-Appellees Greg Newton (“Newton”) and American Family Insurance
Company (“American Family”).
{¶3} This matter stems from a fire occurring at the home of Moor and
Miller, located at 929 Haver Drive in Hicksville, Ohio, on December 4, 2006. The
home was originally purchased by Moor in May 2005 for $78,100.00. Apparently,
after Moor purchased the home it was insured by Allstate for one month
subsequent to Moor’s purchase. After one month with Allstate, Moor contacted
Newton and purchased an insurance policy with the Ohio Fair Plan for the span of
one year in the amount of $80,000.1
1
Moor was originally insured with Allstate Insurance Company. However, because of the poor condition
of the roof on the property, Allstate would not insure Moor. Moor was then insured under the Ohio Fair
Plan. During her period of insurance with the Ohio Fair Plan, Moor had work done on the roof that enabled
her to seek private insurance coverage.
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{¶4} In June 2006 Moor elected to purchase homeowner’s insurance with
American Family.2 The testimony indicates that at the time Moor purchased the
American Family policy, she was advised that her prior policy limit did not
adequately cover the replacement cost of her home. Newton’s office assistance
Angela Walkup (“Walkup”) advised Moor that the replacement value of her home
was estimated at $97,900.00. Despite this advisement, Walkup stated that Moor
chose to insure the home for an amount closer to the purchase price - $82,000.
According to Walkup, Moor was aware that she was opting for less than the
advised amount of coverage.
{¶5} The home at 929 Haver Drive was severely damaged in the
December 4, 2006 fire. The damage to the home was estimated at $79,374.00.
American Family paid Moor $88,560.00 under the policy.
{¶6} On November 29, 2007 Moor and Miller filed a complaint alleging
that they were underinsured due to the negligence of Newton and American
Family; requesting reformation of the contract due to mutual mistake to a higher
policy limit; and alleging a breach of contract by American Family. Newton and
American Family filed an answer on January 25, 2008.
{¶7} American Family and Newton moved for summary judgment on
September 15, 2008 arguing that Moor was aware of the amount of the policy she
2
The American Family policy names Moor and Miller as jointly insured in the home located at 929 Haver
Road. This Court also notes that Moor and Miller have subsequently married.
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purchased, and even after being otherwise advised, opted for less coverage than
the replacement value of the home.
{¶8} On November 19, 2008 Moor and Miller filed their brief in
opposition. American Family and Newton filed a reply brief on December 11,
2008.
{¶9} On April 16, 2009 the trial court granted summary judgment in favor
of American Family and Newton.
{¶10} Moor and Miller now appeal, asserting one assignment of error.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING SUMMARY
JUDGMENT TO THE DEFENDANTS SINCE THERE IS
CONFLICTING EVIDENCE AS TO WHETHER GREG
NEWTON AND HIS OFFICE MANAGER, ANGELA
WALKUP, FULFILLED THEIR DUTIES AS INSURANCE
AGENTS TO (1) EXPLAIN TO CHARISSA THE DIFFERENT
COVERAGES AVAILABLE, (2) EXPLAIN TO CHARISSA
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REPLACEMENT COST
COVERAGE AND ACTUAL CASH VALUE COVERAGE, (3)
ACCURATELY MEASURE CHRISSA’S [SIC] HOUSE, (4)
ACCURATELY CALCULATE THE REPLACEMENT COST
OF THE HOUSE, AND (5) INSURE THE HOUSE FOR
BETWEEN 80-100% OF ITS FULL REPLACEMENT COST.
{¶11} In her first assignment of error, Moor and Miller argue that the trial
court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of American Family and
Newton. An appellate court reviews a grant of summary judgment independently,
and without any deference to the trial court. Conley-Slowinski v. Superior
Spinning & Stamping Co. (1998), 128 Ohio App.3d 360, 363, 714 N.E.2d 991.
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The standard of review for a grant of summary judgment is de novo. Hasenfratz v.
Warnement 3rd Dist. No. 1-06-03, 2006-Ohio-2797 citing Lorain Nat'l. Bank v.
Saratoga Apts. (1989), 61 Ohio App.3d 127, 572 N.E.2d 198.
{¶12} A grant of summary judgment will be affirmed only when the
requirements of Civ.R.56(C) are met. This requires the moving party to establish:
(1) that there are no genuine issues of material fact, (2) that the moving party is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) that reasonable minds can come to
but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the non-moving party, said
party being entitled to have the evidence construed most strongly in his favor.
Civ.R.56(C); see Horton v. Harwick Chem. Corp. (1995), 73 Ohio St.3d 679, 653
N.E.2d 1196, 1995-Ohio-286, paragraph three of the syllabus. Additionally,
Civ.R. 56(C) mandates that summary judgment shall be rendered if the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts
of evidence, and written stipulations of fact show that there is no genuine issue as
to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law.
{¶13} The party moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden of
identifying the basis for its motion in order to allow the opposing party a
“meaningful opportunity to respond.” Mitseff v. Wheeler (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d
112, 116, 526 N.E.2d 798. The moving party also bears the burden of
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demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact as to an essential
element of the case. Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292, 662 N.E.2d
264, 1996-Ohio-107. Once the moving party demonstrates that he is entitled to
summary judgment, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to produce evidence
on any issue which that party bears the burden of production at trial. See Civ.R.
56(E).
{¶14} In ruling on a summary judgment motion, a court is not permitted to
weigh evidence or choose among reasonable inferences, rather, the court must
evaluate evidence, taking all permissible inferences and resolving questions of
credibility in favor of the non-moving party. Jacobs v. Racevskis (1995), 105 Ohio
App.3d 1, 7, 663 N.E.2d 653.
{¶15} In the present case, Moor and Miller allege that Newton breached his
duty as an insurance agent. An insurance agency has a duty to exercise good faith
and reasonable diligence in obtaining insurance that its customer requests. Frye v.
Walters & Peck Agency, Inc. (2001), 141 Ohio App.3d 303, 310, 750 N.E.2d
1194. See also, First Catholic Slovak Union v. Buckeye Union Ins. (1986), 27
Ohio App.3d 169, 170, 499 N.E.2d 1303, 1305; Stuart v. Natl. Indemn. Co.
(1982), 7 Ohio App.3d 63, 66, 454 N.E.2d 158, 162-163. “When the agency
knows that the customer is relying upon its expertise, the agency may have a
further duty to exercise reasonable care in advising the customer. Stuart, supra.
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The customer, however, has a corresponding duty to examine the coverage
provided and is charged with knowledge of the contents of his or her own
insurance policies.” Frye, 141 Ohio App. 3d at 310. See also, Craggett v. Adell
Ins. Agency (1993), 92 Ohio App.3d 443, 453, 635 N.E.2d 1326, 1332-1333;
Nickschinski v. Sentry Ins. Co. (1993), 88 Ohio App.3d 185, 195, 623 N.E.2d 660,
666-667.
{¶16} In considering the evidence before it, the trial court reached the
following conclusion:
The evidentiary materials before the court, however, even
construed most strongly in favor of Plaintiffs, demonstrate that
these claims are without merit and must be dismissed.
Notwithstanding Plaintiffs efforts to create a factual issue, it is
undisputed that Ms. Moor knew that she was applying for
Eighty-two Thousand Dollars ($82,000.00) in dwelling coverage
and this was in fact provided.
There is not evidence before the court that Defendants breached
any duty to Plaintiffs.
***
In the instant case, Plaintiffs applied for specific coverage,
received that coverage and American Family paid what was
owed pursuant to its policy. Plaintiffs got what they bought and
the insurer has no duty to sell a customer more than what they
want.
***
As to Plaintiffs’ claims seeking reformation of the contract,
there is no evidence that the written instrument herein, the
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insurance policy, did not express the true agreement of the
contracting parties by reason of a mistake common to them.
Reformation, which would only be available upon showing of
mutual mistake by clear and convincing evidence is not
available here. Wagon v. National Fire Ins. Co., (1937), 132
[Ohio St.] 405.
{¶17} This Court, when undertaking a similar review of the evidence
agrees with the conclusions reached by the trial court. In her affidavit, Walkup
stated, in pertinent part, as follows:
Charissa Moor was a client of Greg Newton. She was insured
with Ohio Fair Plan for homeowners’ coverage from June 22,
2005 to June 22, 2006. Ms. Moor indicated that she wanted to
purchase homeowners insurance through American Family once
her Ohio Fair Plan policy expired. The Ohio Fair Plan policy
contained dwelling coverage limits of $80,000.00.
I met with Charissa Moor in June 2006 so that she could sign
her American Family Insurance application. A true, genuine,
and correct copy of the application is attached hereto as Exhibit
A. I advised Ms. Moor that her coverage under the Ohio Fair
Plan policy was less than the replacement costs for her home. I
advised Ms. Moor of the consequences of her coverage limits in
the event that she had a loss and asked her if she would like to
increase her dwelling limits. I told Ms. Moor that the
replacement cost of her home was $97,900.00.
After being fully apprised of this information, Ms. Moor
responded that she did not want to increase her policy limits to
the replacement cost of the home. She chose dwelling limits of
$82,000.00 on her application with American Family.
Alternatively, Moor testified that she did not remember whether this discussion
occurred.
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Q. All right. And I apologize if I asked you this, but where did
that $82,000 figure come from, if you know?
A. I don’t know.
***
Q. Do you remember whether you told Greg that you wanted –
or, excuse me. Do you remember whether you told Angie that
you wanted to insure the house for $82,000.
A. I don’t remember telling her that –
Q. All right.
A. – or I wanted to or anything else.
Q. Are you saying you definitely didn’t do it or you don’t
remember?
A. I don’t remember.
(Moor’s Deposition pgs. 49).
{¶18} Moor further stated, during her deposition, that she did not
remember when she discussed the American Family policy with Walkup, or
exactly what was discussed at that time. Therefore, this Court finds that nothing in
the record contradicts Walkup’s testimony that she discussed with Moor, the
consequences of purchasing coverage for less than the replacement value of her
home. Accordingly, we cannot find any genuine issue of material fact concerning
whether Newton and American Family breached a duty to Moor and Miller.
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{¶19} Additionally, as noted by the trial court, Moor introduced no
evidence of mutual mistake which would warrant reformation of the contract.
Viewing all of the evidence in the record, all parties were aware of the coverage
Moor was purchasing and the effect of that purchase. Accordingly, Moor’s
assignment of error is overruled.
{¶20} Based on the foregoing, the April 16, 2009 Judgment Entry of the
Court of Common Pleas of Defiance County, Ohio is affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
PRESTON, P.J. and WILLAMOWSKI, J., concur.
/jlr
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