Sentry Insurance v. Siurek , 748 S.W.2d 104 ( 1988 )

ON APPELLEE’S MOTION FOR REHEARING

HOYT, Justice.

Our opinion issued August 28, 1986, is withdrawn and the following is substituted. The motion for rehearing by appellee, Mark Siurek, is granted. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Appellant, Sentry Insurance, appeals from an adverse jury verdict and judgment wherein appellee, Mark Siurek, recovered $3,101 in actual damages, and $35,000 in exemplary damages. Siurek’s suit alleged causes of action for violation of the Texas Insurance Code, breach of contract, and violation of the independent duty of good faith and fair dealing.

On July 26, 1983, Siurek was involved in an automobile collision with Betty Goodson. Goodson was at fault and was insured by Trinity Insurance. Siurek contacted Trinity regarding his claim and to obtain a rental car. He had settlement discussions with Trinity, and on September 8, 1983, prior to completion of repairs, received Trinity’s check in the amount of $3,245 for the damage to his vehicle. Subsequently, he retained an attorney to represent him and during the latter part of September, for the first time, notified Sentry, his insurance carrier, pursuant to the no-fault collision damages provision of his policy.

By October 14, the repairs to Siurek’s car were completed; however, the amount of repairs exceeded Trinity’s check by $258.01. Through his attorney, Siurek returned Trinity’s check because it not only failed to cover the total property damages, but also failed to cover Siurek’s personal injury damages. When his claim had not been resolved with Trinity by December 2nd, Siurek made demand on Sentry on that date for the “immediate” payment of his property damages.

Siurek testified that from December 15, 1983, through January 27, 1984, he made numerous calls to Sentry inquiring about a check for auto repair costs, and that on January 27, 1984, his attorney wrote to Sentry indicating that the check still had not been received. He testified that as a result of Sentry’s failure to pay within a reasonable time, he was forced to borrow money to get his car out of the shop.

Sentry’s representative testified that Sentry was notified in October 1983, that Siurek’s automobile damage had been paid by Trinity. After it was brought to Sentry’s attention in December 1983, that Siur-ek had refused Trinity’s check for the property damage, Sentry issued Siurek a check in the amount of $2,958.01 (the repair cost minus the $500 deductible).

Around January 27, 1984, after numerous phone calls from Siurek and his attorney, Sentry concluded that Siurek had not received its check and that it was lost. A stop payment order was then issued. Sentry admits that through internal office error, the requisition for reissuance of a new check was inadvertently filed away, and a new check was not issued.

Siurek filed suit against Sentry on April 16, 1984. Subsequently, Siurek filed suit against Goodson/Trinity, and that suit was settled on December 5, 1984, for $5,170. The settlement agreement included a release that stated in pertinent part:

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Release shall operate, or be construed as, a Release against Sentry Insurance with regard to the claims being made against it under Cause No. 84-17860 in Harris County, Texas.

In seven points of error, Sentry contends that the trial court erred: (1) in overruling its motion for summary judgment; (2) in overruling its motion for instructed verdict; (3) in overruling its motion for judgment non obstante veredicto; (4) in awarding exemplary damages based on bad faith because no actual damages were proved; (5) in submitting a special issue on non-contract damages in a suit on an insurance contract; (6) in overruling Sentry’s amended motions for new trial, continuance, de-certification, and to join a necessary party; and (7) in not limiting the jury’s consideration of bad faith to a period of time prior to Siurek’s suit against it, so that the jury would not find bad faith on Sentry’s behalf based on the use of the settlement as a legal defense.

It is well settled that where a person, insured under an insurance contract containing a right of subrogation by the insurance company, settles with or releases a wrongdoer from liability for the loss before payment of the loss has been made by the insurance company, the latter’s right of subrogation is thereby destroyed. Hollen v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 551 S.W.2d 46, 49 (Tex.1977); Alliance Insurance Co. v. First Tape, Inc., 713 S.W.2d 718 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.], 1986). It follows that an insured who has settled his property damage claim with a third-party tortfeasor, thus barring a subrogation claim by his own insurance company, cannot maintain a suit against his own insurance company for the same damages. The insured is entitled to but one recovery under the terms of the contract of insurance. See Bradshaw v. Baylor University, 126 Tex. 99, 104, 84 S.W.2d 703, 705 (1935).

The record reflects that Siurek did not inform Sentry, his insurance company, of his accident until late September; that he received a check from Trinity for his property damage on September 8, 1983, but returned it to Trinity in October; and that through his attorney, he requested payment under his own policy with Sentry, in December 1983. A check was issued by Sentry to Siurek’s attorney on January 11, 1984; however, there is no evidence of receipt, and the check was never negotiated. Thereafter, Siurek settled his claim against Goodson/Trinity prior to this trial.

Under these facts, we hold that Sentry’s obligation to Siurek under the terms of the contract of insurance was absolved by the settlement between Siurek and Goodson/Trinity. Bradshaw, 126 Tex. at 104, 84 S.W.2d at 705. The insurer and the insured have a single cause of action against the third-party tortfeasor, and once that cause of action is settled, the insured’s contract rights under his policy are waived to the extent of the settlement. See State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Elkins, 451 S.W.2d 528, 531 (Tex.Civ. App.—Tyler 1970, no writ). Here, Siurek’s contract claim against Sentry was for the same property damages that he recovered from Goodson/Trinity. Having settled that claim with Goodson/Trinity, thereby barring Sentry’s subrogation rights against Goodson/Trinity, he was not entitled to continue his suit against Sentry for breach of contract.

Likewise, we agree with Sentry that any cause of action that Siurek may have against Sentry for violation of Tex.Ins. Code Ann., art. 21.21 § 16 (Vernon Supp. 1987) was waived. To recover under Tex. Bus. & Comm.Code Ann. § 17.46 (Vernon Supp.1987) (“D.T.P.A.”), Siurek was required to obtain findings that Sentry’s actions were false, misleading, deceptive, or unconscionable relative to the services that the contract of insurance called for. Mayo v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co., 711 S.W.2d 5, 7 (Tex.1986). No issues were submitted to the jury on this theory, and we hold that this cause of action was waived. Powell v. Lenox Jenkins Interiors, 540 S.W.2d 772 (Tex.Civ.App.Texar-kana 1976, writ ref’d n.r.e.); Long v. Austin, 265 S.W.2d 632 (Tex.Civ.App.—Austin 1954, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

Siurek next contends that by pleading both (1) statutory violations of the Insurance Code and (2) the non-existence of any reasonable basis for Sentry’s delay and denial of his claim, he satisfied the requirements for pleading a cause of action for breach of the “independent duty of good faith and fair dealing.” Having examined Siurek’s pleadings, we conclude that while they may not have been artfully drawn, taken as a whole, they assert sufficient elements to constitute such a cause of action.

The Texas Supreme Court recognizes a duty of good faith and fair dealing between parties to a contract where a special relationship is governed by or created from that contract. Manges v. Guerra, 673 S.W.2d 180, 183 (Tex.1983). “In the insurance context a special relationship arises out of the parties’ unequal bargaining power and the nature of insurance contracts which would allow unscrupulous insurers to take advantage of their insureds’ misfortunes in bargaining for settlement or resolution of claims.” Glen Arnold v. National County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 725 S.W.2d 165, 167 (Tex.1987). Where the cause of action exists, exemplary damages are recoverable “under the same principles allowing recovery of those damages in other tort actions.” Id. at 168 (citations omitted).

In the case at bar, the jury found, in answer to special issues 2 and 3, that: (1) Sentry failed to effectuate a prompt, fair, and equitable settlement; (2) Siurek was compelled to institute a suit to recover under his insurance policy; (3) Sentry refused, failed, or unreasonably delayed offer of settlement; and (4) these acts were the producing cause of Siurek’s damages.

Special Issue No. 4 inquired:

Find from a preponderance of the evidence the ‘actual damages,’ if any, in-cjirred by MARK SIUREK resulting from the acts or omissions, if any, of SENTRY INSURANCE, A MUTUAL COMPANY.

In answering this issue you are instructed to consider only the following elements of damage, if any, and no others:

a. The reasonable costs and expenses, if any, of MARK SIUREK in recovering the repair costs of his automobile from BETTY GOODSON and her insurer.

b. The reasonable value of the use, if any, of a vehicle of the same class as that owned by MARK SIUREK from October 20, 1983, until February 2, 1984. Answers in dollars and cents, if any. Answer: $3,101.00.

We hold that these findings are sufficient to meet the evidentiary requirements set forth in Manges and Glen Arnold.

This result does not change, even considering that the trial court did not limit the jury’s consideration of bad faith to a period prior to litigation. Having exclusive control over the claims process, the insurance company limits its exposure by paying the claim.

Additionally, we hold that the jury’s findings in special issues 3 and 4, i.e., that Sentry’s acts or omissions were made or done in bad faith, are a sufficient basis for the award of exemplary damages. Glen Arnold, 725 S.W.2d at 168; Trenholm v. Ratcliff, 646 S.W.2d 927, 933 (Tex.1983).

Points of error one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven are overruled.

The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.