Gabriel Espinoza, et ux v. American Commerce Insurance Company ( 2014 )

FILED
OCTOBER 23, 2014
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
W A State Court of Appeals, Division ill
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
GABRIEL ESPINOZA, AND IRMA )
ESPINOZA, husband and wife, and the ) No. 31569-0-111
marital community composed thereof, )
)
Respondents, )
)
v. ) PUBLISHED OPINION
)
AMERICAN COMMERCE )
INSURANCE COMPANY, an insurance )
company, AAA Insurance Agency, a )
Washington Corporation, and PAMELA )
S. TAYLOR and JOHN DOE TAYLOR, )
husband and wife, and the marital )
community composed thereof, )
)
Appellants. )
FEARING, 1. - After a frre to their home, Gabriel and Irma Espinoza sued their
homeowner's insurance company, American Commerce Insurance Company (ACIC) for
recovery on the policy. ACIC denied coverage and rescinded the policy claiming that the
Espinozas misrepresented facts when applying for insurance and when seeking recovery
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Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
for the loss. Gabriel and Irma Espinoza also sued their insurance broker, AAA Insurance
Agency (AAA), and insurance agent, Pamela Taylor.
A jury found that Gabriel Espinoza misrepresented material facts during ACIC's
investigation of the fire claim but, contrary to jury instructions, apportioned responsibility
to ACIC, AAA and Taylor. Because it could not reconcile the inconsistent responses in
the jury verdict, the trial court ordered a new trial. AAA and Taylor thereafter settled.
ACIC appeals the trial court's new trial order and also seeks this court's review of the
trial court's denial of its pretrial motion for summary judgment and trial motion for
judgment as a matter of law. We affirm the new trial order and decline to reach the other
assigned errors.
FACTS
In February 2009, Gabriel and Irma Espinoza purchased a Wapato home. The
Espinozas used electric space heaters to heat most of the home. They heated the
bathroom with an electric, hardwired, wall-mounted heater.
On October 11, 2010, Gabriel Espinoza called AAA to obtain homeowner's
insurance and spoke with AAA agent Pamela Taylor. Taylor interviewed Gabriel on the
telephone and prepared a homeowner insurance policy application. The application
asked the applicant to describe the home's primary heat source. Gabriel Espinoza claims
he told Pamela Taylor that he heated the home with space heaters, although he is not sure
ifhe mentioned space heaters during this initial conversation. Taylor claims Gabriel
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stated he heated the home with baseboard heat. In answer to the question, Pamela Taylor
wrote "electric" on the insurance application.
On October 12, Irma Espinoza went to Pamela Taylor's office to sign the
homeowner's insurance policy application. Taylor reviewed the application with Irma,
although Irma testified that she only understands about 60 to 70 percent of the English
she reads and hears. Regardless, Irma testified that she confirmed with Taylor that the
Espinozas used "electricity" to heat their home. Clerk's Papers (CP) at 177. Irma signed
the insurance policy application.
On October 12, Pamela Taylor submitted the Espinozas' insurance policy
application to ACIC. ACIC issued a homeowner's insurance policy to the Espinozas the
same day. It did not attach a copy of the application to the policy.
On November 30, a fire destroyed the Espinozas' home. Fire officials determined
that a space heater too close to combustible material likely caused the fire. After the fire,
the Espinozas submitted a claim for insurance benefits to ACIC. They requested
payment to repair and rebuild their home.
ACIC retained independent adjusters Crawford & Company to investigate the
claim. Crawford assigned Jim Rocha to investigate the fire. Rocha went to the
Espinozas' home the day after the fire, took photographs, and assessed the damage.
Rocha concluded the home was a total loss.
While examining the fire-ravaged home, Jim Rocha spoke to Gabriel Espinoza.
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Gabriel told Rocha he used electric space heaters to heat the home. Gabriel omitted the
fact that the Espinozas also used an electric, hardwired, wall-mounted heater in the
bathroom.
As part of its investigation, ACIC conducted Examinations Under Oath (EUOs) of
Gabriel and Irma Espinoza and Pamela Taylor. Their accounts differed. Gabriel
Espinoza testified at his EUO that he specifically told Taylor that he heated the home
using space heaters. Taylor disagreed. She testified during her EUO that Gabriel told her
they used electric baseboards to heat their home. Taylor recalled writing "BB,"
referencing baseboard heating, on a parcel detail form as she interviewed Gabriel. CP at
918-19. Pamela Taylor further testified that, ifan applicant informs her that a home is
heated by space heaters, she ends the application process and informs the applicant he or
she will need to purchase insurance elsewhere. Irma Espinoza testified that she told
Pamela Taylor the couple used electricity to heat their home.
ACIC declined payment for the fire loss to the Espinozas' home and rescinded the
insurance policy. In a March 29, 2011 letter, explaining the reason for denying coverage,
ACIC wrote:
Your policy contains the following applicable provisions:
This coverage is void if, before or after a loss:
a. "you or any "insured" has intentionally concealed or
11
misrepresented:
1) a material fact or circumstance that relates to this
insurance or the subject thereof; or
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2) the "insured's" interest herein;
b. there has been fraud or false swearing by "you" or any other
"insured" with regard to a matter that relates to this insurance or the
subject thereof
Your policy provides that there is no coverage for an insured who
has intentionally misrepresented a material fact that relates to the insurance
before or after a loss. Your policy also provides that there is no coverage
for an insured who has falsely sworn to a matter relating to this insurance.
During the application process for your policy, you advised your
agent, Pamela Taylor, that your home was heated with baseboard
electricity, and you failed to tell her that in heating your home you actually
relied solely on space heaters. Had American Commerce Insurance
Company known that you used space heaters to heat your home, it would
not have underwritten your policy. In going forward with writing your
policy, American Commerce Insurance Company relied on your
misrepresentation of the heat source in your home; the source of heat for
your home was a material fact in the determination of whether a policy
would be written for you.
In addition, Mrs. Espinoza, during your examination under oath, you
acknowledged that you told Ms. Taylor that the home was heated by
electricity. Mr. Espinoza, you, on the other hand, testified that you
specifically told Ms. Taylor that you used space heaters in the home. As
noted above, had you in fact told Ms. Taylor about the space heaters,
American Commerce Insurance Company would not have underwritten
your policy.
You have provided false information both during the application
process, and the claims process, in an effort to ensure coverage.
For the reasons set forth above, your claim with American
Commerce Insurance Company is denied.
CP at 200-03.
PROCEDURE
On June 30, 2011, Gabriel and Irma Espinoza filed suit against ACIC, AAA, and
Pamela Taylor. In the complaint, the Espinozas alleged ACIC breached the insurance
contract, violated Washington's Administrative Code (WAC) when processing the
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insurance claim, violated Washington's Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) LAWS OF
2007, ch. 498, § I, operated in bad faith, and violated Washington's Consumer Protection
Act (CPA) chapter 19.86 RCW.
In their complaint, Gabriel and Irma Espinoza alleged Pamela Taylor breached her
fiduciary and common law duties by failing to accurately and truthfully convey to ACIC
the information they provided her. In addition, they alleged Taylor breached unspecified
express and implied warranties. The Espinozas also alleged Taylor's actions are imputed
to AAA under vicarious liability.
On August 30, 2012, ACIC moved for partial summary judgment, asking the trial
court to conclude that, as a matter of law, it fully complied with the WACs, IFCA, and
CPA and did not act in bad faith. The trial court denied ACIC's motion almost entirely.
The court concluded issues of material fact precluded summary judgment on the CPA
and IFCA claim, but concluded that ACIC's investigation was reasonable as a matter of
law.
The Espinozas moved to exclude as evidence at trial their insurance policy
application because ACIC failed to attach the application to the policy as required under
RCW 48.18.080. On December 21, 2012, the court granted the Espinozas' request to
exclude the physical application from trial.
During trial, Gary Williams, an expert on claims adjustment, testified for Gabriel
and Irma Espinoza that ACIC violated several of his "universal rules" developed while in
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the insurance industry since 1968. Violating such rules amounts to bad faith, according
to Williams. ACrC's letter denied the Espinozas' claim because, according to ACrC, the
Espinozas advised Pamela Taylor that the home "was heated with baseboard electricity,
and failed to tell her that in heating [their] home [the Espinozas] actually relied solely on
space heaters." CP at 202. In Gary Williams' opinion, the reasons given for denying the
claim make no sense. Williams explained to the jury that "there is absolutely no debate
about the fact that the home was heated with a built-in wall heater in the bathroom and a
space heater in the living room, so it was not heated solely with space heaters. It ignores
the facts." Report of Proceedings (RP) at 512-13. Gary Williams also noted that space
heaters are electric. Therefore, the Espinozas did not lie to ACIC when they stated they
used electric heat.
ACIC denied coverage because it claimed it would not have underwritten the
homeowner's insurance policy had it known the Espinozas used space heaters to heat
their home. According to Gary Williams, this defense was false because ACrC had no
underwriting guideline that would prevent them from underwriting a house that used
space heaters. ACIC had a guideline preventing Pamela Taylor from binding the
insurance company to insure a home heated by space heaters, but Taylor could gain
approval from ACI C to underwrite an insurance contract for such a home.
At the conclusion of the Espinozas' case, ACrC moved for judgment as a matter of
law to dismiss Espinozas' extracontractual claims. ACIC argued the Espinozas failed to
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prove it unreasonably denied the Espinozas' policy claim, failed to establish
noneconomic damages, and failed to prove they incurred rental expenses stemming from
the denial of coverage. The trial court granted the motion only to the extent of dismissing
any claim for rental expenses. Gabriel and Irma Espinoza lived with family after ACIC
denied coverage. They never alleged or proved they incurred any rent or other out-of­
pocket expenses as a result of ACIC's denial.
After ACIC, AAA, and Pamela Taylor rested, the court read instructions to the
Jury. Among the court's instructions were the following:
Instruction 13:
The Plaintiffs have four claims against Defendant ACIC. Those four
claims are: 1) that Defendant ACIC failed to act in good faith; 2) that
Defendant ACIC violated the Consumer Protection Act; 3) that Defendant
ACIC violated the Insurance Fair Conduct Act; and, 4) that Defendant
ACIC breached the insurance contract. The Plaintiffs have the burden of
proof on each of their four claims.
Defendant ACIC denies it breached the contract of insurance.
Defendant ACIC further denies its denial of benefits was unreasonable.
Defendant ACIC also claims that Gabriel Espinoza made a material
misrepresentation during the application process for the contract of
insurance with ACIC and made a material misrepresentation during the
Examination Under Oath.
To prove its defense, Defendant ACIC must establish that Gabriel
Espinoza made a material misrepresentation with the intent to deceive
during the procurement of insurance and made a material misrepresentation
to ACIC during the Examination Under Oath.
RP at 1367-68 (emphasis added).
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Instruction 11
If, during the application process, Gabriel Espinoza: I) made a
representation; 2) that was untruthful; 3) was material; 4) and was made
with the intent to deceive, ACIC acted properly in rescind[ing] the
insurance policy. ACIC has the burden to prove by clear, cogent, and
convincing evidence the four above elements.
The untruthful representation was material if, 1) it influenced
ACIC's decision to issue the policy; 2) the information helped ACIC to
measure the risk under the policy; or, 3) if specific information was asked
in regard to a certain matter, it is presumed material unless credible
evidence is provided ..
There was intent to deceive if Gabriel Espinoza knowingly made the
untruthful representation, unless they provide credible evidence that there
was not intent to deceive.
A bare assertion, without additional evidence that there was no intent
to deceive, is not considered credible evidence for this element.
RP at 1366.
Instruction 22:
This instruction applies to Defendant ACIC. Gabriel and Irma
Espinoza have the burden of proving each of the following propositions on
their claim of breach of contract: 1) Plaintiffs suffered a loss covered under
the policy of insurance; 2) Defendant ACIC did not pay for Plaintiffs' loss;
and, 3) the Plaintiffs suffered damages as a direct and proximate result of
Defendant ACIC's breach of the insurance contract.
If you find from your consideration of all of the evidence that any of
these propositions has not been proved, your verdict should be for ACIC on
the claim for breach of contract.
On the other hand, if each of these propositions has been proved,
then you must consider the affirmative defenses claimed by ACIC. ACIC
has the burden of proving the following affirmative defenses: 1) that
Gabriel Espinoza made a material misrepresentation to ACIC's agent
during the application for the insurance policy with the intent to deceive;
or, 2) that Gabriel Espinoza made a material misrepresentation to ACIC
during his Examination Under Oath.
If you find from your consideration of all of the evidence that one or
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both of these affinnative defenses has been proved, your verdict should be
for ACIC on this claim.
On the other hand, if none of these affinnative defenses have been
proved, then your verdict should be for Gabriel and Irma Espinoza on this
[breach of contract] claim.
RP at 1373-74 (emphasis added).
The trial court provided the jury a six-page verdict fonn, which contained
seventeen questions enclosed over three sections. The first section, proposed by ACIC,
asked questions directed to the Espinozas' claims against ACIC. Question one asked the
jury whether the Espinozas proved a covered loss occurred. Question two asked whether
Gabriel Espinoza made a material misrepresentation during the insurance application
process. Question three asked wp.ether Gabriel Espinoza made a material
misrepresentation during the EVO. Following question three, the fonn directed the jury
"if you answered 'yes' to either Questions 3 OR 4 [sic], sign this verdict fonn. If you
answered 'no' to both Questions 2 AND 3, answer Question 4." CP at 1589. The first
sentence quoted contains a typographical error, since the direction should refer to
questions 2 or 3. ACIC drafted the language and admitted the error during posttrial
motions and in its appellate brief. Question four in the first section asked whether ACIC
acted in bad faith.
The second section of the special verdict form asked questions concerning Gabriel
and Irma Espinozas' claims against AAA and Pamela Taylor. The section first asked if
the jury found a covered loss. Later questions asked if Taylor breached duties and if a
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breach was a proximate cause of loss to the Espinozas. The third section of the verdict
contained a special interrogatory, asking the jury to allocate fault between ACIC, AAA,
and Taylor if it "believe [d] that both ACIC and AAAlTaylor are jointly responsible for
any of the damage." CP at 1593.
After a day of deliberations, the jury returned its verdict. The jury answered "yes"
to question one in section one of the verdict form determining that the Espinozas proved
a covered loss and finding damages in the amount of$282,616.55. On question two, the
jury determined Gabriel Espinoza did not make a material misrepresentation during the
.insurance application process. The jury answered question three by declaring that
Gabriel Espinoza made a material misrepresentation during the claim investigation EUO.
The verdict form instructed the jury to sign the verdict form, if it answered
question three, in section one, affirmatively. Instead, the jury, before signing the verdict
form, moved to the form's section two, addressing AAA and Pamela Taylor's liability.
On question one, the jury found a covered loss occurred. Following question one the
court instructed, "[i]fyou answered 'yes' to Question 1, sign the verdict form." CP at
1591. If there was a covered loss then AAA and Taylor could not be found responsible,
since the agents successfully procured insurance for the Espinozas. The form directed the
jury, if it answered "no" to Question 1, answer Question 2, in section two.
Again, before signing the verdict form, the jury moved to the form's third section.
Section three contained a special interrogatory instructing the jury to allocate fault
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between ACIC and AAAlTaylor if it found both ACIC and AAA/Taylor responsible for
the Espinozas' damages. Despite its earlier finding that Gabriel Espinoza uttered a
material misrepresentation during the EOU, the jury allocated 90 percent of the fault to
ACIC and the remaining 10 percent to AAA and Taylor. The trial court polled the jury
and all jurors confirmed the verdict.
The trial court excused the jurors to the jury room and, outside their presence,
expressed concern that the jury's answer to the special interrogatory found both ACIC
and AAAlTaylor responsible for the Espinozas' damages and allocated fault between
them despite previously answering a question that entitled both ACIC and AAAlTaylor to
a complete defense. The trial court did not wish to ask the jury to continue to deliberate
because of its belief that any request would constitute a comment on the evidence. The
trial court asked counsel how to interpret the verdict and to determine an unbiased
manner by which to direct the jury to continue deliberations. The Espinozas believed the
jury returned an inconsistent verdict and moved for a mistrial or new trial. ACIC
disagreed and argued the jury's finding with regard to misrepresentation rendered later
questions and answers moot. ACIC contended that, had the jury followed the
instructions, the jury would have returned a defense verdict. Therefore, ACIC moved for
entry ofjudgment in its favor.
The trial court took a short break and, when it resumed, directed the parties'
attention to the third section of the special verdict form, which instructed the jury to
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allocate fault if it believed both ACIC and AAAlTaylor are jointly responsible for the
Espinozas' losses. Based on its reading, the court believed the jury intended to indicate
ACIC and AAAlTaylor are responsible for the Espinozas' damages, which it found
inconsistent with how the jurors answered section one of the special verdict form. In
addition, the court found a possible inconsistency in the answer that Gabriel Espinoza did
not make a material misrepresentation during the insurance application process but did
during the claim investigation EUO. Because the parties did not agree how to proceed,
the court discharged the jury and ordered a new trial pursuant to RCW 4.44.440.
Despite the grant of a new trial, each party filed a posttrial motion to be declared
the trial winner. On March 25, 2013, the superior court heard cross motions. The
Espinozas moved for judgment as a matter of law or, in the alternative, a new trial
pursuant to RCW 4.44.440. ACIC moved the court to enter judgment in its favor and, if
the court's previous oral ruling for a new trial was final, to reconsider it. In a thorough
and well-reasoned written ruling, the court ordered a new trial "under RCW 4.44.440
and/or CR 59(a)(l) or CR 59(a)(9)." CP at 1761.
The trial court wrote:
[1]t appeared clear and unmistakable to the Court that the jury's
[allocation of fault between ACIC and AAAlTaylor] reflected the jury's
intent to render a verdict in favor of the [Espinozas] in the amount of
$282,616.55. . .. On the other hand, by answering question number 3
(against ACrC) on page two [finding Gabriel Espinoza misrepresented
material facts] and question number one (against AAA/Taylor) on page
four [finding coverage], each set of defendants is entitled to a defense
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verdict. A careful review of the jury instructions and these conflicting
answers precludes any reconciliation.
CP at 1757. This internal inconsistency led the court to order a new trial.
After the court ordered a new trial, the Espinozas settled with AAA and Pamela
Taylor and volunta~ily dismissed all remaining claims against them.
LA W AND ANALYSIS
Appealable Orders
We must first identify the assignments of error proffered by ACrC that we will
review. ACIC assigns error to the granting of a new trial, the trial court's failure to grant
its summary judgment motion, and the trial court's failure to grant its motion for
judgment as a matter of law at trial. The Espinozas contend the trial court properly
ordered a new trial and ask this court to refuse to review the other assignments ACIC
raises because RAP 2.2(a)(9) prevents review of issues collateral to an order granting a
new trial. We agree with the Espinozas and decline to entertain the trial court's failure to
grant the summary judgment motion and the motion for judgment as a matter of law.
Because of the granting of a new trial, the case is not final in the superior court.
As a general principle, we do not allow an appeal until all claims are resolved in the trial
court. For example, orders denying a summary judgment motion are not appealable as a
matter of right. Adcox v. Children's Orthopedic Hosp. & Med. Ctr., 123 Wn.2d 15,35
n.9, 864 P.2d 921 (1993). One exception to this general principle is an order granting or
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denying a motion for new trial.
RAP 2.2 reads, in relevant part:
(a) Generally. Unless otherwise prohibited by statute or court rule
and except as provided in sections (b) and (c), a party may appeal from only
the following superior court decisions:
(I) Final Judgment. The final judgment entered in any action or
proceeding, regardless of whether the judgment reserves for future
determination an award of attorney fees or costs.
(9) Order on Motionfor New Trial or Amendment ofJudgment. An
order granting or denying a motion for new trial or amendment of
judgment.
Despite the provisions of RAP 2.2(a), ACIC argues that, since this reviewing court
will decide the one issue involving a new trial, this court should accept the opportunity to
review the other two decisions denying it judgment. RAP 2.2(a)(9), like the common law
rule addressing the scope of review from a new trial order, prevents review of collateral
issues in an appeal of a new trial order, but for one exception.
The common law rule is that an appeal from an order granting a new
trial is generally limited to the trial court's reasons for granting a new trial.
However, the appellant may also raise additional issues provided they
would be dispositive of the case; for example, lack ofjurisdiction. A
failure to raise a dispositive issue in the first instance is construed as a
waiver in the second appeal.
Cox v. Gen. Motors Corp., 64 Wn. App. 823,826,827 P.2d 1052 (1992).
ACIC contends its motion for judgment as a matter of law and summary judgment
are the kind of dispositive motions to which the Cox court referred. The Espinozas
demur, contending a party may only raise collateral issues that are dispositive in the sense
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ofjurisdiction or a statute of limitations barring suit. We disagree with both and follow
an intermediate position. We rule that the Court of Appeals will review, along with an
order concerning a new trial, any denied motion that would dispose of all claims before
the trial court.
Five Washington decisions address the question of what assignments of error the
appeals court will entertain when also reviewing a grant or denial of a new trial: Kimball
v. Moore, 18 Wn.2d 643,140 P.2d 498 (1943); Alto v. Hartwood Lumber Co., 135 Wash.
368,237 P. 987 (1925); Toadvine v. Nw. Trust & State Bank, 128 Wash. 611, 224 P. 22(1924); Cox, 64 Wn. App. at 826; Dalton v. State, 115 Wn. App. 703, 706 n.2, 63 P.3d
847 (2003). We address the decisions in chronological order.
In Toadvine v. Northwest Trust & State Bank, a jury entered a verdict for the bank
during the first trial. The trial court granted the plaintiffs' motion for a new trial, which
ruling the bank appealed unsuccessfully. The second trial resulted in a verdict for
plaintiffs. During its second appeal, the bank sought review of the trial court's failure to
accept its demurrer to the complaint. The Toadvine court refused to address the bank's
demurrer because the bank failed to raise the issue in the previous appeal. Toadvine, 128
Wash. at 614. The court held that when a complaint fails to state facts sufficient to
constitute a cause of action, a party should raise the issue on its first appeal or consider it
waived. Toadvine, 128 Wash. at 614.
Our Supreme Court refined the Toadvine decision, without mentioning it, one year
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later in Alto v. Hartwood Lumber, 135 Wash. 368. On appeal of a new trial order,
Hartwood also alleged the court lacked jurisdiction over it. The court held that if the
record discloses a matter which must necessarily prove fatal to a recovery as a final
result, the court should recognize and enforce it at the time it first appears. The court
agreed that Washington lacked jurisdiction over Hartwood, reversed the grant of a new
trial, and remanded for dismissal of the case. Animating the court's decision was a desire
to avoid "a needless waste of time and energy of both the court and the litigants" by
remanding for a new trial. Alto, 135 Wash. at 369.
Two decades later our Supreme Court reaffirmed the messages in the Alto and
Toadvine decisions in Kimball v. Moore, 18 Wn.2d 643. After the jury returned a verdict
in an unlawful detainer suit, Moore moved, and the trial court granted, a new trial.
Kimball appealed the new trial order and also assigned error to the trial court's admission
of certain testimony. Our high court declined to consider the evidentiary question
because the only questions properly reviewable upon an appeal are those questions which
are involved in the judgment or order from which the appeal is taken. The court noted an
exception for alleged errors necessarily "fatal to any right ofrecovery." Kimball, 18
Wn.2d at 653. The evidentiary issue Kimball raised fell short of this exception
In Cox v. General Motors Corp., 64 Wn. App. 823, this court reviewed and relied
on prior cases when refusing to address certain pretrial motions General Motors (GM)
included in its notice of appeal: GM's motion for partial summary judgment arguing that
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it had no liability as a matter of law; Cox's summary judgment motion asking the court to
rule that the jury could not apportion fault among the defendants; and GM's motion for
reconsideration. Cox, 64 Wn. App. at 824-25. This court employed a different phrase
than "fatal to any right of recovery" when ascertaining the exception to the rule denying
review. This court adopted the phrase "issues ... conclusive of the action as a whole."
64 Wn. App. at 829. This court refused to entertain any assignments of error other than
the order granting a new trial because none of the other assignments were conclusive to
the action as a whole. The court did not analyze the different pretrial motions upon
which GM sought to review. One might wonder if a partial motion for summary
judgment arguing no liability might be conclusive if granted.
In Dalton v. State, 115 Wn. App. at 706 n.2, this division of the Court of Appeals
reversed an order denying a new trial, while stating we would not address other issues on
appeal on the basis of Cox v. General Motors Corp., 64 Wn. App. 823. The decision
does not identify the other claimed errors.
Before trial, ACIC moved for partial summary judgment, asking the trial court to
conclude that, as a matter of law, it fully complied with the WACs, IFCA, and CPA and
did not act in bad faith. At the conclusion of the Espinozas' case, ACIC moved for
judgment as a matter of law on the same extracontractual claims. ACIC argued the
Espinozas failed to prove it unreasonably denied the Espinozas' claim, failed to establish
noneconomic damages, and failed to prove they incurred rental expenses stemming from
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the denial of coverage. The trial court granted the motion to the extent of dismissing a
claim for rental expenses. Neither of the two motions would dispose of the entire case.
Even if each motion was granted, the jury must still decide Gabriel and Irma Espinozas'
claim that ACIC breached its insurance policy and whether Gabriel Espinoza
intentionally misrepresented a fact. Therefore, none of these assigned errors, if accepted,
are "fatal to any right of recovery." None of the motions, if granted, would be conclusive
to the action as a whole.
ACIC worries it will waive the ability, upon remand, to repeat their motions for
judgment as a matter of law and for summary judgment if this court does not address
them now. Understandably, a cautious party does not wish to waive arguments, but we
disagree that there is a waiver. RAP 2.5(c)(l) allays ACIC's concern. The rule reads:
If a trial court decision is otherwise properly before the appellate
court, the appellate court may at the instance of a party review and
determine the propriety of a decision of the trial court even though a similar
decision was not disputed in an earlier review of the same case.
The advisory committee on Rules of Appellate Procedure explained the purpose of
the rule:
The trial court may exercise independent judgment as to decisions to
which error was not assigned in the prior review, and these decisions are
subject to later review by the appellate court. Prior law to the contrary is
superseded.
2A KARL B. TEGLAND, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: RULES PRACTICE RAP 2.5 § 54
subsection (c)( 1) at 283 (7th ed. 2011).
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Acrc also fears it cannot move for summary judgment or judgment as a matter of
law upon remand, but it cites no authority supporting this fear. Under RCW 4.76.010, a
new trial entitles the party to a reexamination of issues of fact and law. This court has
concluded that a trial court may review pretrial orders at any time before entry of final
judgment. Moratti v. Farmers Ins. Co. o/Wash., 162 Wn. App. 495, 501-02,254 P.3d
939 (2011).
Finally, ACrC encourages us to reach these additional assignments of error
because, when we dismiss the Espinozas' contract claim because of misrepresentation,
the motions for summary judgment and judgment as a matter of law dispose of all of the
remaining claims. We do not, however, dismiss the contract claim.
New Trial
We move to ACrC's contention that the trial court erred when it granted the
Espinozas' motion for a new trial. ACrC argues the court should have entered judgment
for it because the jury's misrepresentation finding operated to preclude the Espinozas
from recovering. We disagree.
The parties dispute the standard of review we should apply to the order granting a
new trial. ACrC argues we should employ a de novo standard because the trial court
applied a wrong legal standard. The Espinozas ask us to defer to the trial court and
utilize an abuse of discretion standard because the jury's answers in the verdict created a
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No. 3 1569-0-III
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
factual inconsistency. We ignore this dispute, since we would uphold the trial court's
ruling under either standard.
The trial court granted Gabriel and Irma Espinoza a new trial pursuant to RCW
4.44.440, CR 59(a)(I), and CR 59(a)(9). We question whether RCW 4.44.440 is an
appropriate ground under the circumstances of this trial. The statute permits a trial court
to order a new trial "[w ]hen special findings of fact are inconsistent with the general
verdict." The jury did not deliver a general verdict. Under CR 59, however, the court
properly awarded the Espinozas a new trial.
CR 59(a) lists nine grounds upon which a trial court may grant a new trial.
CR 59( a) permits courts to grant a new trial where, as relevant here:
On the motion of the party aggrieved, a verdict may be vacated and a
new trial granted to all or any of the parties, and on all issues, or on some of
the issues when such issues are clearly and fairly separable and distinct, or
any other decision or order may be vacated and reconsideration granted.
Such motion may be granted for anyone of the following causes materially
affecting the substantial rights of such parties:
(1) Irregularity in the proceedings of ... the jury ... prevented [a
party] from having a fair trial; [or]
(9) That substantial justice has not been done.
Under CR 59(d), a trial court may order a new trial on its own initiative for any reason
that it might have granted a new trial on the motion of a party. Estate ofStalk up v.
Vancouver Clinic, Inc., PS, 145 Wn. App. 572, 583, 187 P.3d 291 (2008).
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No. 31569-0-rII
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
CR 59(a) essentially asks whether a party received a "fair trial." State v. Taylor,
60 Wn.2d 32, 42, 371 P.2d 617 (1962). ACrC focuses on the word "trial" and imposes a
hypertechnicai' meaning to the term. It argues any irregularity in the proceedings did not
prevent the Espinozas from having a fair trial since any irregularity occurred after the
jury found a misrepresentation. Under ACrC's view, the trial ended when the jury found
misrepresentation, since it should have merely signed the verdict thereafter.
Acrc fails to support its argument with citation to authority or explain why such a
finding necessarily means the Espinozas received a fair trial. We reject ACrC's limited
view of a "trial." At the least, the trial includes all proceedings through the
announcement of the verdict and the discharge of the jury.
None of the grounds listed in CR 59(a) explicitly mentions an inconsistent verdict.
Nevertheless, a court must grant a new trial when verdict interrogatories render the jury's
resolution of the ultimate issue impossible to determine. Blue Chelan, Inc. v. Dep't of
Labor & Indus., 101 Wn.2d 512, 515, 681 P.2d 233 (1984); Alvarez v. Keyes, 76 Wn.
App. 741, 743, 887 P.2d 496 (1995).
Once a jury renders a verdict, the trial court must declare its legal effect. Dep't of
Highways v. Evans Engine & Equip. Co., 22 Wn. App. 202, 205-06,589 P.2d 290 (1978)
(quoting 2 LEWIS H. ORLAND, WASH. PRACTICE § 293 (3d ed. 1972)); Minger v.
Reinhard Distrib. Co., 87 Wn. App. 941, 946, 943 P.2d 400 (1997); see CR 49; CR 58.
A court liberally construes a verdict so as to discern and implement the jury's intent, if
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No. 31569-0-III
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
consistent with the law. Wright v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 7 Wn.2d 341,344, 109 P.2d 542(1941); Cameron v. Stack-Gibbs Lumber Co., 68 Wash. 539, 544,123 P. 1001 (1912).
"If special verdict answers conflict with each other, a court must attempt to harmonize
them; where the answers are reconcilable, the trial court must enter judgment accordingly
and where the answers are irreconcilable, the trial court must order further deliberations
or a new trial." Estate ofDormaier v. Columbia Basin Anesthesia, PLLC, 177 Wn. App.
828, 866, 313 P.3d 431 (2013). A verdict is irreconcilable when "the verdict contains
contradictory answers to interrogatories making the jury's resolution of the ultimate issue
impossible to determine." Estate ofStalkup, 145 Wn. App. at 586. In making this
determination, this court reads the verdict as a whole, including instructions and may not
substitute its judgment for the jury's. Guijosa v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 101 Wn. App.
777, 797, 6 P.3d 583 (2000), aff'd 144 Wn.2d 907, 32 P.3d 250 (2001); Estate ofStalkup,
145 Wn. App. at 586.
ACIC cites a number of Washington cases out of context to support its argument
that the trial court erred when granting a new trial. We address those cases.
ACIC argues that, based upon Estate ofStalkup , a verdict is consistent ifthere is
evidence in the record to support the jury's respective findings. Estate ofStalkup ,
however, presented a fundamentally different question. The jury reached different
conclusions on separate elements of the plaintiff's claim. The jury found the defendant
negligent but concluded that negligence was not a proximate cause of plaintiff's injuries.
23
No. 31569-0-111
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
On appeal, the Stalkup court concluded the verdicts were consistent given the evidence
supporting both findings. Logic tells us that a defendant can be negligent without that
negligence causing harm to the plaintiff.
Stalkup would be relevant if our jury only found the Espinozas suffered a covered
loss, but that Gabriel Espinoza made a material, intentional misrepresentation. The two
findings were supported by the evidence and were harmonious. But unlike Estate of
Stalkup, our jury found more than just a covered loss and a misrepresentation.
ACIC argues that, once the jury answered question three, in section one,
concerning misrepresentation during the EOU, all other questions became irrelevant, such
that any inconsistent verdict answers are also immaterial. But the jury also decided the
amount of damages before finding misrepresentation, such that the Espinozas could argue
that the award of damages ended the deliberation process. We also do not know if the
jury answered the questions in the order given in the verdict form. Suffice it to say, the
law gives no priority to the first question answered when the jury renders an inconsistent
verdict. If the law granted such priority, there would be no inconsistent verdict rule since
all inconsistencies would be resolved by the first answer in the verdict.
On the basis of Guijosa v. Wal-Mart Stores, 101 Wn. App. 777, ACIC next
contends a negative response to a special interrogatory prevails over an inconsistent
implication arising from the verdict. Although it does not expressly so state, ACIC must
consider the verdict portions favoring the Espinozas as only "implications." But ACIC
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No. 3 I 569-0-III
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
omits a critical portion of Guijosa. The Court of Appeals held: "The responses to special
interrogatories prevail over the inconsistent implications ofa general verdict.`` Guijosa,
101 Wn. App. at 800 (emphasis added). Our jury did not return a general verdict. Our
jury's inconsistent rulings involved interrogatory answers.
ACIC argues we should reconcile the legal effects of the verdict, as this division
did in Estate ofDormaier~ 177 Wn. App. 828. Dormaier's estate brought a loss of chance
and wrongful death claim against, among others, her nurse anesthetist Robert Misasi.
Loss of chance permits a plaintiff to recover for a 50 percent or less reduction in a
person's chance of survival. Accordingly, the trial court instructed the jury, "If you find
that the loss or diminution of a chance to survive was in excess of 50%, then you have
found that such negligence was a proximate cause of the death." Dormaier~ 177 Wn.
App. at 841. The jury found Misasi proximately caused Dormaier a 70 percent chance of
loss of survival but that Misasi did not proximately cause her death.
While acknowledging the conflict, the Dormaier court reconciled the jury's two
findings' legal effect. This division reasoned that the instructions did not expressly limit
the scope of potential findings because it used descriptive rather than prescriptive
language. In other words, "[i]t merely announced that finding a lost chance of survival
greater than 50 percent would have the same legal effect as finding proximate cause of
death." Dormaier~ 177 Wn. App. at 867. Based on the instruction, the trial court inferred
the jury's intent and concluded the jury's finding-that Misasi caused Dormaier a 70
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No. 31569-0-111
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
percent chance of loss of survival--equated to a finding that Misasi proximately caused
Dormaier's death.
ACIC asks this court to harmonize the legal effect of the jury's misrepresentation
finding with its aHocation of responsibility between ACIC and AAAlTaylor. Under a
string of cases, ACIC argues the legal effect of the jury's misrepresentation finding
required the trial court to enter judgment in its favor. Buckner Inc. v. Berkey Irrig.
Supply, 89 Wn. App. 906,951 P.2d 338 (1998); Mut. ofEnumclaw Co. v. Cox, 110
Wn.2d 643,757 P.2d 499 (1988); Johnson v. Allstate Ins. Co., 126 Wn. App. 510,108
PJd 1273 (2005). But unlike Dormaier, the verdict form did not use descriptive rather
than prescriptive language, and the cases ACIC cite provide no guidance on resolving the
jury's findings.
Under Buckner, a court may not implement ajury's intent that is inconsistent with
applicable law. 89 Wn. App. 906. ACIC argues' the new trial order is inconsistent with
Mut. ofEnumclaw v. Cox, 110 Wn.2d 643, and Johnson v. Allstate Ins., 126 Wn. App.
510.
Neither Mutual ofEnumclaw nor Johnson is dispositive. None of the parties in
Mutual ofEnumclaw or Johnson alleged conflicting verdicts. Rather, Johnson stands for
the proposition that a material misrepresentation can void an otherwise valid covered
loss. 126 Wn. App. at 517-18. The Espinozas do not dispute this proposition. But the
jury found more than a covered loss; it allocated responsibility between the defendants
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No. 3 I 569-0-III
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
and awarded damages. The jury found a similar representation by Gabriel Espinoza
given during the application process not to be an intentional misrepresentation.
In Mutual ofEnumclaw, our state high court upheld a trial court's judgment
notwithstanding the verdict despite Mutual of Enumclaw's failure to properly preserve an
objection to an improper jury instruction. Mut. ofEnumclaw, 110 Wn.2d at 651-52. The
parties did not contend the verdict was inconsistent.
Our jury allocated responsibility to ACIC when the question directed the jury to
apportion fault if it concluded all defendants were responsible for the damage to the
Espinozas. Such action by the jury reflected an intent to render a verdict in favor of the
Espinozas despite it finding a misrepresentation that entitled ACIC to a defense verdict.
Logic enlightens us that these two findings conflict.
Other actions by our jury are ostensibly inconsistent with a verdict in favor of
ACIC and inconsistent with a finding of misrepresentation during Gabriel Espinoza's
EOU. For instance, the jury took the time to assess damages thereby illustrating a desire
to award money to the Espinozas.
The jury found that Gabriel Espinoza did not engage in an intentional
misrepresentation during the application process. Yet, the gist of ACIC's claim of
misrepresentation during the EOU is Gabriel testifYing at the EOU that he told Pamela
Taylor, during the application interview, that the couple heated the home with baseboard
heating. This is the same basis for ACIC arguing that Gabriel Espinoza engaged in a
27
No. 31569-0-III
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
misrepresentation during the application process. ACIC distinguishes the two purported
misrepresentations by characterizing the EOU misrepresentation as lying under oath that
he had disclosed information he had not disclosed. By contrast, the purported
misrepresentation during the application process was the direct statement, not under oath,
misrepresenting the nature of heating at the home. According to ACIC, the jury was
more worried about the repeat of the fraud after the loss. ACIC's argument is the classic
distinction without a difference. ACIC also beseeches that the two findings can be
consistent because of a different standard of proof between the two claims of
misrepresentation. The insurance company must prove an intentional misrepresentation
in the application process by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, but need prove
intentional misrepresentation during its investigation by the preponderance of the
evidence. We do not consider this distinction sufficient to render the two findings
consistent, particularly since the misrepresentation was of the same facts.
Attorney Fees
Gabriel and Irma Espinoza seek attorney fees and costs under RAP 18.1. RAP
18.l(a) permits an award of attorney fees and costs on appeal if granted by applicable
law. The Espinozas contend they are entitled to reasonable attorney fees on their breach
of contract theory and in connection with their statutory CPA claim. Nevertheless, the
Espinozas have not yet prevailed on their breach of contract or consumer protection
claims. If they later win, they may seek attorney fees and costs.
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No. 31569-0-III
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
Gabriel and Irma Espinoza also seek an award of fees and costs under RAP
18.9(a). This rule permits this court to order a party to pay terms or compensatory
damages for a frivolous appeal. "An appeal is considered frivolous when it presents no
debatable issues and is so devoid of merit that there is no possibility of reversal." Griffin
v. Draper, 32 Wn. App. 611, 616, 649 P.2d 123 (1982). When evaluating whether an
appeal is frivolous, this court considers the following factors:
"(1) A civil appellant has a right to appeal under RAP 2.2; (2) all
doubts as to whether the appeal is frivolous should be resolved in favor of
the appellant; (3) the record should be considered as a whole; (4) an appeal
that is affirmed simply because the arguments are rejected is not frivolous;
(5) an appeal is frivolous if there are no debatable issues upon which
reasonable minds might differ, and it is so totally devoid of merit that there
was no reasonable possibility of reversal."
Griffin, 32 Wn. App. at 616 (quoting Streater v. White, 26 Wn. App. 430, 435, 613 P.2d
187 (1980).
ACIC had the right to appeal the trial court's new trial order under RAP 2.2(a)(9).
The issue of whether this court could legally reconcile the jury's verdict was debatable.
ACIC presented thoughtful, although wrong, arguments. Considering the record as a
whole, in which the trial court also wrestled at length over this issue, and resolving any
dispute in favor of ACIC, the appeal is not frivolous. We decline to award attorney fees
and costs under RAP 18.1 or 18.9.
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No. 31569-0-III
Espinoza v. Am. Commerce Ins. Co.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court and remand for a new trial. We deny Gabriel and Irma
Espinozas' request for attorney fees against ACIC.
WE CONCUR:
Brown, A.C.J.
30