Cornhusker Casualty Company v. Skaj

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
PUBLISH May 18, 2015
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
CORNHUSKER CASUALTY
COMPANY, a Nebraska corporation,
Plaintiff Counter Defendant -
Appellee,
Nos. 13-8004; 13-8010; 13-8014
v.
SHARI SKAJ; STEVE SKAJ,
Defendants Counter Plaintiffs,
and
VINCENT ROSTY,
Defendant Counter Plaintiff -
Appellant.
______________________________
CORNHUSKER CASUALTY
COMPANY, a Nebraska corporation,
Plaintiff Counter Defendant -
Appellee,
v.
SHARI SKAJ; STEVE SKAJ,
Defendants-Counter-Plaintiffs -
Appellants,
and
VINCENT ROSTY,
Defendant Counter Plaintiff.
_______________________________
CORNHUSKER CASUALTY
COMPANY, a Nebraska corporation,
Plaintiff Counter Defendant -
Appellant,
v.
SHARI SKAJ; STEVE SKAJ,
Defendants Counter Plaintiffs -
Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Wyoming
(D.C. No. 1:11-CV-00110-SWS)
Terence M. Ridley of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, Denver, Colorado (Evan B.
Stephenson and Ryan P. Day of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, Denver,
Colorado, with him on the briefs), for Plaintiff Counter Defendant - Appellee
Cornhusker Casualty Company.
R. Todd Ingram of Ingram Olheiser, P.C., Casper, Wyoming (Scott J. Olheiser of
Ingram Olheiser, P.C., Casper, Wyoming, and Timothy W. Miller, Miller Law
Firm, Casper, Wyoming, with him on the brief), for Defendants Counter Plaintiffs
Shari Skaj and Steve Skaj.
Robert M. Shively, Casper, Wyoming (T. Thomas Metier, Metier Law Firm LLC,
Fort Collins, Colorado, with him on the brief), for Defendant Counter Plaintiff -
Appellant Vincent Rosty.
Before HOLMES, MATHESON, and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges.
HOLMES, Circuit Judge.
2
Cornhusker Casualty Company (“Cornhusker”) appeals from the district
court’s summary-judgment ruling, arguing that the district court incorrectly
concluded that Cornhusker was estopped from asserting noncoverage as a defense
to the claims of Shari and Steve Skaj. The Skajs have cross-appealed the district
court’s sua sponte entry of summary judgment against them on their counterclaim
for attorneys’ fees. Vincent Rosty has filed a cross-appeal as well,1 alleging that
the district court erred in granting summary judgment to Cornhusker on some of
his tort-based counterclaims.
Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm the judgment of
the district court. We deny the Skajs’ pending motion to file a supplemental
appendix and deny as moot Cornhusker’s pending motion to seal the contents of
that proposed appendix.
I
R&R Roofing, Inc. (“R&R”) is a Wyoming construction company primarily
operated by Randy Rosty and Steven Rosty. In 2007, R&R purchased a
Cornhusker commercial liability policy (“the Policy”) that took effect on
November 27, 2007, and listed “R&R” and “Randy Rosty” as the named insureds.
1
This case involves three individuals with the same surname, “Rosty”:
Vincent Rosty, Randy Rosty, and Steven Rosty. For clarity’s sake, after first introducing
each in text by his first name and surname, each is referred to only by his first name. See,
e.g., United States v. Kimler, 335 F.3d 1132, 1134 n.1 (10th Cir. 2003) (“Because many
of the people involved in this case share the same last name, they will, for the most part,
be referred to by their first names throughout this opinion.”).
3
Vincent, who was an R&R employee at that time, does not appear as a named
insured under the Policy.
The Policy includes business automobile coverage with a liability limit of
$1,000,000. By its terms, the Policy obligates Cornhusker to “pay all sums an
‘insured’ legally must pay as damages because of ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property
damage’ to which this insurance applies, caused by an ‘accident’ and resulting
from . . . use of a covered ‘auto.’” J. App. at 187 (Bus. Auto. Decls., effective
Nov. 27, 2007). It ascribes to Cornhusker the “duty to defend any ‘insured’
against a ‘suit’ asking for . . . damages” and defines “insureds” as “(a) You for
any covered ‘auto’ [and] (b) Anyone else while using with your permission a
covered ‘auto.’” Id. Several “covered autos” appear on the Policy’s automobile
schedule, including as pertinent here, a 1974 Ford F 600 dump truck. Id. at 181.
Additionally, the Policy establishes a number of loss conditions. It states,
“We have no duty to provide coverage under this policy unless there has been full
compliance” with various duties. Id. at 192. In particular, after an accident, or
after the filing of a claim or lawsuit, the policyholder must promptly notify
Cornhusker by “[i]mmediately send[ing] . . . copies of any request, demand,
order, notice, summons or legal paper received concerning the claim or ‘suit.’”
Id. A cooperation clause memorializes the policyholder’s assent to “[c]ooperate
with [Cornhusker] in the investigation or settlement of the claim or defense
against the ‘suit.’” Id.
4
On May 6, 2008, Vincent drove R&R’s 1974 Ford F 600 dump truck to the
residence of Ms. Skaj to deliver roofing supplies and “to see if his kids were
there.” Id. at 1338 (Order, filed Dec. 11, 2012). Vincent has two children by Ms.
Skaj. At some point after Vincent stopped in an alley behind the Skaj residence,
the truck (with a manual transmission) was accidentally knocked into second gear.
The truck then rolled forward toward Ms. Skaj as she approached and pinned her
against a parked motor home, producing serious injuries. A laboratory test
performed later that day detected the presence of marijuana and
methamphetamines in Vincent’s bloodstream.
Within a few days of Ms. Skaj’s accident, Cornhusker retained AmeriClaim
adjuster Charles Brando to perform an investigation. Mr. Brando sent a report
detailing his findings to Cornhusker on May 22, 2008. Among other things, the
report described interviews with Vincent, Mr. Skaj, two police officers, Randy,
and Steven. In particular, it noted that Vincent had driven “off route . . . to stop
at his [e]x’s[, i.e., Ms. Skaj’s]” residence. Id. at 701 (Claim Report, dated May
22, 2008). The report described Randy as being “adamant that [Vincent] was
aware of the company policy that the insured vehicles [including the Ford dump
truck involved in the accident] are not to be used for personal business,” though
Randy acknowledged that there were “no written policies on use of company
5
vehicles.” Id. at 694. 2
In October of 2008, counsel for the Skajs wrote to Cornhusker to notify it
of a forthcoming claim. Cornhusker sent a “[n]otice of potential excess
exposure” to R&R, Steven, and Vincent on October 30, 2008, referencing Ms.
Skaj’s demand for $2,000,000. Id. at 339 (Notice, dated Oct. 30, 2008). Besides
reporting the possibility of exposure in excess of the Policy’s $1,000,000 limit,
the notice stated:
[W]e wish to advise you of your right to retain personal counsel,
at your own expense, as pertains to your potential excess
exposure. We are not advising that you must retain personal
counsel, as Cornhusker Casualty Company will continue to
provide a defense, but merely to advise you of your right to do
so.
It is likely that the [Skajs’] attorney might file a [lawsuit] against
you. If you do receive any legal papers, please advise us
immediately and send us copies.
Id. at 340 (emphasis added).
On November 13, 2008, the Skajs’ counsel wrote to Cornhusker—this time
in anticipation of litigation. Months later, on April 16, 2009, the Skajs did file a
lawsuit in Natrona County, Wyoming, against R&R, Steven, and Vincent. The
Skajs asserted several claims sounding in negligence and requested punitive
damages based on their allegations that Vincent was intoxicated at the time of Ms.
2
In subsequent testimony, Vincent stated that, although he “didn’t really
have R&R’s permission,” he often drove the dump truck for personal business. J. App. at
707 (Dep. of Vincent Rosty, dated Sept. 13, 2012).
6
Skaj’s accident. Service on Vincent was accomplished on April 17, 2009, by
delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to his mother. Actually locating
Vincent, however, proved more difficult.3 When Mr. Brando attempted to do so
on May 12, 2009, by visiting Vincent’s mother’s home, he encountered Rosty
family members who professed a lack of knowledge both as to Vincent’s
whereabouts and how to contact Vincent.
At the conclusion of his investigation, Mr. Brando advised Cornhusker
about possible ways that Vincent might be reached, specifically:
to send him three letters to his (mother[’s]) Post Office
Box[,] . . . one certified-return receipt requested signature
required (if he is still getting mail at this Post Office Box), one
regular mail (that may be forwarded if he filed a forwarding
address), and one Return Service Requested (if he filed a
forwarding address and the post office returns the letter with the
new mailing address).
Id. at 435 (Supp. Report, dated May 13, 2009) (emphases omitted). The record
does not offer any indication that Cornhusker followed Mr. Brando’s advice. 4
Meanwhile, in April of 2009, counsel retained by Cornhusker to defend
against the Skajs’ lawsuit sought and received an extension of “the answer
3
Evidence in the record indicates that an attempt was made to contact
Vincent in December of 2008 to discuss the Skajs’ claim and the results of a drug test he
had taken. Vincent apparently “answered [the] phone but denied being there.” J. App. at
1017 (Policy Log, dated Dec. 24, 2008).
4
During discovery, Cornhusker admitted that “on May 13, 2009, it permitted
Mr. Brando to retire his file, but only under the express understanding it could be
reopened at a later date.” J. App. at 913 (Resps. to Requests for Admission, filed Oct. 29,
2012).
7
deadline for all defendants.” Id. at 430 (Letter, dated Apr. 29, 2009) (emphasis
added). Communication related to that request indicates that defense counsel at
that point “d[id] not know if [she would] be representing all of the defendants.”
Id. A few weeks later, defense counsel filed an answer to the Skajs’ complaint on
behalf of Steven and R&R only, noting, “I do not represent Vincent Rosty.” Id. at
448 (Letter, dated May 18, 2009). During that time period, Cornhusker reached
the conclusion, “[b]ased on the allegations of the complaint and the
policy, . . . that Vincent . . . was not entitled to a defense under the policy.” Id. at
1222 (Dep. of Thomas Mortland, dated Aug. 15, 2012). Cornhusker did not
attempt to advise Vincent of its decision at that time not to represent him. More
specifically, Vincent later testified via affidavit that he “had no knowledge of the
ongoing matter.” Id. at 1238 (Aff. of Vincent Rosty, dated Nov. 1, 2010).
An entry of default against Vincent issued on May 21, 2009. Over the next
year, proceedings stalled as the non-defaulting defendants were dismissed from
the litigation and the Skajs sought to recover a judgment as to Vincent. The
Wyoming trial court eventually set a default-judgment hearing for September of
2010. At that juncture, Cornhusker hired separate representation for Vincent.
Cornhusker’s retained counsel for Vincent entered an appearance on September
23, 2010, and opposed the default-judgment proceedings. The state court held a
hearing on the matter on September 24, 2010, and, after considering the parties’
arguments, announced that it would enter a default judgment in favor of the Skajs
8
and against Vincent. Shortly thereafter, the court issued a default-judgment order
assessing a total in damages and costs of $897,344.24 against Vincent.
One week after the default-judgment hearing, Cornhusker sent Vincent a
letter purporting for the first time to deny coverage. In support of its decision,
Cornhusker stated that, at the time of Ms. Skaj’s accident, Vincent: (1) was not a
“permissive use[r]” of the dump truck; (2) was not acting within the course and
scope of his employment with R&R; (3) was intoxicated; and (4) had
misappropriated roofing materials from R&R. Id. at 528 (Letter, dated Oct. 1,
2010). It also opined that Vincent had not cooperated with Cornhusker regarding
the Skajs’ lawsuit. For these reasons, Cornhusker declared that it would not
indemnify Vincent for the amount of the default judgment entered against him.
Cornhusker sent another letter to Vincent on October 7, 2010, purporting to
“supplement[]” the foregoing correspondence. Id. at 533 (Letter, dated Oct. 7,
2010). In this letter, Cornhusker characterized its representation of Vincent at the
default-judgment hearing as being (1) pursuant to a reservation of rights, and (2)
only “for the limited purpose” of having the trial court’s entry of default set
aside. Id. Further, Cornhusker explained that
[a]s noted, the retention of [counsel] on your behalf in no way is
to be deemed a waiver of any of Cornhusker’s rights under the
Policy. Cornhusker reiterates its previous denial [of coverage]
in this matter, and has filed a declaratory judgment action against
you in which it is seeking a declaration from the Court that
neither defense nor . . . indemnity are owed to you under the
9
Policy. [5]
Id. at 534.
Meanwhile, counsel whom Cornhusker had retained to represent Vincent in
the default-judgment proceedings appealed from the default judgment in state
court. Ultimately, the Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s entry of
default judgment, except insofar as it awarded punitive damages. See Rosty v.
Skaj, 272 P.3d 947, 960 (Wyo. 2012). Cornhusker nonetheless refused to pay the
judgment on Vincent’s behalf, maintaining that Vincent was not covered by the
Policy.
On March 25, 2011, Cornhusker filed suit against Vincent and the Skajs in
the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. Cornhusker sought
a declaration that the Policy provided no coverage to Vincent because, inter alia,
he was not an insured and had not cooperated during the investigation. Vincent
responded by counterclaiming against Cornhusker; in doing so, he asserted
theories of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, promissory
estoppel, and breach of contract. He also alleged bad faith by Cornhusker and
requested punitive damages.
The Skajs filed their own counterclaim, seeking a declaration “that
Cornhusker [was] required to pay the judgment in the underlying action,” J. App.
5
In fact, as indicated by the filing date on its complaint in federal district
court, Cornhusker actually did not file such an action until March 25, 2011.
10
at 332 (Second Am. Countercl., filed Apr. 2, 2012), and, given Cornhusker’s
refusal to pay the judgment, attorneys’ fees pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-15-
124(c). Noting that Cornhusker had defended Vincent in the underlying action
unconditionally—viz., without a reservation of rights—with knowledge of
possible grounds to deny coverage, Vincent and the Skajs jointly argued that
Cornhusker should be estopped from asserting the defense of noncoverage. 6
All of the parties filed motions for summary judgment, which the district
court addressed at a hearing on November 29, 2012. At the conclusion of the
proceedings, the court announced that there would be no trial. It declared that
Cornhusker was estopped from denying coverage to Vincent because Cornhusker
had represented that it would provide a defense, never reserved its rights, and did
not advise Vincent of its decision to deny coverage until more than sixteen
months after the entry of default. However, the district court awarded summary
judgment to Cornhusker on Vincent’s sundry tort and contract claims. The court
also denied the Skajs’ claim for attorneys’ fees.
A written ruling memorializing the district court’s decision issued on
December 11, 2012. The judgment—which was entered the next day—ordered
Cornhusker to “pay the full amount of the judgment against Vincent . . . and in
6
After the state trial court denied a motion for relief from the default
judgment, the Skajs served a writ on Cornhusker in order to garnish the proceeds of the
Policy. Cornhusker removed this action to federal court and it was consolidated with the
declaratory-judgment action.
11
favor of Shari Skaj and Steve Skaj in the underlying state court action,
$822,344.24, indemnifying Vincent . . . for any amount he has previously paid in
satisfaction of the underlying judgment.” Dist. Ct. Doc. 190, at 1 (J. in Civ. Case,
filed Dec. 12, 2012).
Cornhusker filed the instant appeal to challenge the district court’s finding
that Cornhusker was estopped from denying coverage to Vincent. The Skajs have
cross-appealed from the district court’s denial of their claim for attorneys’ fees.
Finally, Vincent has appealed, advocating for reversal of the district court’s
disposition of his bad-faith and punitive-damages claims.
II
“We review de novo the district court’s grant of summary judgment and
apply the same legal standard used by the district court . . . .” Certain
Underwriters at Lloyd’s London v. Garmin Int’l, Inc., 781 F.3d 1226, 1229 (10th
Cir. 2015). Summary judgment is appropriate when “the movant shows that there
is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). In applying this standard,
we “examine the record and ‘all reasonable inferences that might be drawn from it
in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.’” Berry & Murphy, P.C. v.
Carolina Cas. Ins. Co., 586 F.3d 803, 808 (10th Cir. 2009) (quoting Antonio v.
Sygma Network, Inc., 458 F.3d 1177, 1181 (10th Cir. 2006)).
12
Because this is a diversity action,7 we “apply the substantive law of the
forum state,” Macon v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 743 F.3d 708, 713 (10th Cir.
2014), which, for purposes of this appeal, is Wyoming. “In addition, we review
the district court’s interpretation and determination of state law de novo.” Berry
& Murphy, 586 F.3d at 808; see Breaux v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., 554 F.3d
854, 863 (10th Cir. 2009) (noting that “the principles of a cooperative judicial
federalism . . . require that courts of appeals review the state-law determinations
of district courts de novo” (internal quotation marks omitted)).
III
This appeal presents three principal questions: (1) whether the district court
rightly concluded that Cornhusker was estopped from denying coverage under the
Policy to Vincent after assuming his defense without a reservation of rights; (2)
whether the district court properly ruled in Cornhusker’s favor on Vincent’s bad-
faith and punitive-damages claims; and (3) whether the district court correctly
denied the Skajs’ claim for attorneys’ fees. We answer each question in the
affirmative, ultimately discerning no reversible error in the district court’s
rulings.
A
7
As alleged in the complaint, there is complete diversity between
Cornhusker (a Nebraska corporation) and each of the parties it sued: the Skajs are citizens
of Wyoming, and Vincent is “a citizen of the State of Wyoming or the State of Colorado.”
J. App. at 36 (Compl., filed Mar. 25, 2011); see 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1) (vesting in federal
district courts original jurisdiction over actions “between . . . citizens of different States”).
13
1
As a threshold matter, we address Cornhusker’s contention that Vincent and
the Skajs are not entitled to be heard on the issue of estoppel. The district court
rejected this line of reasoning, and we do as well.
Cornhusker purports to “raise[] the issue of . . . standing to maintain the
suit, and hence [the] Court’s jurisdiction to entertain it . . . , [which] would
normally be considered a threshold question that must be resolved . . . before
proceeding to the merits.” Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83,
88–89 (1998). More to the point, in its opening brief, Cornhusker urges that
“[Vincent] and the Skajs lack standing to invoke waiver and estoppel against
Cornhusker because they are strangers to the Cornhusker Policy.” Cornhusker
Opening Br. at 21 (capitalization altered). The crux of Cornhusker’s argument is
that only named insureds—here, R&R and Randy—should be permitted to invoke
theories of waiver or estoppel, whereas in this case
neither [Vincent] nor the Skajs are parties to the Cornhusker
Policy. Nor are they privies of R&R or Cornhusker, the only two
parties to the Cornhusker Policy. Additionally, neither [Vincent]
nor the Skajs have proved to be an “insured” under the
Cornhusker Policy. . . . Accordingly, neither [Vincent] nor the
Skajs have standing to estop Cornhusker from denying coverage.
Id. at 24 (emphasis added) (citations omitted).
Vincent and the Skajs respond that Cornhusker advances a “strained
attempt at a standing argument.” Skajs’ Br. at 20. We agree. Although “standing
14
is a threshold issue in every case before a federal court,” Turner v. McGee, 681
F.3d 1215, 1218 (10th Cir. 2012) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks
omitted), this is because the standing issue implicates a federal court’s subject-
matter jurisdiction. We have explained that standing controversies involve
“constitutional limitations on federal-court jurisdiction and prudential limitations
on its exercise.” Sac & Fox Nation of Mo. v. Pierce, 213 F.3d 566, 573 (10th Cir.
2000) (quoting Warth v. Seldin, 422 U.S. 490, 498 (1975)) (internal quotation
marks omitted); accord Rector v. City & Cnty. of Denver, 348 F.3d 935, 942 (10th
Cir. 2003). Although denominated a matter of standing, Cornhusker’s argument
is actually of another genus entirely—one that does not implicate a court’s
jurisdiction. Indeed, it presents no more than a garden-variety question regarding
the proper interpretation of the Policy.
As relevant here, the Supreme Court has dispelled the notion that a
“‘standing’ argument [that] simply presents a straightforward issue of contract
interpretation” can serve as a legally cognizable “standing” argument. Perry v.
Thomas, 482 U.S. 483, 492 (1987). Indeed, the Perry Court did not countenance
a litigant’s “argument[,] . . . characterize[d] as one of ‘standing,’” when the
contention was merely “that [his opponents] were ‘not parties’ to [an]
agreement.” Id. at 487. We believe Perry applies with equal force to this
appeal—that is, it makes clear that Cornhusker’s purported standing argument
does not implicate our subject-matter jurisdiction. In other words, it is not a true
15
standing argument, in the conventional sense, at all.
In sum, Cornhusker has not raised a legally cognizable question of standing
that implicates our jurisdiction. We therefore treat the issue of the right to
contest coverage under the Policy as the substantive question that it actually is.
2
In concluding that Vincent and the Skajs could invoke estoppel to prevent
Cornhusker from denying coverage, the district court proceeded from Wyoming’s
default rule that “the doctrines of estoppel and waiver cannot be employed to
expand policy coverage.” J. App. at 1348 (quoting St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins.
Co. v. Albany Cnty. Sch. Dist. No. 1, 763 P.2d 1255, 1262 (Wyo. 1988)) (internal
quotation marks omitted). It then observed that our own circuit has recognized an
exception to that legal proposition in certain circumstances—namely, in a
situation wherein an insurer undertook the defense of an action without first
reserving its rights. While acknowledging that the Wyoming Supreme Court had
not directly spoken to this estoppel exception, the district court was persuaded
that “there is no authority which suggests [that] court would reject its
application.” Id. at 1349. Given that the estoppel exception was generally
available, the district court understood Wyoming jurisprudence to “suggest[]” that
application of estoppel would be appropriate on these particular facts. Id. For the
reasons explicated below, we uphold the district court’s ruling.
a
16
The Wyoming Supreme Court has not addressed whether an insurer, having
previously assumed the defense of an action without a reservation of rights, may
subsequently be estopped from asserting the defense of noncoverage. This case
thus presents an unsettled question of Wyoming insurance law. Consequently, we
“must . . . attempt to predict how [Wyoming’s] highest court would interpret [the
issue].” Squires v. Breckenridge Outdoor Educ. Ctr., 715 F.3d 867, 875 (10th
Cir. 2013); see Pehle v. Farm Bureau Life Ins. Co., 397 F.3d 897, 901 (10th Cir.
2005) (“Because Wyoming has not directly addressed this issue, this court must
make an Erie-guess as to how the Wyoming Supreme Court would rule.”). We
may “consider all resources available” in doing so, “including decisions of
[Wyoming] courts, other state courts and federal courts, in addition to the general
weight and trend of authority.” In re Dittmar, 618 F.3d 1199, 1204 (10th Cir.
2010) (internal quotation marks omitted).
“Under our own federal jurisprudence, we will not trouble our sister state
courts every time [an unsettled legal question in a diversity action] comes across
our desks. When we see a reasonably clear and principled course, we will seek to
follow it ourselves.” Pino v. United States, 507 F.3d 1233, 1236 (10th Cir. 2007);
accord Colony Ins. Co. v. Burke, 698 F.3d 1222, 1236 (10th Cir. 2012). We see
such a clear and principled path here.
Wyoming’s general stance on estoppel in this context is traceable to 1961,
when its highest tribunal observed, “Numerous cases hold that [a coverage]
17
provision cannot be waived by the agents of an insurance company and that the
doctrine of estoppel cannot be applied.” Sowers v. Iowa Home Mut. Cas. Ins.
Co., 359 P.2d 488, 493 (Wyo. 1961) (emphasis added). The Wyoming Supreme
Court remained faithful to this principle in Tadday v. National Aviation
Underwriters, 660 P.2d 1148 (Wyo. 1983), noting that “coverage of an insurance
policy may not be extended by waiver or estoppel . . . in accord with general
law,” 660 P.2d at 1150 (internal quotation marks omitted), and again in Ricci v.
New Hampshire Insurance Co., 721 P.2d 1081 (Wyo. 1986), when it observed that
“the law in Wyoming is that coverage cannot be extended by waiver or estoppel,”
721 P.2d at 1086. And, in Albany County School District No. 1, relying on
Sowers and its progeny, the Wyoming Supreme Court again instructed that
“estoppel is not available to bring within the coverage of an insurance policy risks
that are not covered by its terms or that are expressly excluded therefrom.” 763
P.2d at 1261 (quoting Sowers, 359 P.2d at 493) (internal quotation marks
omitted). From these cases, it is not difficult to discern Wyoming’s usual rule:
“the principle that the doctrines of estoppel and waiver cannot be employed to
expand policy coverage is controlling.” Id. at 1262; accord Verschoor v.
Mountain W. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 907 P.2d 1293, 1298 (Wyo. 1995).
But rules applied by courts are frequently subject to exceptions, and we
conclude that the same holds true here. We have recognized and applied such an
exception in Pendleton v. Pan American Fire & Casualty Co., 317 F.2d 96 (10th
18
Cir. 1963), a diversity lawsuit involving New Mexico’s substantive law. Citing,
inter alia, a decision rendered by this court in 1930 wherein we allowed estoppel
to expand coverage under a policy—New Jersey Fidelity & Plate Glass Insurance
Co. v. McGillis, 42 F.2d 789, 791 (10th Cir. 1930) (applying Utah law)—we said
that
a liability insurance carrier, which assumes and conducts the
defense of an action . . . with knowledge of a ground of forfeiture
or noncoverage under the policy, and without disclaiming
liability or giving notice of a reservation of its right to deny
coverage, is thereafter precluded in an action upon the policy
from setting up the ground of forfeiture or noncoverage as a
defense. In other words, the insurer’s unconditional defense of
an action . . . constitutes a waiver of the terms of the policy and
an estoppel of the insurer to assert the defense of
noncoverage. . . . [I]t is not necessary for the [defended party]
to show prejudice in such a situation because he is presumed to
have been prejudiced by virtue of the insurer’s assumption of the
defense.
317 F.2d at 99 (citations omitted).
In other words, in Pendleton, we concluded that the insurer was estopped
from denying coverage to the ostensible insured by its conduct in unconditionally
assuming the defense without a reservation of rights, and that prejudice was
presumed to flow from the insurer’s actions. Id. at 100–01 (noting that “this
situation falls within the rule of estoppel” and that “the insurer is estopped to now
deny liability upon the insurance policy in question”). Notably, we reached this
conclusion notwithstanding our agreement with the insurer that there was not in
fact coverage under the policy. See id. at 100 (noting that “it is clear that the
19
insurer at no time had an obligation under the questioned policy to defend” the
ostensible insured). We seemed to reason that, irrespective of the actuality of
noncoverage, the insurer must accept the equitable consequences of its deliberate
choice to “assume[] full control of the litigation,” without a reservation of rights,
because the ostensible insured was “induced to, and did, relinquish control of his
defense . . . to the insurer.” Id. And those equitable consequences involved
shouldering the burdens of any liability arising from the litigation that it
deliberately elected to control. See id. at 100–01.
Nearly thirty years later, we had occasion to revisit the so-called
“Pendleton exception” in resolving a dispute under Oklahoma law. In Braun v.
Annesley, 936 F.2d 1105 (10th Cir. 1991), we noted that Oklahoma’s highest
court had not yet opined on whether it would apply an estoppel exception, of the
type that we announced in Pendleton, to a similar set of facts. We were
consequently mindful of Oklahoma’s general rule that “estoppel cannot be used to
create a contract.” Braun, 936 F.2d at 1110 (citing Sec. Ins. Co. of New Haven v.
Greer, 437 P.2d 243, 246 (Okla. 1968)). Even so, we determined that the logic
employed in Pendleton transposed to the situation at hand:
Tri-State defended Mr. Bradley without a reservation of rights.
In addition, Tri-State stated at trial that it was “unclear” whether
Tri-State would be liable for Mr. Bradley . . . . Thus, Tri-State
acknowledged that Mr. Bradley might be covered under its
policy. Given that the insurers in [inter alia] Pendleton . . . were
estopped from denying coverage after providing a defense
without a reservation of rights when the claimant was not even
20
arguably covered, Tri-State is also estopped when Mr. Bradley is
arguably covered, and, like the circumstances in Pendleton . . .
the basis of estoppel is Tri-State’s defense of Mr. Bradley without
a reservation of rights.
Id. at 1110–11 (citations omitted) (emphases added).
The Pendleton exception, we observed in Braun, has the potential to
produce fair and correct results. We explained that it provided “a better rule” to
resolve the issues presented therein—“one that encourages an insurer to
thoroughly investigate its policy and notify persons before assuming their defense
that it is reserving its right to later contest coverage.” Id. at 1111. Likewise, we
found that not applying the Pendleton exception to the particular facts before us
would constitute error—that is, we “[did] not believe the Supreme Court of
Oklahoma would allow an insurer to defend an individual who might be covered
[without a reservation of rights] and then permit the insurer to deny coverage
after the individual is found liable.” Id. This was so, we reasoned, because
“[s]uch a result [would] grant[] the insurer the unfettered right to induce an
individual to relinquish control of his or her defense.” Id. Ultimately, we were
satisfied that “[t]he inequitable consequences of a contrary ruling provide[d]
support for our conclusion.” Id.
So too, here. We face substantially the same factual setting that we
confronted in Pendleton and Braun: that is, the insurer’s (Cornhusker’s) full
assumption of control of the ostensible insured’s (Vincent’s) defense in a lawsuit
21
seeking to impose liability on the ostensible insured (brought by the Skajs) and
the insurer’s (Cornhusker’s) complete failure to provide any notice to the
ostensible insured (Vincent) that it sought to reserve its right to deny him
coverage. Indeed, even the attorney that Cornhusker retained to represent Vincent
acknowledged these key aspects of Cornhusker’s posture toward the Skajs’ suit in
communications with a Cornhusker representative. As he put it, “my role is to
fully defend Vincent . . . since Cornhusker has agreed (properly) to fully defend
him.” J. App. at 1122 (Email, dated Nov. 5, 2010). Yet, he noted, while
“[t]ypically, a carrier sends a reservation of rights letter which says the carrier is
defending but reserves its rights . . . to determine whether coverage exists or not,”
neither of Cornhusker’s October 2010 communications with Vincent (i.e., the
October 1 and 7 letters) “can reasonably be construed as reservation of rights
letters.” Id.
To be sure, Vincent’s lawyer “found it odd that Cornhusker would take this
approach,” given its position that Vincent was not entitled to coverage. Id. But
Pendleton and Braun make clear that this is not the first time that insurers have
followed such a path. And these cases also indicate that insurers should bear a
specific consequence of such conduct: viz., they should be estopped from later
denying coverage to an ostensible insured to escape liability stemming from
litigation over which they deliberately assumed control without a reservation of
rights. Given their factual similarity to the instant case, we believe that
22
Pendleton and Braun counsel in favor of applying estoppel to prevent Cornhusker
from disputing coverage.
Furthermore, our study of relevant decisions of “other . . . federal courts”
strongly suggests that “the general weight and trend of authority,” Dittmar, 618
F.3d at 1204 (internal quotation marks omitted), is to recognize an exception such
as the one we articulated in Pendleton. See, e.g., City of Carter Lake v. Aetna
Cas. & Sur. Co., 604 F.2d 1052, 1060–62 (8th Cir. 1979); Pac. Indem. Co. v. Acel
Delivery Serv., Inc., 485 F.2d 1169, 1173 (5th Cir. 1973); Peerless Ins. Co. v.
Travelers Ins. Co., 393 F.2d 636, 639–40 (9th Cir. 1968); Nat’l Union Fire Ins.
Co. of Pittsburgh v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 384 F.2d 316, 366 (D.C. Cir. 1967);
Claverie v. Am. Cas. Co. of Reading, 76 F.2d 570, 571–72 (4th Cir. 1935).
Based on federal authorities, then—most notably our own—we would be
inclined to predict that the Wyoming Supreme Court would adopt an estoppel
doctrine like Pendleton on these facts. Our examination of germane Wyoming
caselaw confirms our inclination and leads us to definitively predict that the
Wyoming Supreme Court would apply a Pendleton-type estoppel exception here.
b
Fairness undergirds Wyoming’s general approach to estoppel. 8 See Birt v.
8
We express no view in this opinion as to whether the Wyoming Supreme
Court would rely upon promissory estoppel or equitable estoppel on these facts. “The
doctrines . . . are closely related and, as [the Wyoming Supreme Court has] impliedly
recognized . . . , they often have been invoked together and interchangeably
(continued...)
23
Wells Fargo Home Mortg., Inc., 75 P.3d 640, 654 (Wyo. 2003) (stating that
estoppel “is to be applied to . . . promote the end of justice, where it would be
inequitable not to do so”); B & W Glass, Inc. v. Weather Shield Mfg., Inc., 829
P.2d 809, 817 (Wyo. 1992) (recognizing that “the principle of fairness [is]
implicit in recognizing the doctrine of . . . estoppel”). The Wyoming Supreme
Court has delineated estoppel as a remedy that “flows from the actual
consequences produced by the conduct of A on B regardless of whether A
intended those consequences or not,” and the court has clarified that “[t]he
[insurer] is estopped when the [individual] is deceived; the deception occurs when
the [individual] is lulled into a false sense of security.” Bauer v. State ex rel.
Wyo. Worker’s Comp. Div., 695 P.2d 1048, 1051 (Wyo. 1985); accord Parkhurst
v. Boykin, 94 P.3d 450, 460–61 (Wyo. 2004).
Wyoming’s general estoppel principles support our conclusion that a
Pendleton-type estoppel exception should be applied to Cornhusker on these
facts. Cornhusker’s conduct had the effect of lulling Vincent into the belief that
Cornhusker was representing him pursuant to the Policy. Cornhusker specifically
retained counsel to represent him in state court and subsequently rendered a
defense. During that time period, when Cornhusker had a plausible basis for
reserving its rights (due, inter alia, to the dispute concerning whether Vincent
8
(...continued)
. . . . Reasonable reliance is an element common to both of these doctrines.” Davis v.
Davis, 855 P.2d 342, 348 (Wyo. 1993) (citations omitted).
24
was a “permissive user” under the Policy), it never took that critical step.
In particular, prior to the court’s imposition of liability on Vincent,
Cornhusker did not “make specific reference to the policy defense[,] which the
insurer [i.e., Cornhusker] [could] assert,” in any communication with him—which
was a necessary predicate under Wyoming law for a finding that Cornhusker had
reserved its rights. Doctors’ Co. v. Ins. Corp. of Am., 864 P.2d 1018, 1030 (Wyo.
1993). Based upon Cornhusker’s silence in that regard, Vincent effectively ceded
control of his defense to Cornhusker. And he cannot be viewed as unreasonable
for doing so. Yet, later, upon entry of judgment, Cornhusker elected not to
provide coverage. We cannot ignore the possibility (even if arguably remote)
that, under these circumstances, Vincent “[had] a valid claim [which was] lost
because of some action by . . . the insurance provider . . . reasonably relied upon
by [him] to [his] detriment.” Picozzi v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers’ Safety &
Comp. Div., 304 P.3d 977, 981 (Wyo. 2013) (internal quotation marks omitted);
accord Bauer, 695 P.2d at 1052. This sort of unfairness, we predict, would be of
significant concern to the Wyoming Supreme Court when considering the possible
application of a Pendleton-type estoppel to Cornhusker. See Bauer, 695 P.2d at
1052 (concluding that analogous unfairness signaled that “relief should be
granted” in the form of estoppel).
Further, in assaying the relevant Wyoming caselaw, we find unavailing
Cornhusker’s contention that “[t]he Wyoming Supreme Court has rejected the
25
estoppel theory advanced” here, Cornhusker Opening Br. at 25 (emphasis added),
in Albany County School District No. 1. No doubt Cornhusker hopes we will
seize upon language in that case discussing the baseline rule that “coverage
afforded by [a] policy cannot be expanded by estoppel.”9 Albany Cnty. Sch. Dist.
No. 1, 763 P.2d at 1262. However, we regard Albany County School District No.
1 as readily distinguishable. That case concerned an insurance policy that
required the insurer to indemnify a county school district for any judgment
entered against the “insureds,” a term which was defined not to include the school
district itself. See id. at 1259. To be sure, Cornhusker is arguably correct that
“[t]here, as here, the party claiming coverage was not an ‘insured’ as defined by
the policy.” Cornhusker Opening Br. at 27. But Cornhusker misstates Albany
County School District No. 1 as “parallel[ing] the theory of estoppel,” id.,
advanced here in one vital respect: the existence of a reservation of rights.
9
After oral argument, by way of a letter submitted pursuant to Federal Rule
of Appellate Procedure 28(j), Cornhusker notified this court of a recent Wyoming
decision—Lewis Holding Co. v. Forsberg Engerman Co., 318 P.3d 822 (Wyo.
2014)—which it considers dispositive as to the estoppel issue presented. We disagree.
Lewis Holding Co. relates only tangentially to these proceedings insofar as it sets forth
the general state-law rule that estoppel cannot expand or create insurance coverage. See
318 P.3d at 825–26. In that regard, Lewis Holding Co. adds nothing new to the relevant
body of Wyoming law. And, in any event, the case is distinguishable because the fact
that “the insurance agreement between [the parties] plainly and unambiguously
exclude[d] coverage for damages,” id. at 826 (emphasis added), persuaded the court to
apply the default rule that “estoppel cannot be used to extend the insurance coverage to
include risks that are expressly excluded by the policy,” id. We arguably have no such
clarity here as to the exclusion vel non of Vincent from the ambit of the Policy. For these
reasons, we ultimately do not view Cornhusker’s notice of supplemental authority as
particularly helpful to our resolution of this question.
26
Notably, after an Albany County employee sued the school district, the
insurer “agreed to defend the suit while retaining its full reservation of rights
with respect to coverage.” Albany Cnty. Sch. Dist. No. 1, 763 P.2d at 1256
(emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted). Judgment was entered
against the school district, at which time the insurer denied coverage to the
district and withdrew its defense of the action. The trial court ruled that the
insurer was estopped from denying coverage, but the Wyoming Supreme Court
reversed.
In so doing, the court held that Wyoming’s basic rule—i.e., that estoppel
cannot expand or create coverage where none exists—applied with equal force
under those circumstances because
[i]n a letter to the School District dated March 8, 1985, St. Paul
[, i.e., the insurer,] advised that it conditionally agreed to provide
a defense for the School District in the underlying case. In this
letter St. Paul also stated: “Furthermore we have advised you
that The St. Paul is reserving all its rights as to the issues of
coverage . . . under the terms and conditions of your policy.” St.
Paul, in this letter, further advised the School District of several
possible grounds upon which it might deny coverage . . . .
Id. at 1262 (emphases added). That reservation-of-rights letter, the court
reasoned, placed the school district on notice that it might not be covered under
the policy notwithstanding the insurer’s assumption of its defense. See id. (“St.
Paul’s agreement to accept the defense of the case with ‘a full reservation of
rights’ negates any intent to waive any objection to coverage.”). Thus, we
27
conclude with no difficulty that the insurer’s conduct in Albany County School
District No. 1—which counseled against invoking estoppel—stands in stark relief
to Cornhusker’s conduct here, which we have concluded strongly militates in
favor of applying estoppel.
In sum, our review of relevant Wyoming authorities strongly confirms, and
establishes the soundness of, the provisional judgment that we formed from
examining our own precedent (as well as other federal caselaw)—viz., under facts
such as these, we predict that the Wyoming Supreme Court would apply a
Pendleton-type estoppel exception to preclude Cornhusker from asserting
Vincent’s alleged lack of coverage under the Policy. Consequently, we hold that
the district court was correct in its invocation of the Pendleton exception to estop
Cornhusker here. Like the district court, we believe that the facts before us
present a “compelling” justification for using such an exception, J. App. at 1351,
and we predict that the Wyoming Supreme Court would agree. Consequently, we
uphold this aspect of the district court’s judgment.
B
We turn next to Vincent’s contention that the district court incorrectly
dismissed his bad-faith claim and denied him punitive damages. We conclude
that the district court did not err in either respect.
1
Vincent describes his bad-faith claim against Cornhusker as “truly simple”
28
in that it is “based upon Cornhusker’s first promising [him] a defense, then
retaining counsel on his behalf to secure an extension to answer, and then
obviously directing that counsel not to answer and allowing a default to be
entered—all without warning [Vincent] of its decision to do so.” Rosty Br. at
13–14 (citations omitted). Implicit in this recitation of the claim, in our view, is
the invitation to infer bad faith on the part of Cornhusker. Insofar as Vincent’s
argument can be read thusly, we do not find a significant basis for such an
inference. Our determination in Part III.A, supra—that Cornhusker is estopped
from denying coverage to Vincent—does not ineluctably lead to a finding of bad
faith by Cornhusker. Entirely different standards govern the latter type of
claim—ones Vincent has not met.
Wyoming recognizes both substantive and procedural bad faith in the
insurance context. See Sonnett v. First Am. Title Ins. Co., 309 P.3d 799, 806–07
(Wyo. 2013) (stating that an insurer acts in bad faith where the substantive
validity of a denied claim is “not fairly debatable,” and also “by the manner in
which it investigates, handles, or denies a claim” (internal quotation marks
omitted)); Hatch v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 842 P.2d 1089, 1099 (Wyo.
1992) (“Hatch I”) (observing that a defense to substantive bad-faith liability,
which depends on an insurer having “[a] ‘fairly debatable’ reason to deny a
claim,” is “not a defense” to procedural bad-faith liability, which “may flow from
engaging in oppressive and intimidating claim practices”); see also Marathon
29
Ashland Pipe Line LLC v. Md. Cas. Co., 243 F.3d 1232, 1246 (10th Cir. 2001)
(acknowledging that Wyoming law recognizes both varieties of bad faith). In
Vincent’s estimation, Cornhusker committed both species of bad faith by denying
him coverage under the Policy. We disagree.
a
First, with respect to whether Cornhusker’s denial of coverage amounted to
substantive bad faith, we note Wyoming’s longstanding focus on “whether or not
the validity of the denied claim was fairly debatable.” Darlow v. Farmers Ins.
Exch., 822 P.2d 820, 823 (Wyo. 1991); accord First Wyo. Bank, N.A., Jackson
Hole v. Cont’l Ins. Co., 860 P.2d 1094, 1101 (Wyo. 1993). “The validity of a
claim is fairly debatable if a reasonable insurer would have denied or delayed
payment of benefits under the facts and circumstances.” Harper v. Fidelity &
Guar. Life Ins. Co., 234 P.3d 1211, 1221 (Wyo. 2010) (internal quotation marks
omitted). Applying this objective standard requires us to determine if Vincent has
established “(1) the absence of any reasonable basis for denying the claim and (2)
[Cornhusker’s] knowledge or reckless disregard of the lack of a reasonable basis
for denying the claim.” Ahrenholtz v. Time Ins. Co., 968 P.2d 946, 950–51 (Wyo.
1998); accord Gainsco Ins. Co. v. Amoco Prod. Co., 53 P.3d 1051, 1058 (Wyo.
2002). In our view, Vincent has failed to make such a showing.
Vincent’s substantive bad-faith claim founders on the first prong of
Wyoming’s test: the absence of any reasonable basis for denying his claim. To
30
satisfy this component of the standard, a litigant “must show that a reasonable
insurer under the circumstances would not have acted as it did by denying . . . the
claim.” Sonnett, 309 P.3d at 806 (quoting Matlack v. Mountain W. Farm Bureau
Mut. Ins. Co., 44 P.3d 73, 81 (Wyo. 2002)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Wyoming caselaw makes clear that an insurer enjoys a wide berth in this
regard—viz., “if a realistic question of liability does exist, the insurance carrier is
entitled to reasonably pursue that debate without exposure to a [bad-faith] claim.”
Gainsco Ins. Co., 53 P.3d at 1062 (quoting McCullough v. Golden Rule Ins. Co.,
789 P.2d 855, 860 (Wyo. 1990)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover,
the Wyoming Supreme Court has clarified that the realistic-question aspect of the
“fairly debatable” standard “is not the same as asking whether there actually was
coverage under the policy.” Id. at 1063. This means that, under Wyoming law,
“it is not necessarily an act of bad faith for an insurer to deny . . . payment of
benefits where the underlying incident objectively may be seen as being covered
by a policy exclusion, particularly where there is no controlling authority within
the jurisdiction.” Id.
While the district court resolved the substantive bad-faith issue without
much explication, its decision comports with Wyoming’s standards. The court
identified two potentially reasonable bases supporting Cornhusker’s denial of
coverage: (1) the uncertainty as to whether the Wyoming Supreme Court would
employ an estoppel doctrine, like the one established in Pendleton, to broaden the
31
Policy’s coverage, and (2) Vincent’s status under the Policy (i.e., whether he was
a “permissive user” of R&R’s dump truck). Both of these grounds for denial are
eminently reasonable.
The first—which we have thoroughly discussed above—presents a
significant potential for disagreement regarding the propriety of an insurer’s
denial of coverage. As to the second, record evidence suggests that Cornhusker
had a reasonable basis to conclude that Vincent was not a permissive user.
Although Vincent certainly had permission to operate R&R’s vehicles in the
course and scope of his employment, R&R did maintain at least an unofficial
policy discouraging personal use of company vehicles. Indeed, Vincent
acknowledged that he “didn’t really have R&R’s permission” to use its vehicles
for personal use, J. App. at 707, and R&R did not direct him to travel to the
Skajs’ home on the date of the accident. It is true that Vincent also indicated that
he had driven to the Skajs’ residence in R&R’s vehicles on numerous occasions,
that “[t]he whole crew knew [he] went there,” and that Steven and Randy had
“seen” him do so but never reprimanded him. Id. at 709–10. But we cannot
definitively conclude, based on this conflicting testimony, that Vincent had
permission to use the truck for personal reasons—and as long as the extent of his
permissive use remained “fairly debatable,” Cornhusker’s decision to deny him
coverage on that basis was reasonable.
In sum, we are satisfied that the district court properly identified a
32
reasonable basis for Cornhusker’s denial of coverage as to Vincent. It naturally
follows that the district court’s determination that Cornhusker had a fairly
debatable justification for denying coverage was sound. We thus conclude that
Cornhusker did not act in substantive bad faith in its dealings with Vincent, and
we affirm that aspect of the court’s ruling.
b
Turning next to the issue of procedural bad faith, we note that “[e]ven if a
claim for benefits is fairly debatable, the insurer may breach the duty of good
faith and fair dealing by the manner in which it investigates, handles, or denies a
claim.” Matlack, 44 P.3d at 81; accord Sonnett, 309 P.3d at 807. Under
Wyoming law, it is “appropriate [in this procedural inquiry] to determine whether
a claim was properly investigated and whether the results of the investigation
were subjected to a reasonable evaluation and review.” Hatch I, 842 P.2d at
1093. A party may argue that “failure to investigate or evaluate a claim” supports
a finding of procedural bad faith. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Shrader, 882
P.2d 813, 828 (Wyo. 1994) (emphasis added).
In applying this failure-to-investigate rubric, the Wyoming Supreme Court
has required a “compelling” factual showing and has declined to find even a
“cursory examination of the case” or a “delay . . . showing [the insurer] drug its
heels” sufficient to establish procedural bad faith. Matlack, 44 P.3d at 81. Stated
otherwise, unless it is evident that the insurer performed no form of satisfactory
33
investigation, a procedural bad-faith claim will not be viable. See Sonnett, 309
P.3d at 807 (rejecting a procedural bad-faith claim when the record
unambiguously demonstrated at least a passable investigation).
The Wyoming Supreme Court’s decision in Hatch I is instructive. It
powerfully demonstrates the egregious level of misconduct that typically gives
rise to liability for procedural bad faith—a level of insurer misconduct that is not
even arguably present here. Put another way, Hatch I unequivocally shows the
high hurdle that must be surmounted to succeed on this ground. In that case, the
Wyoming Supreme Court found a sufficient factual basis for procedural bad faith
concerning the investigation of a house-fire claim. The court found that the
insurer’s handling of the claim—notwithstanding its suspicion of arson—was
beyond the pale: notably, the insureds were required to file a 275-page inventory
of household items and “were told that they must list how many cornflakes were
left in the cereal box before the fire, and how much salt was in the salt shaker.”
Hatch I, 842 P.2d at 1098. Apparently these requirements were only the tip of the
proverbial iceberg of the insurer’s egregious conduct:
Appellants were threatened by State Farm
representatives . . . . Appellants were required to make
unreasonable reports, statements and inventories, even after State
Farm had decided to reject their claim.
State Farm took over the Hatch house, ousted the Hatch family
from possession, and searched the house from top to bottom.
State Farm conducted several unsupervised searches of the home
and . . . would not allow appellants to have free access to their
34
house for eight days after the fire . . . . [The] Hatches were given
an unrealistic deadline in which to file this inventory. A team of
five State Farm representatives interviewed Mrs. Hatch four
different times. One interview lasted five hours with no break
for lunch. Mrs. Hatch characterized the State Farm
representatives as rude, abrupt, sarcastic, unprofessional, and
hostile. Additionally, the sworn statements of the [Hatches’]
twin boys, ten years old, were taken.
Id. The insurer also hid exculpatory information from the prosecutor in the
related arson case, demanded mental-health records for one of the insureds’
children, and contacted the insureds’ creditors. Id.
We would be hard-pressed to find Cornhusker’s conduct even remotely
comparable to that of the insurer in Hatch I. As the district court observed,
Cornhusker “immediately investigated the accident,” defended Vincent when his
whereabouts were unknown, and “ma[de] an attempt to locate [him] at his
mother’s house” before ultimately denying coverage. J. App. at 1354–55.
Cornhusker’s handling of the claim was certainly not perfect; for instance, we do
not gainsay that heeding Mr. Brando’s suggestions for contacting Vincent could
have benefitted all parties involved during the course of the Skajs’ lawsuit.
However, even under the most charitable framing (i.e., in the light most favorable
to Vincent), the evidence merely demonstrates that Cornhusker could have
intensified its efforts to locate Vincent during the pendency of the state-court
proceedings and failed to make a timely reservation of rights. Based upon our
assessment of Wyoming law, this conduct does not constitute “oppressive” or
35
“unreasonable” claims practices, or ones undertaken “to gain an unfair advantage”
over Vincent. Hatch I, 842 P.2d at 1099; see also Ahrenholtz, 968 P.2d at 951
(rejecting a bad-faith claim where, unlike in Hatch I, there was no record
evidence that the insurer “deliberately misrepresented policy provisions,” “made
oppressive demands,” or “retaliated against the insureds in any way”).
In the end, we find factually dubious Vincent’s contention that Cornhusker
“[sat] quietly . . . , and after acting as unfairly as it pleased through the claims
process, . . . rais[ed] coverage questions for the first time in a motion for
summary judgment.” Rosty Br. at 19 (emphasis added). To be sure, there were
fairness concerns implicated by Cornhusker’s arguably flawed handling of the
claim, but (as Wyoming law instructs) bad-faith liability was not the means to
redress them. In this regard, we have upheld supra the district court’s application
here of estoppel principles to Cornhusker, which was triggered by Cornhusker’s
handling of the claim; that approach (as opposed to one predicated on a dubious
finding of procedural bad faith) was suitable and proper. Thus, on this record,
without more, we do not find that Cornhusker engaged in procedural bad faith.
We consequently reject Vincent’s bad-faith claim in full.
2
Because Vincent’s claim for punitive damages is predicated upon a finding
36
of bad faith, it is also unavailing.10 “Punitive damages should not be awarded
for . . . mere thoughtlessness or inadventure, or simple inattention.” Shrader, 882
P.2d at 837 (quoting Danculovich v. Brown, 593 P.2d 187, 191 (Wyo. 1979))
(internal quotation marks omitted). On the contrary, such damages “are to be
awarded only for conduct involving some element of outrage similar to that
usually found in a crime.” Hatch v. Walton, 343 P.3d 390, 399 (Wyo. 2015);
accord Alexander v. Meduna, 47 P.3d 206, 218 (Wyo. 2002).
Vincent limits his appellate argument for punitive damages to a handful of
unsubstantiated and conclusory assertions: notably, that Cornhusker’s behavior
(1) was “the very essence of the type of conduct exemplary damages must
address”; (2) involved “willful actions”; and (3) placed him in “manifest” danger.
Rosty Br. at 23. Statements of this kind make clear that Vincent has “failed to
contest in any meaningful way the district court’s dismissal of” his claim for
punitive damages. Gray v. Univ. of Colo. Hosp. Auth., 672 F.3d 909, 915 (10th
Cir. 2012). In any event, as we alluded to supra, we have thoroughly reviewed
the record and see no evidence of conduct by Cornhusker that would warrant an
10
Even assuming arguendo that Cornhusker had acted with bad faith as to
Vincent, we would not be compelled to reverse the district court’s denial of punitive
damages. The Wyoming Supreme Court has underscored this point by noting, “We do
not conclude . . . that the proof of a bad faith cause of action necessarily makes punitive
damages appropriate. . . . For punitive damages to be awarded in addition to
compensatory damages for the tort, there must be a showing of an evil intent . . . .”
McCullough, 789 P.2d at 861 (second omission in original) (internal quotation marks
omitted); see also id. (noting that an award of punitive damages “require[s] wanton or
willful misconduct”).
37
award (under the operative legal standards) of punitive damages. Put another
way, we are satisfied that the district court soundly applied Wyoming’s punitive-
damages standard when it concluded that Cornhusker cannot be said to “have
been guilty of oppression, fraud or malice.” Farmers Ins. Exch. v. Shirley, 958
P.2d 1040, 1051 (Wyo. 1998) (internal quotation marks omitted); see Hatch v.
State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 930 P.2d 382, 397 (Wyo. 1997) (“Hatch II”)
(affirming the district court’s denial of punitive damages after determining that
“the conduct by State Farm did not reach the requisite heights to be described as
outrageous, extreme, atrocious, utterly intolerable, nor beyond all possible bounds
of decency”); see also J. App. at 1358 (characterizing Cornhusker’s behavior as
“fall[ing] well short of the conduct” described in Hatch II). As a result, we
uphold the district court’s ruling on Vincent’s punitive-damages claim.
C
Finally, we address the Skajs’ contention that the district court incorrectly
granted summary judgment to Cornhusker on the issue of attorneys’ fees. The
Skajs contest the substantive and procedural aspects of the court’s decision.
Finding no error in either regard, we uphold the district court’s summary-
judgment ruling on this point.
1
As part of their counterclaim, the Skajs sought to recover attorneys’ fees
pursuant to Wyoming’s insurance code. The relevant statute provides:
38
In any actions or proceedings commenced against any insurance
company on any insurance policy or certificate of any type or
kind of insurance, or in any case where an insurer is obligated by
a liability insurance policy to defend any suit or claim or pay any
judgment on behalf of a named insured, if it is determined that
the company refuses to pay the full amount of a loss covered by
the policy and that the refusal is unreasonable or without cause,
any court in which judgment is rendered for a claimant may also
award a reasonable sum as an attorney’s fee and interest at ten
percent (10%) per year.
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-15-124(c) (emphasis added). Third-party (i.e., non-insured)
claimants (such as the Skajs) generally receive compensation under § 26-15-
124(c) “under limited circumstances.” Shrader, 882 P.2d at 835.
The Wyoming Supreme Court has explained that “[t]he purpose of this
statute . . . is to encourage the prompt settlement of justifiable claims by
providing redress for an insurer’s wrongful refusal to pay.” Herrig v. Herrig, 844
P.2d 487, 495 (Wyo. 1992); see also Stewart Title Guar. Co. v. Tilden, 181 P.3d
94, 103 (Wyo. 2008) (“Tilden II”) (indicating that the purpose of the statute is to
“protect an insured who has suffered a loss from annoying and expensive
litigation” (internal quotation marks omitted)). More recently, the Wyoming
Supreme Court has clarified that a claim brought under § 26-15-124(c) requires
proof, inter alia, “that in [an] action or proceeding it was determined that the
[insurer] refused to pay the full amount of loss covered by the policy . . . and that
a determination was made in that action or proceeding that the refusal was
unreasonable or without cause.” Stewart Title Guar. Co. v. Tilden, 110 P.3d 865,
39
873 (Wyo. 2005) (“Tilden I”).
As relevant here, the district court determined that the Skajs’ situation did
not fall within the universe of “limited circumstances” warranting an award of
attorneys’ fees. The district court reasoned that the “unreasonable or without
cause standard” was materially identical to the standard utilized in Wyoming for
bad-faith insurance claims. Thus, by way of overview, the court grounded its
denial of attorneys’ fees here on its conclusions that (1) Cornhusker’s denial of
coverage was reasonable and fairly debatable, and (2) Cornhusker’s conduct did
not rise to the level of bad faith. For the reasons explicated below, we discern no
error in this reasoning.
2
One procedural issue must be addressed before we reach the merits of the
district court’s determination—namely, the Skajs’ insistence that they possess
evidence that they need to put before us on appeal that raises a genuine issue of
material fact on the attorneys’-fees issue. They have sought leave to file a
supplemental appendix, the contents of which they have described as “legitimate
discovery materials that would have been presented if the rules of procedure had
been followed” in the district court. Mot. for Leave to File Supp. App., No. 13-
8004, at 5 (10th Cir., filed Apr. 26, 2013).11 In other words, they seek to put
11
The Skajs represented in their motion that the materials to be included were
(1) depositions of three Cornhusker employees and associated exhibits; (2) a letter
(continued...)
40
before us materials that were not submitted to the district court for its
consideration in ruling on the summary-judgment motions. Our clerk’s office
provisionally granted this motion, pending the merits panel’s (i.e., our) final
determination.
We undoubtedly have discretion to deny a motion to supplement the record
on appeal when the materials sought to be added to the record were never before
the district court. See, e.g., Estate of B.I.C. v. Gillen, 710 F.3d 1168, 1176 (10th
Cir. 2013) (“We DENY Plaintiffs’ amended motion to file a supplemental
appendix as the material was not before the district court.”); United States v.
Kennedy, 225 F.3d 1187, 1191, 1193 (10th Cir. 2000) (holding, as to materials
“not a part of the record before the district court,” that “the circumstances in the
present case do not lead us to believe the interests of justice would best be served
by exercising our inherent equitable power to allow Mr. Kennedy to supplement
the record on appeal”); see also Allen v. Minnstar, Inc., 8 F.3d 1470, 1475 n.4
(10th Cir. 1993) (collecting cases). And we in fact exercise that discretion to
deny the Skajs’ motion. Furthermore, because we deny the Skajs’ motion, we
also deny as moot Cornhusker’s pending motion to seal the Skajs’ proposed
supplemental appendix.
11
(...continued)
informing the district court “that Cornhusker had not moved for summary judgment on
the [attorneys’-fees] claim”; and (3) a Wyoming Supreme Court opinion of which the
district court actually took judicial notice. Mot. for Leave to File Supp. App. at 4 n.1.
41
More specifically, we reach our conclusion regarding the Skajs’ motion
because the procedural history of this case demonstrates that the Skajs could have
presented the contents of their proposed supplemental appendix to the district
court, but neglected to do so. Consequently, given the Skajs’ failure to introduce
those documents, the supplemental appendix containing them should not be added
to the record on appeal in this eleventh hour. In this regard, on November 29,
2012, the district court held a hearing on the parties’ cross-motions for summary
judgment. Neither Cornhusker nor the Skajs had argued the issue of attorneys’
fees in their summary-judgment briefing, and apparently they were similarly
silent on the issue at the hearing before the district court. At the end of the
motions hearing, the district court orally granted summary judgment to the Skajs
on the estoppel issue and to Cornhusker on Vincent’s various claims. The court
announced its intent to issue a written ruling by Christmas and stated that no trial
would be necessary. The very next day, the Skajs filed a notice with the district
court requesting that the trial remain on the court’s calendar so that they could
litigate the attorneys’-fees issue.
Cornhusker responded on December 4, 2012, contending that the Skajs had
failed to present evidence in support of their claim for attorneys’ fees. Moreover,
Cornhusker noted that the Skajs’ purported statutory basis for attorneys’ fees
required any award to be based on a finding of unreasonable conduct or conduct
that is without cause. See Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 26-15-124(c). According to
42
Cornhusker, the district court’s determination that Cornhusker had not acted in
bad faith precluded such a finding and obviated the need to consider the fees
matter further.
On December 5, 2012, the district court entered a text-only minute order
stating that “the granting of Cornhusker’s motion for summary judgment with
respect to Vincent[’s] claim for bad faith [was] likewise dispositive of the Skajs’
claim for attorneys’ fees” and that all legal issues would be resolved by the
court’s forthcoming written ruling. Dist. Ct. Doc. 188 (Min. Entry, dated Dec. 5,
2012). The district court’s docket contains no entries with filing dates between
this minute order and the district court’s summary-judgment order, which issued
on December 11, 2012. In other words, as particularly germane here, the docket
indicates that the Skajs did not file anything before the written summary-
judgment decision—much less a formal objection to the district court’s minute-
order resolution of their attorneys’ fees claim.
In our view, the foregoing procedural history eviscerates the Skajs’
argument for why they should be allowed to supplement the record—namely, that
“[t]he district court prevented [them] from presenting any evidence on their claim
for attorneys’ fees.” Skajs’ Br. at 36 (emphasis added). We find it beyond
peradventure that the Skajs did not avail themselves of the opportunity to request
this relief (which could have been explicitly conditioned on their merits success)
before December 5, 2012, when the district court entered the minute order
43
signaling the impending end of its involvement in the summary-judgment
proceedings. Moreover, after that date, the onus rested squarely on the Skajs to
object to the contents of the court’s minute order and preserve their rights to
develop facts concerning the attorneys’-fees claim. Our caselaw unmistakably
holds that a party’s failure to timely challenge “purported errors—be they
instructional or otherwise—ordinarily [means] he cannot ‘prevail unless he could
successfully run the gauntlet created by our rigorous plain-error standard of
review.’” United States v. Banks, 761 F.3d 1163, 1185 (10th Cir.) (quoting
United States v. McGehee, 672 F.3d 860, 876 (10th Cir. 2012)), cert. denied, ---
U.S. ----, 135 S. Ct. 308 (2014); see United States v. Wardell, 591 F.3d 1279,
1309–10 (10th Cir. 2009) (explaining that “[a] forfeiture implicating plain error
review” occurs when a litigant “fail[s] to make the timely assertion of a right”
(second alteration in original) (emphasis omitted) (quoting United States v.
Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 733 (1993)) (internal quotation marks omitted)).
Simply put, our general rule is that “a litigant must lodge an objection to a
purported error while the district court still has an opportunity to fix it.” Banks,
761 F.3d at 1186; see also Wardell, 591 F.3d at 1310 (deeming it “too late” when
a litigant’s objection “was not made known at the time that the court [wa]s
making its decision to act” (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks
omitted)); United States v. Walsh, 75 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 1996) (“[T]he usual rule
is that an objection must be made known at the time that the court is making its
44
decision to act. . . .”). The Skajs did not lodge an objection to the district court’s
minute-order resolution of their attorneys’ fees claim, which likely would have
given the district court an opportunity to consider their purported need for
additional evidence and to conceivably shift course. Accordingly, the Skajs
forfeited the claim that they were prevented from presenting evidence. And, on
appeal, they do not argue for our review of this forfeited claim under the plain-
error standard; ordinarily, this “surely marks the end of the road” for such claims.
Richison v. Ernest Grp., Inc., 634 F.3d 1123, 1131 (10th Cir. 2011). Indeed, we
would be hard-pressed to find a good reason to permit them to file their proposed
appendix now.
To be sure, we have occasionally examined (in an abundance of caution)
whether the evidence of a party—heading toward defeat—would have created a
genuine issue of material fact. See, e.g., Holmes v. Utah, Dep’t of Workforce
Servs., 483 F.3d 1057, 1068 (10th Cir. 2007) (“Having reviewed the deposition
excerpts [that were not presented to the district court] ourselves . . . even if
plaintiff’s counsel had tendered these deposition excerpts to the trial court they
would not have provided evidence of any specific harassing act during the filing
period.”). However, we are not obliged to do so. We do not believe this would
be the prudent and appropriate course here, especially in view of the Skajs’ patent
failure to seize the opportunities available to them to put their evidence before the
district court.
45
3
Thus, considering the same record as the district court, we conclude that
the court did not err in finding in Cornhusker’s favor regarding the Skajs’ claim
for attorneys’ fees. It is well-settled Wyoming law that “[t]he policy behind [the
attorneys’-fees] statute is not to penalize insurance companies,” but, rather, to
“chill any tendencies upon the part of insurance companies to unreasonably reject
claims.” State Sur. Co. v. Lamb Constr. Co., 625 P.2d 184, 188 (Wyo. 1981);
accord Tilden II, 181 P.3d at 103; Herrig, 844 P.2d at 495. And, according to the
Wyoming Supreme Court, establishing one’s entitlement to statutory attorneys’
fees “requires” proving that “a determination was made in [the relevant] action or
proceeding that the [insurer’s] refusal was unreasonable or without cause.”
Tilden I, 110 P.3d at 873 (emphasis added); accord Principal Life Ins. Co. v.
Summit Well Serv., Inc., 57 P.3d 1257, 1265 (Wyo. 2002). Indeed, the court has
explained that “[a]n element of the claim is that a finding of unreasonableness
was made in a prior proceeding or action (if not, then in the current action).”
Tilden I, 110 P.3d at 873. No such finding has been made here, and we decline to
make this finding sua sponte.
Moreover, though we do not expressly hold that one claim necessarily
resolves the other, we believe the district court properly looked to the bad-faith
standard for guidance in addressing the Skajs’ attorneys’-fees claim. This
approach is appropriate, given Wyoming’s position that its attorneys’-fees
46
“statute complements and enforces the duty of good faith and fair dealing that an
insurer owes to its insured.” Herrig, 844 P.2d at 495. Cornhusker had a
reasonable basis for its chosen course of conduct in these proceedings. Having so
concluded, we will not reverse course here and find that the Skajs are nonetheless
entitled to attorneys’ fees based on unreasonableness. We instead adhere to our
usual view that “awards of attorney fees . . . under Wyoming case and statutory
law are matters directed to the court’s discretion.” Bruegger v. Nat’l Old Line
Ins. Co., 529 F.2d 869, 870 (10th Cir. 1976) (per curiam); accord Smith v.
Equitable Life Assurance Soc’y, 614 F.2d 720, 724 (10th Cir. 1980). That
discretion was rightly exercised here.
Accordingly, we uphold the district court’s denial of attorneys’ fees to the
Skajs based upon its antecedent determinations that Cornhusker (1) had a
reasonable basis for denying coverage, and (2) committed no bad faith.
IV
For the reasons stated herein, we AFFIRM the decision of the district court
in full, DENY the Skajs’ motion to file a supplemental appendix, and DENY AS
MOOT Cornhusker’s motion to seal the proposed supplemental appendix.
47