Plasma Fab, LLC and Russell McCann v. BankDirect Capital Finance, LLC, a Subsidiary of Texas Capital Bank, N.A. And Scottsdale Insurance Company

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-13-00331-CV
Plasma Fab, LLC and Russell McCann, Appellants
v.
BankDirect Capital Finance, LLC, a Subsidiary of Texas Capital Bank, N.A.; and
Scottsdale Insurance Company, Appellees
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 250TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. D-1-GN-12-001816, HONORABLE STEPHEN YELENOSKY, JUDGE PRESIDING
OPINION
Plasma Fab, LLC and Russell McCann, sole owner of Plasma Fab, (jointly Plasma
Fab) appeal the trial court’s order granting the motions for summary judgment of BankDirect Capital
Finance, LLC, a Subsidiary of Texas Capital Bank, N.A., and Scottsdale Insurance Company. The
central issue in BankDirect’s and Scottsdale’s motions for summary judgment, and on appeal, is
whether a general liability insurance policy Plasma Fab purchased from Scottsdale and financed
through premium finance company BankDirect was in effect at the time of Plasma Fab’s loss. For
the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court’s order in part and reverse and remand in part.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Plasma Fab, an ornamental iron construction contractor, purchased a general liability
policy from Scottsdale in May 2008 and financed payment through premium finance company
BankDirect. BankDirect paid all premiums in advance, and Plasma Fab was to make monthly
payments to BankDirect. The premium finance agreement gave BankDirect a limited power of
attorney and authority to cancel the policy on behalf of Plasma Fab and seek a refund of unearned
premiums for nonpayment of premium “after proper notice has been mailed as required by law.”
Plasma Fab was chronically late making payments, and twice the policy was cancelled and
reinstated. It is the third cancellation that is at issue.
On November 24, 2008, BankDirect prepared a notice of intent to cancel the policy
effective December 4, 2008, which was ten days following the date the notice was prepared.
However, BankDirect did not mail the notice of intent to cancel to Plasma Fab until the next day,
November 25, 2008, so that the stated date of cancellation was only nine days after the date the
notice was mailed. On December 4, 2008, after 5:00 p.m., BankDirect mailed a notice of
cancellation to Scottsdale effective December 4, 2008.
In February 2009, Plasma Fab was sued for causing a fire on December 8, 2008, that
destroyed the La Frontera apartment complex in Round Rock, Texas. Scottsdale denied coverage
on the ground that the policy had been cancelled prior to the fire. After a judgment was rendered
against Plasma Fab for approximately $6 million, Plasma Fab filed suit against Scottsdale for breach
of contract and violations of the Insurance Code for which remedy is allowed under the Deceptive
Trade Practices Act (DTPA). See Tex. Ins. Code §§ 541.060(a)(1), (a)(2)(A), (a)(3); Tex. Bus.
& Com. Code § 17.50(4). Plasma Fab also sued BankDirect for breach of contract, breach of
fiduciary duty, deceptive trade practices, and negligent misrepresentation. Scottsdale and
2
BankDirect filed motions for summary judgment on all claims, which the trial court granted. This
appeal followed.1
DISCUSSION
In five issues, Plasma Fab challenges the trial court’s summary judgment on
the ground that the policy had not been effectively cancelled at the time of the fire. We review
a trial court’s decision to grant summary judgment de novo. Travelers Ins. Co. v. Joachim,
315 S.W.3d 860, 862 (Tex. 2010). To prevail on a summary judgment motion, the movant must
demonstrate that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211,
215–16 (Tex. 2003). When the trial court does not specify the grounds for granting the motion, we
must uphold the judgment if any of the grounds asserted in the motion and preserved for appellate
review are meritorious. Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 216.
Waiver
We begin with Plasma Fab’s fifth issue, in which it addresses BankDirect’s
contention in its motion for summary judgment that Plasma Fab waived its right to complain of
cancellation of the policy by cashing BankDirect’s check for the return of unearned premiums.
Waiver is an affirmative defense that must be pleaded and proven by the party asserting it. See Tex.
R. Civ. P. 94; Italian Cowboy Partners, Ltd. v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 341 S.W.3d 323, 344
1
Plasma Fab also filed motions for partial summary judgment against Scottsdale and
BankDirect, which the trial court denied, but Plasma Fab does not appeal the denial of its motions.
3
(Tex. 2011). The elements of waiver include (1) an existing right, benefit, or advantage held by a
party; (2) the party’s actual knowledge of its existence; and (3) the party’s actual intent to relinquish
the right, or intentional conduct inconsistent with the right. Ulico Cas. Co. v. Allied Pilots Ass’n,
262 S.W.3d 773, 778 (Tex. 2008). Although waiver is usually a question of fact, where, as here, the
relevant facts are clearly established and undisputed, it becomes a question of law. Jernigan
v. Langley, 111 S.W.3d 153, 156–57 (Tex. 2003) (per curiam).
The record shows that BankDirect issued check number 92444 dated May 8, 2009,
in the amount of $205.82. Although the check was made payable to Plasma Fab, LLC, it was
endorsed for deposit by William Gammon Insurance, Plasma Fab’s insurance agent. There is no
evidence in the summary judgment record indicating when, how, or even whether the refund was
subsequently transferred to and accepted or cashed by Plasma Fab. Nor is there any evidence
showing that Plasma Fab was aware of its right to complain of the cancellation and intentionally
relinquished or knowingly acted inconsistently with that right. On this record, we cannot conclude
that BankDirect met its summary judgment burden of establishing as a matter of law its affirmative
defense that Plasma Fab waived its complaint concerning cancellation of the policy. See Tex. R.
Civ. P. 94; Kirk v. Kemper Investors Life Ins. Co., 448 F. Supp. 2d 828, 838–39 (S.D. Tex. 2006)
(explaining that insurer had not shown waiver where testimony of insured’s life insurance
beneficiary did not indicate he knew he had right to bring claim or that by accepting check he was
giving up that claim, and where there was no evidence he consulted attorney); Italian Cowboy
Partners, 341 S.W.3d at 344; Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215–16; cf. Cates v. Continental Cas. Co.,
366 S.W.2d 126, 127–28 (Tex. Civ. App.—Dallas 1963, no writ) (where insured endorsed and
4
cashed refund check with statement on back that it was in full refund of all premiums and policy was
surrendered as null and void from date of issue, parties entered new binding contract and insured
could not sue insurer under policy). We sustain Plasma Fab’s fifth issue.
Plasma Fab’s Claims Against BankDirect
Power of Attorney
In its second issue, Plasma Fab challenges the summary judgment as to BankDirect
on the ground that the cancellation was ineffective because BankDirect failed to comply with
statutory requirements and therefore lacked authority to cancel under the terms of the power of
attorney. Although Plasma Fab couches its argument in terms of BankDirect’s “lack[ing] authority”
and “ha[ving] no power,” its assertions amount to an argument that BankDirect exceeded the
authority given it under the limited power of attorney. The premium finance agreement provided
as follows:
4. Power of Attorney. Insured hereby irrevocably appoints BankDirect as its
Attorney-in-Fact upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (defined below) and,
after proper notice has been mailed as required by law, grants to BankDirect authority
to effect cancellation of the Policies, and to receive any unearned premium or other
amounts with respect to the Policies assigned as security herein, and to sign any
check or draft issued thereto in Insured’s name and to direct the insurance companies
to make said check or draft payable to BankDirect. . . .
By its plain language, the agreement afforded BankDirect authority to cancel the policy only upon
the occurrence of two conditions—default by Plasma Fab and the mailing by BankDirect of proper
notice as required by law. It is undisputed that Plasma Fab failed to timely pay its premium and
defaulted, thus triggering the first condition of the power of attorney. Plasma Fab argues that
5
BankDirect also failed to meet the second condition by failing to comply with the notice
requirements of the Premium Finance Act. See Tex. Ins. Code §§ 651.001–.209 (the Act). Section
651.161(b) of the Act provides that to cancel for nonpayment of premium, a premium finance
company must mail to the insured a written notice that the company will cancel by a stated date
unless the default is cured, and the stated date “may not be earlier than the 10th day after the date the
notice is mailed.” See id. § 651.161(b). It is clear from the record that BankDirect mailed a notice
of intent to cancel with an effective date only nine days after the date of the mailing.
BankDirect does not dispute that it failed to strictly comply with section 651.161(b)
and instead focuses on the effectiveness of the cancellation in light of its failure to comply.
BankDirect cites Texas and federal cases involving cancellations by insurance companies under
policy terms and cases from other state jurisdictions involving cancellations by premium finance
companies. The courts in these cases generally hold that notices of cancellation that do not comport
with policy terms or the applicable premium finance statute are not void but become effective on the
earliest date allowed by the policy or statute. See, e.g., SGF Global, Inc. v. Hartford Cas. Ins. Co.,
Civ. Action No. H-04-4534, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8309, at *11 (S.D. Tex. Feb. 27, 2007); Wright
v. Rumble, 476 A.2d 1250, 1253 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1984). BankDirect urges us to apply this
“substantial compliance” approach to the facts of this case.
However, BankDirect does not directly address its authority under the power of
attorney. It has cited no authority, and we have found none, applying a substantial compliance
standard in determining whether actions taken under a power of attorney fall within the authority
6
granted by the power of attorney.2 To the contrary, it is well established that courts are to construe
powers of attorney strictly so as to exclude the exercise of power not clearly given. See
Gouldy v. Metcalf, 12 S.W. 830, 831 (Tex. 1889) (authority conferred by power of attorney
strictly construed to exclude exercise of any power not warranted by actual terms used or “as a
necessary means of executing the authority with effect”); Natho v. State, No. 03-11-00498-CR,
2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 1427, at *8 (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 6, 2014, pet. ref’d) (not designated for
publication) (citing Gouldy, 12 S.W. at 831). “The nature and extent of the authority granted must
be ascertained from the instrument granting the power of attorney and such instrument is to
be strictly construed to limit the authority of the attorney in fact.” First Nat’l Bank in Dallas
v. Kinabrew, 589 S.W.2d 137, 145 (Tex. Civ. App.—Tyler 1979, writ ref’d n.r.e.).
Here, the grant of authority under the power of attorney was not broad; instead, the
language unambiguously limited BankDirect’s authority to cancel the policy to circumstances in
which two conditions were met. It is undisputed that BankDirect failed to meet the second condition
by mailing the notice of intent to cancel only nine days before the cancellation date stated in the
notice. In light of the long-standing rule of construction that we construe powers of attorney strictly
so as to limit the authority of the attorney in fact, see Gouldy, 12 S.W. at 831; Kinabrew, 589 S.W.2d
at 145, and in the absence of any authority for applying a more lenient standard, we cannot conclude
that BankDirect established as a matter of law that it was within its authority to cancel the policy
under the power of attorney. See AVCO Corp. v. Interstate SW, Ltd., 251 S.W.3d 632, 664 (Tex.
2
We also observe that BankDirect has cited no authority for applying the substantial
compliance approach taken in cases involving notices of cancellation to a statutorily required notice
of intent to cancel.
7
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. denied) (where power of attorney granted authority to
prosecute certain claims as of 1996, authority did not extend to tort claims arising subsequently);
Hardy v. Robinson, 170 S.W.3d 777, 781 (Tex. App.—Waco 2005, no pet.) (strictly construed,
power of attorney authorized attorney in fact to pursue specific lawsuit and create trust from
proceeds but did not itself create trust); Gittings, Neiman-Marcus, Inc. v. Estes, 440 S.W.2d 90,
92–93 (Tex. Civ. App.—Eastland 1969, no writ) (power of attorney authorizing attorney in fact to
“take possession of property” and “handle it [to] obtain the largest return consistent with good
business practices” did not authorize attorney in fact to bind principal as guarantor of debt of
another); Tetens v. Garcia, No. 03-96-00147-CV, 1996 Tex. App. LEXIS 5019, at *7–8 (Tex.
App.—Austin Nov. 13, 1996, no writ) (not designated for publication) (where power of attorney
conferred broad powers to manage properties and to “do and perform all and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises,” as well as numerous
specific powers, attorney in fact exceeded authority by altering funds in a manner that removed
trust beneficiary).
We therefore conclude that BankDirect failed to meet its burden of showing that it
was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law as to BankDirect’s claims for breach of contract
and breach of fiduciary duty. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215–16; Plummer
v. Estate of Plummer, 51 S.W.3d 840, 842 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2001, pet. denied) (power of
attorney creates agency relationship, and agent owes fiduciary duty to principal with respect to
matters within scope of agency); Tetens, 1996 Tex. App. LEXIS 5019, at *10 (appointment of
attorney in fact creates fiduciary relationship and attorney in fact who exceeded authority under
8
power of attorney breached fiduciary duty to principal). We sustain Plasma Fab’s second issue as
to BankDirect’s exceeding its authority under the power of attorney. For reasons discussed below,
however, we do not conclude that cancellation was ineffective, and we overrule Plasma Fab’s second
issue as to that argument.
Limitation of Liability
We turn next to Plasma Fab’s third issue, in which it addresses BankDirect’s
alternative argument in its motion for summary judgment that even if BankDirect acted improperly
in exercising its right under the power of attorney to cancel the policy, BankDirect is not liable for
Plasma Fab’s loss under the terms of the limitation of liability provision in the premium finance
agreement. The agreement included the following provision:
16. Liability. Neither BANKDIRECT nor its assignee shall be liable for any loss or
damage to the Insured by reason of failure of any insurance company to issue or
maintain in force any of the Policies or by reason of the exercise by BANKDIRECT
or its assignee of the rights conferred herein, including, but not limited to
BANKDIRECT’s exercise of the right of cancellation, except in the event of willful
or intentional misconduct by BANKDIRECT.
Plasma Fab contends that this provision did not provide fair notice of BankDirect’s intent to
exculpate itself from liability for future occurrences and was therefore unenforceable.
As a pre-injury release of BankDirect’s liability for losses, the limitation of liability
provision is a risk-shifting contractual agreement, and to be enforceable, it must satisfy the fair notice
doctrine. See Sydlik v. REEIII, Inc., 195 S.W.3d 329, 332 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006,
no pet.) (citing Dresser Indus., Inc. v. Page Petroleum, Inc., 853 S.W.2d 505, 507–09 (Tex. 1993)
9
(holding fair notice requirements apply to releases and other exculpatory agreements)). The fair
notice requirements include the conspicuousness requirement and the express negligence doctrine.
Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 508; Sydlik, 195 S.W.3d at 332. An agreement that fails to satisfy either of
the two requirements is unenforceable as a matter of law. Storage & Processors, Inc. v. Reyes,
134 S.W.3d 190, 192 (Tex. 2004). Whether a provision complies with the fair notice requirements
is a question of law for the court. Littlefield v. Schaefer, 955 S.W.2d 272, 275 (Tex. 1997); Dresser,
853 S.W.2d at 509.
The dispositive issue, then, is whether BankDirect established as a matter of law that
the limitation of liability provision is conspicuous. The supreme court has adopted the Uniform
Commercial Code (UCC) definition of conspicuousness for risk-shifting agreements such as this that
relieve a party of responsibility in advance. See Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 511 (adopting prior version
of definition). The current UCC definition provides:
(10) “Conspicuous,” with reference to a term, means so written, displayed, or
presented that a reasonable person against which it is to operate ought to have noticed
it. Whether a term is “conspicuous” or not is a decision for the court. Conspicuous
terms include the following:
(A) a heading in capitals equal to or greater in size than the surrounding text,
or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same or
lesser size; and
(B) language in the body of a record or display in larger type than the
surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the
surrounding text of the same size, or set off from surrounding text of
the same size by symbols or other marks that call attention to the
language.
10
Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 1.201(10). Under this definition, a provision is conspicuous when a
reasonable person ought to have noticed it. Id.; Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 511. Stated differently,
“‘something must appear on the face of the [contract] to attract the attention of a reasonable person
when he looks at it.’” Reyes, 134 S.W.3d at 192 (quoting Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 508) (brackets in
original); Sydlik, 195 S.W.3d at 332. Language may satisfy the conspicuousness requirement by
appearing in capital headings, contrasting type, font, or color, or an extremely short document, or
by otherwise calling attention to itself. See Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 1.201(10); Reyes, 134 S.W.3d
at 192; Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 511.
Applying these standards to the provision at issue, we conclude that BankDirect did
not meet its burden of establishing as a matter of law that the limitation of liability in the premium
finance agreement is conspicuous. See Reyes, 134 S.W.3d at 192; Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 511. The
summary judgment evidence shows that it is located in paragraph 16, in the second column of a page
that appears to be the third page of the agreement, and is in the same small print and font as the
remainder of the agreement. There are no bold or capital letters, other than the name
“BANKDIRECT,” no symbols or other marks to call attention to it, and its heading is “Liability,”
not “Limitation of Liability.” Therefore, BankDirect has not shown as a matter of law that the
provision complies with the fair notice requirement of conspicuousness. See Reyes, 134 S.W.3d at
192; Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215–16; Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 511 (provision not conspicuous where
it appeared on back of work order in series of numbered paragraphs without headings or contrasting
type and document not short enough so that every term considered conspicuous); compare Sydlik,
195 S.W.3d at 332 (release conspicuous where document was only one page with three paragraphs
11
and statement in large, bold, underlined letters at top that it was release and where releasing party
initialed each paragraph). Because we conclude that Bank Direct has not met its burden on
conspicuousness, we need not reach Plasma Fab’s argument that BankDirect failed to show that the
limitation of liability provision does not meet the express negligence doctrine. See Reyes,
134 S.W.3d at 192; Dresser, 853 S.W.2d at 510. We sustain Plasma Fab’s third issue.3
Plasma Fab’s Claims against Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s Liability for BankDirect’s Actions
As part of its second issue, Plasma Fab argues that the trial court erred in granting
summary judgment in favor of Scottsdale because Scottsdale failed to establish as a matter of law
that the cancellation was effective. Plasma Fab contends that Scottsdale’s failure to verify that
BankDirect complied with statutory cancellation procedures rendered the cancellation ineffective.
Although no Texas cases have resolved this issue, a number of cases from other jurisdictions
involving similar fact patterns and statutory schemes have addressed it. A leading case supporting
Plasma Fab’s position, and the primary case on which Plasma Fab relies, is Insurance Co. of N. Am.
v. Cooke, 624 So. 2d 252 (Fla. 1993). In Cooke, the Florida Supreme Court, when faced with a
certified question from the district court involving statutory language similar to section 651.161(b),
held that where an insured denies receipt of the notice of intent to cancel, an insurer who raises the
defense of cancellation must prove the premium finance company complied with the statutory
3
Having concluded that BankDirect failed to meet its summary judgment burden of
establishing that the provision is enforceable, we do not reach Plasma Fab’s fourth issue, in which
it argues in the alternative that even if the provision is valid, it does not relieve BankDirect of
liability because BankDirect engaged in willful or intentional misconduct.
12
provisions in order to avoid liability under an insurance policy. See id. at 255; see also Kende
Leasing Corp. v. A.I. Credit Corp., 524 A.2d 1306, 1308, 1311–13 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1987)
(where insured denied receipt of notice of intent to cancel, court reasoned that if insurer could
effectively cancel despite failure of premium finance company to send notice of intent to cancel,
notice requirement would be meaningless and remedy against premium finance company would be
less effective because purpose of notice was to prevent cancellation, and held cancellation ineffective
and insurer liable on policy as if cancellation had not occurred); see also Felican v. State Farm Mut.
Ins. Co., 449 N.Y.S.2d 887, 892 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. App. Term 1982) (where there was insufficient proof
premium finance company mailed notice of cancellation, insurer did not meet burden to prove policy
had been cancelled and was required to afford coverage).
The opposing view is represented by Carr v. Peerless Ins. Co., 724 A.2d 454
(Vt. 1998). In Carr, the court reasoned that there was nothing in the statutory scheme making the
insurer responsible for the improper action of the premium finance company, the insurer was not a
party to the premium finance agreement, and there was no supervisory or monitoring relationship
between the insurer and the premium finance company. See id. at 458. The court concluded that
“any wrong here was committed by the premium finance company, and it is therefore the party to
whom the insured should turn for recovery.” See id. at 459; see also Universal Fire & Cas. Ins. Co.
v. Jabin, 16 F.3d 1465, 1468–70 (7th Cir. 1994) (reasoning that to construe premium finance act “as
reaching beyond premium finance companies to protect insureds by giving them recourse against
insurers as well, would torture the Act’s ordinary meaning” and holding that language prohibiting
cancellation without compliance with notice requirements applied to premium finance company but
13
not insurer); Illinois Ins. Guar. Fund v. Evanston Paper & Paper Shredding Co., 649 N.E.2d 568,
569 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995) (holding that if insured grants premium finance company power to cancel,
insurer may cancel at premium finance company’s behest and that if premium finance company
violates its statutory duties, insured must seek reparation from premium finance company and not
insurer, who has no continuing duty to insure under cancelled contract).
We are more persuaded by the reasoning of the courts in Carr, Jabin, and Evanston
Paper. We must construe the Premium Finance Act as a whole according to its plain language and
ordinary meaning. See Zanchi v. Lane, 408 S.W.3d 373, 376 (Tex. 2013); Railroad Comm’n of Tex.
v. Texas Citizens for a Safe Future & Clean Water, 336 S.W.3d 619, 624 (Tex. 2011). The Act
regulates premium finance companies and agreements. See Tex. Ins. Code §§ 651.001–.209. The
plain language of section 651.161, which provides that a premium finance company may not cancel
a policy except as provided by that section, comports with the Act’s function of regulating premium
finance companies, not insurers. See id. § 651.161(a); see also Jabin, 16 F.3d at 1468. Nothing in
the statutory scheme either imposes the requirements of section 651.161 on the insurer or suggests
that the insurer is responsible for the failure of the premium finance company to comply, and to
construe it so as to impose such responsibility on the insurer would “torture” the statute’s ordinary
meaning. See Jabin, 16 F.3d at 1468; Zanchi, 408 S.W.3d at 376; Carr, 724 A.2d at 458. We
cannot read the phrase “[a]n insurance premium finance company may not cancel an insurance
contract” to mean “an insurance premium finance company or an insurer may not cancel an insurance
contract.” See Zanchi, 408 S.W.3d at 376; Texas Citizens, 336 S.W.3d at 624; Evanston, 649 N.E.2d
at 570–71 (citing Haft v. Charter Oak Fire Ins., 635 N.E.2d 843, 938 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994)) (if
14
legislature had intended violation of notice provision to block cancellation of policy it could have
so stated).4
Further, Scottsdale is not a party to the premium finance agreement and has no
supervisory or monitoring role as to BankDirect. See Carr, 724 A.2d at 458. Moreover, we agree
with the court in Carr that an insured’s remedy against a premium finance company is no less
effective than a remedy against the insurer in discouraging improper cancellations by the premium
finance company in the future. See id. at 459. We therefore conclude that Scottsdale met its
summary judgement burden of establishing that under the plain language and ordinary meaning of
section 651.161, it had no obligation to verify BankDirect’s compliance with the statutory notice
provisions and that cancellation was effective regardless of BankDirect’s failure to comply with the
statutory notice requirements. See Jabin, 16 F.3d at 1468, 1470; Zanchi, 408 S.W.3d at 376; Texas
Citizens, 336 S.W.3d at 624; Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215–16; Carr, 724 A.2d at 458–59; see also
Biggs v. United States Fire Ins. Co., 611 S.W.2d 624, 629 (Tex. 1981) (agent acting within scope
4
The language of section 651.161 also serves to distinguish Insurance Co. of N. Am.
v. Cooke, 624 So. 2d 252 (Fla. 1993) and Felican v. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 449 N.Y.S.2d 887
(Sup. Ct. N.Y. App. Term 1982). The applicable statutes construed in those cases provided broadly
that “the insurance contract shall not be cancelled” unless such cancellation is effectuated in
accordance with the statutory notice provisions. See Cooke, 624 So. 2d at 255 n.2; Felican,
449 N.Y.S.2d at 890. In contrast, the language of section 651.161 specifically prohibits cancellation
only by “the insurance premium finance company.” See Tex. Ins. Code § 651.161(a). In addition,
we observe that after the Florida Supreme Court’s holding in Cooke, the Florida Legislature amended
the premium finance statute to provide that upon receipt of the cancellation notice by the insurer,
“the insurance contract shall be cancelled with the same force and effect as if the notice of
cancellation had been submitted by the insured himself, whether or not the premium finance
company has complied with the notice requirement of this subsection . . . .” See Bamboo Garden
of Orlando, Inc. v. Oak Brook Prop. & Cas. Co., 773 So. 2d 81, 83–84 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2000)
(discussing legislative changes and concluding it was legislature’s intent not to burden insurer with
responsibility of ensuring finance company complies with notice provisions).
15
of apparent authority binds principal as though principal had performed action). We overrule Plasma
Fab’s second issue as to Scottsdale’s obligation to verify BankDirect’s compliance with statutory
notice requirements.
Advance Written Notice
In its first issue, Plasma Fab argues that Scottsdale was not entitled to summary
judgment because it failed to establish cancellation as a matter of law. In particular, Plasma Fab
argues that there was no “advance written notice” of cancellation. The policy provided that the
insured may cancel the policy “by mailing or delivering to [Scottsdale] advance written notice of
cancellation.” Plasma Fab contends that because BankDirect did not mail the notice of cancellation
until after 5:00 p.m. on December 4, 2008, Scottsdale could not have received it until December 5
at the earliest, making cancellation effective December 4 retroactive. Consequently, Plasma Fab
argues, the notice was not “advance.” It is Plasma Fab’s contention that Scottsdale, which had the
burden to prove its affirmative defense of cancellation, had to establish that this provision of the
policy had been met. Although cancellation is an affirmative defense on which Scottsdale had the
burden of proof, see Tex. R. Civ. P. 94; Anchor Cas. Co. v. Crisp, 346 S.W.2d 364, 367 (Tex. Civ.
App.—Amarillo 1961, no writ) (insurer had burden to establish defense of cancellation); Republic
W. Ins. Co. v. Rockmore, No. 3-02-CV-1569-K, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 327, at *21 (N.D. Tex.
Jan. 10, 2005) (“Under Texas law, cancellation is an affirmative defense which must be proved by
the insurer at trial.”), we do not find this argument persuasive.
First, is was Plasma Fab who cancelled the policy, through its agent, acting with
apparent authority under the power of attorney, see Biggs, 611 S.W.2d at 629, and Scottsdale merely
16
complied with the terms of the policy in cancelling as of the date specified by Plasma Fab through
BankDirect. Further, the policy also provided that the notice of cancellation “will state the effective
date of cancellation” and “[t]he policy period will end on that date.” Texas courts have long held
that, in circumstances other than retroactive cancellation after a loss has occurred, when less notice
is given than is required by the policy, cancellation becomes effective at the earliest date allowed
under the contract. See, e.g., Brewer v. Maryland Cas. Co., 245 S.W.2d 532, 534 (Tex. Civ.
App.—San Antonio 1952, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (notice of cancellation effective at earlier date than
permitted by policy controlled by the policy); Frontier-Pontiac, Inc. v. Dubuque Fire & Marine Ins.
Co., 166 S.W.2d 746, 747 (Tex. Civ. App.—Fort Worth 1942, no writ) (notice of cancellation
effective immediately or within less time that provided in policy sufficient to cancel policy at end
of time set out in policy); California-Western States Life Ins. Co. v. Williams, 120 S.W.2d 844, 846
(Tex. Civ. App.—El Paso 1938, writ dism’d) (explaining that notice that the policy “is hereby
cancelled” would take effect five days after receipt of notice, as provided by policy).
Here, the record reflects that Plasma Fab, through BankDirect, gave notice of
cancellation to Scottsdale, with the stated effective date of December 4, 2008, and that Plasma Fab
received the notice on December 5, 2008. Under the terms of the policy requiring advance written
notice, cancellation was therefore effective subsequent to receipt on December 5, 2008, or on
December 6, 2008, at the latest. See Brewer, 245 S.W.2d at 534; Frontier-Pontiac, 166 S.W.2d at
747; Williams, 120 S.W.2d at 846. Either way, advance written notice of cancellation was provided
17
prior to cancellation, and cancellation was effective prior to the fire.5 Thus, we conclude that
Scottsdale met its burden of establishing that the policy was cancelled by Plasma Fab in accordance
with the terms of the policy and that it was entitled to summary judgment on this issue as a matter
of law.6 See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215–16; see also Lazo v. RSI Int’l, Inc.,
No. 14-06-00432-CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 7077, at *9 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.]
Aug. 30, 2007, no pet.) (mem. op.) (construing identical policy language and holding that where
premium finance company sent notice of cancellation on July 3, 2001, to be effective July 3, 2001,
contract was cancelled effective July 3, 2001). We overrule Plasma Fab’s first issue.
Reinstatement
In the alternative to the arguments in its first and second issues, Plasma Fab contends
that even if the policy was effectively cancelled, Scottsdale failed to establish as a matter of law that
it did not reinstate the policy with no interruption in coverage. The summary judgment record does
not support this argument. The notice of cancellation at issue was mailed by BankDirect on
December 4, 2008, and resulted from Plasma Fab’s failure to pay its November premium. Prior to
that, on November 19, 2008, Scottsdale had mailed to BankDirect a notice of cancellation that was
5
We find Plasma Fab’s reliance on Stroop v. Northern County Mutual Insurance
Co. misplaced. See No. 05-97-01517-CV, 2000 Tex. App. LEXIS 8082 (Tex. App.—Dallas
Dec. 4, 2000, pet. denied). In Stroop, the issue was whether an insured and an insurer could
retroactively cancel a policy after a collision occurred when the insured was covered by another
insurer, see id. at *8, the parties stipulated that no advance written notice had been provided, see id.
at *3, and the court held that the attempted cancellation violated public policy, see id. at *15. We
find Stroop inapposite.
6
Plasma Fab also contends that Scottsdale’s burden to establish cancellation included
proving that BankDirect complied with the statutory notice provisions, an argument we have
already rejected.
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to be effective December 1, 2008. That notice of cancellation was based on Plasma Fab’s failure to
pay its October premium. However, although Plasma Fab was late in paying, it had paid its October
premium on November 11, 2008. Consequently, on December 9, 2008, Scottsdale sent a notice of
reinstatement, rescinding the notice of cancellation that was to be effective December 1, 2008, for
failure to pay the October premium and reinstating the policy for the second time. In the meantime,
Plasma Fab had become delinquent on its November premium, and BankDirect prepared the notice
of intent to cancel at issue, stating a cancellation date of December 4, 2008. Thus, by its express
terms, the reinstatement dated December 9 applied to the cancellation that was to be effective
December 1, not to the cancellation stating an effective date of December 4, 2008, for which
Scottsdale subsequently declined reinstatement. We conclude that Scottsdale met its summary
judgment burden of establishing that it did not reinstate the policy, see Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215–16,
and overrule the remainder of Plasma Fab’s first and second issues.
Claims for Violations of Insurance Code and DTPA
In its reply brief, Plasma Fab argues that Scottsdale was not entitled to summary
judgment as to its claims against Scottsdale for violations of the Insurance Code for which remedy
is allowed under the DTPA. See Tex. Ins. Code §§ 541.060(a)(1), (a)(2)(A), (a)(3); Tex. Bus.
& Com. Code § 17.50(4).7 Plasma Fab claimed that Scottsdale committed these violations by issuing
7
Ordinarily, an issue raised for the first time in a reply brief is waived and need not be
considered by an appellate court. See McAlester Fuel Co. v. Smith Int’l, Inc., 257 S.W.3d 732, 737
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. denied); Hutchison v. Pharris, 158 S.W.3d 554, 563
(Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, no pet.). However, Scottsdale fully briefed the issue of Plasma Fab’s
claims for violations of the Insurance Code and DTPA, and Plasma Fab responded in its reply brief.
Therefore, this issue is properly before us. See McAlester Fuel, 257 S.W.3d at 737 (addressing
19
a false representation in denying Plasma Fab’s claim when Scottsdale had reinstated the policy and
issued Endorsement Number 7 voiding Endorsement Number 6, which purported to cancel the policy
retroactive to December 4, 2008. Having already concluded that the policy was effectively cancelled
and not reinstated, we further conclude that Scottsdale established as a matter of law that its denial
of the claim was not a false representation as a matter of law. See Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215–16.
Further, the endorsements were not issued until after the policy was cancelled, and the policy they
purported to amend was no longer in effect. There was nothing to amend, and the endorsements
were a nullity. See Lazo, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 7077, at *9–10. We overrule Plasma Fab’s reply
issue as to its claims against Scottsdale for violations of the Insurance Code and DTPA.
CONCLUSION
We reverse the trial court’s order granting BankDirect’s motion for summary
judgment as to Plasma Fab’s claims against BankDirect and remand for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion. We affirm the trial court’s order in all other respects.
contentions asserted in reply brief that replied to issues fully briefed by appellee); Hutchison,
158 S.W.3d at 563 (issue raised by appellant for first time in reply brief properly before court
because parties joined issue when appellee fully argued issue and appellant replied); cf. Sunbeam
Envtl. Servs. Inc. v. Texas Workers’ Comp. Ins. Facility, 71 S.W.3d 846, 851 (Tex. App.—Austin
2002, no pet.) (where appellant raised issue in reply brief that was not raised in opening brief or
argued by appellee, appellant waived issue).
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_____________________________________________
Melissa Goodwin, Justice
Before Justices Puryear, Goodwin, and Field
Affirmed in Part; Reversed and Remanded in Part;
Filed: May 8, 2015
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