Central Mutual Insurance Company v. Reliance Property Management, Inc.

REVERSE in part; AFFIRM in part and Opinion Filed May 25, 2022
S In The
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
No. 05-21-00071-CV
CENTRAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant
V.
RELIANCE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC., Appellee
On Appeal from the 44th Judicial District Court
Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. DC-18-00856
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Burns, Justice Schenck, and Justice Partida-Kipness
Opinion by Chief Justice Burns
After a jury trial in this insurance coverage dispute, the trial court rendered
judgment for appellee Reliance Property Management, Inc. on its claim against
appellant Central Mutual Insurance Company. Central now appeals, alleging the trial
court erred by denying its motion for directed verdict, by disregarding certain of the
jury’s answers and failing to disregard others, and by failing to render judgment for
Central. Concluding that the trial court rendered judgment in accordance with the
jury’s verdict and the insurance policy’s terms, but that there was no evidence to
support one element of damages awarded by the jury, we affirm in part and reverse
and render in part.
BACKGROUND
Reliance made a claim for a $220,000 loss under its 2016–17 commercial lines
insurance policy issued by Central. Central denied the claim, citing certain
conditions and exclusions in the policy. Reliance sued, seeking damages and
attorney’s fees for breach of contract, bad faith in an insurance transaction, and
deceptive trade practices. The case proceeded to a jury trial, where the parties offered
evidence about the loss and the policy.
1. The loss
Reliance is a small property management company that manages commercial
properties. In May 2017, Reliance had three employees: Robert Grunnah, its owner
and president, Debbie Molitor, its secretary and bookkeeper, and Alex Lilley, a
property manager. Grunnah and Molitor worked from different office locations, so
they usually communicated by email.
On Thursday, May 18, 2017, Molitor received an email that appeared to be
from Grunnah asking if she could make online wire transfers. The email showed that
it was sent from Grunnah’s correct email address. It included his usual “signature
block” bearing his name, address, phone numbers, and the company logo for
“Younger Partners,” where Grunnah’s office was located. The parties have referred
to the unknown sender of this and the other relevant emails as “Fake Robert.”
Over the course of the following week, Fake Robert sent instructions to
Molitor and Reliance’s bank officers at BB&T Bank to authorize Molitor to make
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wire transfers for Reliance. Molitor took the steps required by the bank, most notably
taking physical signature cards to the real Grunnah’s home to be signed. After further
communications, Fake Robert sent Molitor an invoice for a $220,000 “Investment
Project” in Hong Kong and instructed Molitor to send a wire transfer to pay it.
Molitor went in person to the bank and completed a $220,000 wire transfer from
Reliance’s account on Thursday, May 25, 2017.
The following day, Molitor received another request from Fake Robert for
additional transfers. Molitor testified that from the outset, she had been
uncomfortable with the responsibility of making wire transfers. After consulting
with Lilley, she called Grunnah to ask about the new request and discovered that
Grunnah knew nothing about the $220,000 transfer. They immediately contacted the
bank to attempt to stop the payment or obtain a refund, but were not able to do so.
Reliance filed a claim with Central under the policy. Central denied Reliance’s
claim by letter of July 14, 2017, stating that the policy did not cover the loss.
2. The policy
Reliance purchased a commercial lines policy from Central for the 2016-17
policy year. Reliance also paid Central an additional premium for the “Central
Premier Plus® Property Extensions Coverage Endorsement” (the “Premier Plus
endorsement”).
The policy includes a “Special Form” entitled “Causes of Loss” (“Causes of
Loss form”). Paragraph A of this form defines “Covered Causes of Loss” as “direct
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physical loss unless the loss is excluded or limited in this policy.” Paragraph B.2.i
of the Causes of Loss form provides, under “Exclusions,” “We will not pay for loss
or damage caused by or resulting from any of the following: . . . Voluntary parting
with any property by you or anyone else to whom you have entrusted the property if
induced to do so by any fraudulent scheme, trick, device or false pretense.” At trial
and on appeal, Central has relied on this “Voluntary Parting” exclusion to argue that
the policy does not cover Reliance’s loss, although its letter denying Reliance’s
claim made no mention of it.
The Premier Plus endorsement specifically provides that it modifies the
Causes of Loss form, among other coverages. The endorsement also states that
“Coverage is amended by the following changes to Additional Coverages, Coverage
Extensions, Condition[s] and Exclusions. All other Limitations, Conditions and
Exclusions apply.” In paragraph A.6.b, “Exclusions,” the Premier Plus endorsement
states that the listed exclusions “are added as respects the Crime Coverage provided
by this endorsement” “[i]n addition to the Exclusions in Causes of Loss–Special
Form.”
The Premier Plus endorsement adds “Crime Coverages,” including coverages
for “Forgery or Alteration,” “Computer and Funds Transfer Fraud,” and “Fraudulent
Impersonation,” among others. The Premier Plus endorsement’s “Forgery or
Alteration” coverage paragraph provides in part:
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2) a) We will pay for loss resulting directly from “forgery”1 or
alteration of checks, drafts, promissory notes, or similar written
promises, orders or directions to pay a sum certain in “money”
that are:
i) Made or drawn by or drawn upon you; or
ii) Made or drawn by one acting as your agent;
or that are purported to have been so made or drawn.
“Forgery” is defined in the Premier Plus endorsement as “the signing of the
name of another person or organization with intent to deceive . . . .”
3. The trial
Molitor and Grunnah testified at trial about the events leading to the funds
transfer and Reliance’s subsequent communications with Central. William R.
Hamm, a claims adjuster, testified on Central’s behalf about Central’s denial of the
claim. Hamm was responsible for investigating the claim, but he did not interview
either Molitor or Grunnah to determine what happened. Although Reliance had
contacted both the police and the FBI, Hamm did not attempt to learn the scope or
result of any law enforcement investigation. Hamm testified that he made his
coverage decision based solely on one conversation with Lilley and a copy of a
written timeline Molitor had prepared at the time she learned of the fraud. He
admitted that when he wrote the letter to Reliance denying the claim, he did not
consider or mention the Voluntary Parting exclusion. He confirmed his belief that
Reliance was the victim of a crime and that no one at Reliance was involved in
1
Terms in quotes are defined elsewhere in the policy.
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perpetrating the fraud. And he testified that “[a]s we sit here today, there is a loss of
$220,000.”
Both parties moved for directed verdict on the Voluntary Parting exclusion.
Central argued the exclusion applied to preclude any coverage under the Premier
Plus endorsement. Reliance argued the opposite, that the Voluntary Parting
exclusion did not apply to any of the coverages in the Premier Plus endorsement.
The trial court denied the parties’ motions for directed verdict and submitted
the case to the jury.
4. The verdict
The trial court’s charge included 15 questions. The jury’s answers to
Questions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are at issue in this appeal. The jury found:
Question 4: Reliance suffered a loss resulting directly from “forgery,”
Question 5: Reliance’s loss resulted from the voluntary parting with property
induced by a fraudulent scheme,
Question 6: Central did not fail to pay the amount owed for losses under the
policy,
Question 7: Not answered; the question inquired about the amount of damages
resulting from Central’s failure to pay, but the jury did not answer it because
it was conditioned on an affirmative finding in response to Question 6,
Question 8: Central failed to comply with its duty of good faith and fair
dealing to Reliance, and
Question 9: $25,000 would fairly and reasonably compensate Reliance for
Central’s failure to comply with its duty of good faith and fair dealing.
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5. The judgment
Both parties moved for judgment based on the jury’s favorable findings and
requested the trial court to disregard the unfavorable findings. After a hearing, the
trial court rendered judgment for Reliance in the principal amount of $220,000. The
trial court also awarded Reliance the $25,000 in damages found by the jury in
response to Question 9, as well as amounts for attorney’s fees and interest.
This appeal followed.
ISSUES
In six issues, Central contends the trial court erred by (1) failing to grant
Central’s motion for directed verdict; (2) disregarding the jury’s answer to Question
No. 5 that addressed the Voluntary Parting exclusion in the policy; (3) disregarding
the jury’s answer to Question No. 6 that Central did not fail to pay the amount owed
for losses under the insurance policy; (4) failing to render judgment for Central in
accordance with the jury’s answer to Question No. 7 awarding no breach of contract
damages; (5) failing to disregard the jury’s answer to Question No. 4, the Forgery
coverage question, and (6) failing to disregard the jury’s answers to Question Nos.
8 and 9 regarding common law bad faith, and rendering judgment for Reliance on
those claims.
STANDARDS OF REVIEW
In reviewing the grant or denial of a motion for directed verdict or a motion
for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV), we apply the standards for
assessing the legal sufficiency of the evidence. Helping Hands Home Care, Inc. v.
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Home Health of Tarrant Cty., Inc., 393 S.W.3d 492, 515 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2013,
pet. denied) (citing City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 823 (Tex. 2005)). A
trial court properly denies a motion for directed verdict and a motion for JNOV if,
looking at all the evidence in the light most favorable to the challenged fact or the
jury’s finding, a reasonable trier of fact could have formed a firm belief or conviction
that the fact or finding was true. Id.A directed verdict for a defendant may be proper when (1) a plaintiff fails to
present evidence raising a fact issue essential to the plaintiff’s right to recover, or
(2) if the plaintiff either admits or the evidence conclusively establishes a defense to
the plaintiff’s cause of action. Mauricio v. Castro, 287 S.W.3d 476, 479 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.).
We review a trial court’s grant of a judgment notwithstanding the verdict
under a no-evidence standard, examining whether any evidence supports the jury’s
findings. Gharda USA, Inc. v. Control Sols., Inc., 464 S.W.3d 338, 347 (Tex. 2015).
In Gharda USA, Inc., the supreme court explained:
No evidence exists when there is:
(a) a complete absence of evidence of a vital fact; (b) the court is barred
by rules of law or of evidence from giving weight to the only evidence
offered to prove a vital fact; (c) the evidence offered to prove a vital
fact is no more than a mere scintilla; (d) the evidence establishes
conclusively the opposite of the vital fact.
More than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence supporting
the finding rises to a level that would enable reasonable and fair-minded
people to differ in their conclusions. When determining whether any
evidence supports a judgment, we are limited to reviewing only the
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evidence tending to support the jury’s verdict and must disregard all
evidence to the contrary. We view the evidence and possible inferences
in the light most favorable to the verdict. If more than a scintilla of
evidence supports the verdict, it must be upheld.
Id. (citations and quotation marks omitted).
In Texas, insurance policies are construed according to the ordinary rules of
contract construction. Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Schaefer, 124 S.W.3d 154, 157
(Tex. 2003). In applying these rules, our primary concern is to ascertain the parties’
intent as expressed in the language of the policy. Kelley–Coppedge, Inc. v.
Highlands Ins. Co., 980 S.W.2d 462, 464 (Tex. 1998). If an insurance contract uses
unambiguous language, we will construe it as a matter of law and enforce it as
written. In re Deepwater Horizon, 470 S.W.3d 452, 464 (Tex. 2015); see also TIG
Ins. Co. v. N. Am. Van Lines, Inc., 170 S.W.3d 264, 268 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005,
no pet.) (“If the contract can be given an exact or certain legal interpretation, it is not
ambiguous, and we must interpret the insurance policy’s meaning and intent from
its four corners.”). When possible, we must harmonize all of the provisions with
reference to the entire agreement; no single provision should be read as controlling.
Coker v. Coker, 650 S.W.2d 391, 393 (Tex.1983).
Whether policy language is ambiguous is a question of law. Schaefer, 124
S.W.3d at 157. Ambiguity does not arise simply because the parties offer conflicting
interpretations; rather, ambiguity exists only when the contract is susceptible of two
or more reasonable interpretations. Id. Moreover, ambiguity must be evident from
the policy itself; it cannot be created by introducing parol evidence of intent. Fiess
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v. State Farm Lloyds, 202 S.W.3d 744, 747 (Tex. 2006). “If a contract of insurance
is susceptible of more than one reasonable interpretation, we must resolve the
uncertainty by adopting the construction that most favors to the insured.” Nat’l
Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa. v. Hudson Energy Co., 811 S.W.2d 552, 555
(Tex. 1991). As the supreme court recently explained, “If the parties offer reasonable
but conflicting interpretations, we adopt the construction that favors coverage.”
Dillon Gage, Inc. of Dallas v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds Subscribing to Policy
No. EE1701590, 636 S.W.3d 640, 643 (Tex. 2021).
DISCUSSION
1. Voluntary Parting exclusion (Issues 1 and 2)
Central argues that the Voluntary Parting exclusion applies and is
unambiguous. Consequently, Central contends the trial court erred by denying its
motion for directed verdict based on the exclusion, submitting the question to the
jury, then disregarding the jury’s “Yes” answer to Question 5. Although a question
about this exclusion was submitted to the jury, the interpretation of the policy
language is a question of law. See Tex. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sturrock, 146
S.W.3d 123, 126 (Tex. 2004) (courts construe unambiguous policy language as a
matter of law). A jury’s finding on a question of law may be deemed immaterial and
disregarded. Spencer v. Eagle Star Ins. Co. of America, 876 S.W.2d 154, 157 (Tex.
1994).
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The applicable coverage form in the policy is the “Commercial Property
Coverage Part” that includes the “Building and Personal Property Coverage Form”
(“BPP Coverage Form”), the Causes of Loss form where the Voluntary Parting
exclusion is found, and the Premier Plus endorsement that amends the policy to add
“Crime Coverage,” including coverage for “Forgery or Alteration.” The express
language of the exclusion is “Voluntary parting with any property by you or anyone
else to whom you have entrusted the property if induced to do so by any fraudulent
scheme, trick, device or false pretense.”
There is no specific reference to the Voluntary Parting exclusion in the
Premier Plus endorsement. Instead, Central relies on general language in the Premier
Plus endorsement that “All other Limitations, Conditions and Exclusions apply.”
Immediately before this language, however, the Premier Plus endorsement expressly
states that it modifies the Causes of Loss form, where the Voluntary Parting
exclusion is found.
Citing this Court’s opinion in Mesa Operating Co. v. California Union
Insurance Co., 986 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999, pet. denied), Central
argues that because the Premier Plus endorsement references the limitations,
conditions, and exclusions in the “main policy,” the Voluntary Parting exclusion
must be applied to the Premier Plus coverages. As we explained in that case,
however,
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Endorsements to a policy generally supersede and control over
conflicting printed terms within the main policy. Often, endorsements
are issued to add coverages that would otherwise be excluded. Yet, an
endorsement cannot be read apart from the main policy, and the added
provisions will only supersede the previous terms to the extent they are
truly in conflict. The policy and endorsement should be construed
together unless they are so much in conflict that they cannot be
reconciled.
Id. at 754 (internal citations omitted). Applying this analysis, we reached differing
conclusions on whether two coverage provisions in an endorsement superseded
exclusions in the main policy. See id. at 754–55. Where the provisions could not be
reconciled, we concluded the endorsement superseded the policy and provided
coverage. Id.In Morris James LLP v. Continental Casualty Co., a case cited by Reliance,
the court concluded that a “False Pretense Exclusion” and a “Forgery and Alteration
Endorsement”—provisions similar to the Voluntary Parting exclusion and the
forgery coverage here—were clear and unambiguous standing alone, but were
ambiguous when read together. 928 F. Supp. 2d 816, 824–25 (D. Del. 2013). Morris
James, a law firm, had been drawn into a scam involving its acceptance of a
counterfeit check that it deposited in its bank account. It then wired the funds to a
third party at the scammer’s direction See id. at 819. Morris James filed a claim with
Continental under its business property insurance policy after it was unable to
recover the funds. Id. Continental denied the claim and Morris James sued. Id.
Both parties filed motions for summary judgment regarding coverage of
Morris James’s claim under the policy. Id. at 818. The False Pretense Exclusion in
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the policy provided that Continental would not pay for loss or damage “caused by
or resulting from . . . voluntary parting with any property . . . if induced to do so by
any fraudulent scheme, trick, device or false pretense.” Id. at 820. The Forgery and
Alteration Endorsement provided coverage “for loss resulting directly from
‘forgery’ or alteration of checks, drafts, promissory notes, or similar written
promises, orders or directions to pay a sum certain in money . . . .” Id.
After concluding that the scammer’s counterfeit check fell within the policy’s
definition of “forgery,” the court turned to the False Pretense Exclusion and found
that it also applied: “Therefore, there is no serious dispute that, in addition to
resulting from a forged instrument, the scam was a fraud which induced plaintiff to
voluntarily part with $176,750, within the language of the False Pretense Exclusion.”
Id. at 823–24. The court then reasoned that because the loss fell within the plain
meaning of both the forgery and false pretense provisions, the question “whether the
loss is covered or excluded by the Policy hinges on which provision is interpreted to
prevail, or “trump,” the other when the Policy is interpreted as a whole.” Id. at 824.
The court found the policy to be ambiguous when the provisions were read together
because the policy was unclear about the application of the exclusions to the
coverages provided in the endorsements. See id. at 825. The court concluded that
because the policy’s language was ambiguous, the policy “should be interpreted in
favor of the insured because the insurer is in control of the process of articulating
the terms.” Id.
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Similarly here, we conclude that the Voluntary Parting provision’s exclusion
of losses in which the insured was “induced . . . by any fraudulent scheme, trick,
device or false pretense” cannot be reconciled with the Premier Plus endorsement’s
express coverage of loss from fraud-based crimes such as forgery, defined as “the
signing of the name of another person or organization with intent to deceive.” The
Premier Plus endorsement’s express statement that it modifies the Causes of Loss
form (where the Voluntary Parting exclusion is found) is followed only by a general
statement that “[a]ll other Limitations, Conditions and Exclusions apply.” If this
non-specific language is read to require exclusion of all losses induced “by any
fraudulent scheme, trick, device or false pretense,” then the crime coverages offered
in the endorsement would not apply to losses from fraud-based crimes, despite the
policy’s definitions of those crimes as involving “intent to deceive” or “fraudulent”
conduct.
As in Mesa Operating Co. and Morris James, we conclude that because the
Voluntary Parting provision cannot be reconciled with the Premier Plus
endorsement, the Premier Plus endorsement’s language controls. See Mesa
Operating Co., 986 S.W.2d at 754–55; Morris James, 928 F. Supp. 2d at 822, 825;
see also Dillon Gage, Inc. of Dallas, 636 S.W.3d at 643 (if parties offer reasonable
but conflicting interpretations, court adopts construction that favors coverage).2 We
2
Given this conclusion, we need not consider the parties’ additional arguments regarding whether the
Voluntary Parting exclusion applies to “Money” as defined in the Premier Plus endorsement. Further,
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conclude the trial court did not err by denying Central’s motion for directed verdict
based on the Voluntary Parting exclusion and by disregarding the jury’s “Yes”
answer to Question 5 of the jury charge. See Helping Hands Home Care, Inc., 393
S.W.3d at 515 (standard of review for directed verdict); Spencer, 876 S.W.2d at 157
(standards for disregard of jury’s answer). We decide Central’s first two issues
against it.
2. Forgery provision of Premier Plus endorsement (Issue 5)
Question 4 of the jury charge addressed forgery, tracking the Premier Plus
endorsement’s language:
Did Reliance suffer a loss resulting directly from “forgery” or alteration
of checks, drafts, promissory notes, or similar written promises, orders
or directions to pay a sum certain in “money” that are:
i) Made or drawn by or drawn upon Reliance; or
ii) Made or drawn by one acting as Reliance’s agent, or that are
purported to have been so made or drawn.
Answer “Yes” or “No”.
Answer: Yes
Central argues that the trial court should have disregarded the jury’s answer
to Question 4 because there was no evidence presented at trial to support it. Central
contends the Premier Plus endorsement’s forgery coverage is limited to forgery of
because we have not construed the Voluntary Parting exclusion to preclude coverage for any portion of
Reliance’s loss, we need not address Central’s arguments regarding concurrent causation. Cf. Dallas Nat’l
Ins. Co. v. Calitex Corp., 458 S.W.3d 210, 222–23 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2015, no pet.) (under concurrent
causation doctrine, “when covered and non-covered perils combine to create a loss, the insured is entitled
to recover that portion of the damage caused solely by the covered peril”).
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negotiable instruments and did not include the fraudulent emails and invoices in
question here. Central cites several cases from other jurisdictions in support of its
argument that “a fraudulent email instructing the insured to wire money is not a
financial instrument as required for coverage under the forgery coverage.” See, e.g.,
Midlothian Enters., Inc. v. Owners Ins. Co., 439 F. Supp. 3d 737, 743 (E.D. Va.
2020) (email directing the insured to wire funds was not a “Covered Instrument”
under the forgery or alteration endorsement of the insured’s policy because it was
not a negotiable instrument); see also RSUI Indem. Co. v. The Lynd Co., 466 S.W.3d
113, 118 (Tex. 2015) (“When construing an insurance policy, we are mindful of
other courts’ interpretations of policy language that is identical or very similar to the
policy language at issue.”).
Reliance, in turn, relies on cases from other jurisdictions interpreting similar
policy language and concluding that forgery coverage applied. See, e.g., Ad Advert.
Design, Inc. v. Sentinel Ins. Co. Ltd., 344 F. Supp. 3d 1175, 1183 (D. Mont. 2018)
(four emails directing the insured to transfer funds to a specified account by wire
transfer constituted a “direction[ ] to pay a sum certain in money” covered under the
policy’s forgery provision). Reliance also cites Great American Insurance Company
v. AFS/IBEX Financial Services, Inc., 612 F.3d 800 (5th Cir. 2010), in support of its
argument that forgery coverage is not limited to negotiable instruments. See id. at
804–05 (giving the term “forgery” in an insurance policy its “plain, ordinary
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meaning” rather than its interpretation in the “commercial paper context” under the
UCC).3
As Central argues, more courts have reached the conclusion that forged emails
or other false wire transfer authorizations or instructions are not negotiable
instruments and consequently are excluded from forgery coverage. See, e.g., Ryeco,
LLC v. Selective Ins. Co., 539 F. Supp. 3d 399, 405–08 (E.D. Pa. 2021) (collecting
cases and distinguishing Ad Advertising as an “outlier”). But neither party has cited
binding authority that requires us to reach either conclusion. Consequently, we turn
to the policy language and consider its application to the facts before us.
Here, the forgery or alteration coverage in the Premier Plus endorsement
includes “loss resulting directly from ‘forgery’ or alteration of checks, drafts,
promissory notes, or similar written promises, orders or directions to pay a sum
certain in ‘money’ that are . . . Made or drawn by or drawn upon you . . . .” “Forgery”
is defined as “the signing of the name of another person or organization with intent
to deceive,” and “signatures that are produced or reproduced electronically,
mechanically, or by other means” are treated “the same as handwritten signatures.”
Although negotiable instruments such as checks, drafts, and promissory notes are
3
But as Central points out, the same court previously held that because forged invoices “were not made,
drawn by, or drawn upon [the insured] as those terms are used in the commercial paper context or under
the Uniform Commercial Code,” there was no coverage under the insured’s crime policy. See Travelers
Cas. & Sur. Co. of Am. v. Baptist Health Sys., 313 F.3d 295, 299 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing Parkans Int’l LLC
v. Zurich Ins. Co., 299 F.3d 514, 517 (5th Cir. 2002)).
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specifically included, the forgery coverage also includes “similar written promises,
orders or directions to pay a sum certain in ‘money,’” and the provision does not
include the word “negotiable.” We conclude that this language is broad enough to
encompass the fraudulent emails and wire transfer instructions directing Molitor to
pay the $220,000 to a specific party in Hong Kong. See In re Deepwater Horizon,
470 S.W.3d at 464 (court gives insurance policy’s words their ordinary and generally
accepted meaning unless the policy indicates the parties intended the language to
impart a technical or different meaning).
In sum, evidence admitted at trial showed that an unknown party with intent
to deceive used Grunnah’s email address and signature block to order or direct
Molitor to pay a sum certain in money by wire transfer, a “loss resulting directly
from ‘forgery’” as defined in the policy. Consequently, we conclude there was
evidence to support the jury’s answer to Question 4, and the trial court did not err by
denying Central’s motion to disregard it. We decide Central’s fifth issue against it.
3. Findings on amount owed for losses (Issues 3 and 4)
Central’s third and fourth issues address Questions 6 and 7 of the jury’s
verdict. In response to Question 6, the jury answered “no,” finding that Central did
not fail to pay the amount owed for losses under the insurance policy. Question 7,
inquiring about damages for Central’s failure to pay, was dependent on a “yes”
answer to Question 6. The jury followed the instruction and did not answer Question
7. Central argues that the trial court committed reversible error by disregarding the
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jury’s “no” answer to Question 6 and by failing to render judgment in Central’s favor
when the jury did not award Reliance any damages in response to Question 7.
“‘A trial court may disregard a jury finding only if it is unsupported by
evidence . . . or if the issue is immaterial.’” USAA Tex. Lloyds Co. v. Menchaca, 545
S.W.3d 479, 505 (Tex. 2018) (quoting Spencer, 876 S.W.2d at 157). A jury answer
is immaterial when the question should not have been submitted, or when it was
properly submitted but has been rendered immaterial by other findings. Id. at 506.
Further, “[t]he trial court need not submit jury questions on undisputed facts.”
European Crossroads’ Shopping Ctr., Ltd. v. Criswell, 910 S.W.2d 45, 56 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 1995, writ denied); see also Menchaca, 545 S.W.3d at 501 (“A
breach-of-contract claim can involve any one or more of numerous discrete issues,
but the jury need only be asked and instructed about those the parties actually
dispute, and on which the pleadings and evidence actually raise an issue.” [internal
quotation omitted]).
Central argues that the breach of contract question was properly submitted
because of the numerous factual disputes that the jury was asked to resolve,
including application of two other crime coverages to the loss. But the trial court’s
judgment rests on the jury’s finding in response to Question 4—that Reliance
suffered a loss resulting directly from forgery—establishing Central’s liability under
the policy despite the jury’s resolution of factual disputes in Central’s favor on other
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coverages. Consequently, even if Question 6 was properly submitted, the answer
was rendered immaterial by the jury’s affirmative answer to Question 4.
Because we have concluded that Reliance’s loss was covered under Central’s
policy and because both the amount of the loss and Central’s failure to pay it are
undisputed,4 we conclude the trial court did not err by disregarding the jury’s answer
to Question 6 or by rendering judgment for Reliance in the amount of its loss. We
decide Central’s sixth and seventh issues against it.
4. Damages for bad faith (Issue 6)
In its sixth issue, Central argues the trial court erred by failing to disregard the
jury’s answers to Questions 8 and 9, the common law bad faith questions, and
awarding Reliance judgment for the $25,000 found by the jury in response to
Question 9.
Central contends that under Menchaca, “an insured may not recover any extra-
contractual damages if the insured is not entitled to any benefits under the insurance
policy.” See Menchaca, 545 S.W.3d at 490 (stating the “general rule . . . that an
insured cannot recover policy benefits for an insurer’s statutory violation if the
insured does not have a right to those benefits under the policy”). But because we
have concluded that the trial court correctly awarded policy benefits to Reliance,
4
Central contends the amount of Reliance’s loss was not established as a matter of law because “some
of the funds transferred by Molitor belonged to third parties, not Reliance.” There was no evidence,
however, that the transferred funds were not in Reliance’s control or that any party other than Reliance
suffered any portion of the loss. In sum, Reliance pleaded and offered proof that it suffered damages of
$220,000 as a result of the fraud.
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Menchaca’s holding does not preclude recovery of extra-contractual damages in this
case.
We also conclude there was evidence to support the jury’s “yes” answer to
Question 8. In Question 8, the jury was instructed that “[a]n insurer fails to comply
with its duty of good faith and fair dealing by”:
 Failing to attempt in good faith to effectuate a prompt, fair, and
equitable settlement of a claim when the insurer’s liability has
become reasonably clear
or
 Refusing to pay a claim without conducting a reasonable
investigation of the claim
or
 Canceling an insurance policy without a reasonable basis.
Reliance offered evidence that Central failed to interview Molitor and Grunnah, did
not attempt to learn the scope or result of any law enforcement investigation, based
its coverage decision on limited information, and gave Reliance inconsistent
information about the basis for its denial. Further, Central did not rely on the
Voluntary Parting exclusion as a reason for denying the claim.5 This is some
evidence to support the jury’s finding in response to Question 8. See Tanner v.
5
Central cites Republic Insurance Co. v. Stoker, 903 S.W.2d 338, 341 (Tex. 1995), for the proposition
that an insurer is not precluded from defending a claim based on a reason that was not given for denying
the claim. In Stoker, the court described the dispositive question as “whether, based upon the facts existing
at the time of the denial, a reasonable insurer would have denied the claim.” Id. at 340. Here, in determining
the dispositive question under Stoker, the jury could consider Central’s conduct in denying the claim based
on one set of reasons but defending the lawsuit based on a new and different reason. We also note that in
Stoker, in contrast to this case, the plaintiffs’ claims were not covered by the policy. See id.
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Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 289 S.W.3d 828, 830 (Tex. 2009) (“We will uphold
a jury’s finding if more than a scintilla of competent evidence supports it.”).
We agree with Central, however, that Reliance did not offer any evidence to
support the jury’s $25,000 damage award. “A claim for bad-faith conduct that
breaches the common-law duty can potentially result in three types of damages:
(1) benefit of the bargain damages for an accompanying breach of contract claim,
(2) compensatory damages for the tort of bad faith, and (3) punitive damages for
intentional, malicious, fraudulent, or grossly negligent conduct.” Menchaca, 545
S.W.3d at 488 n.11 (internal quotations and citations omitted).
Citing evidence of “Central’s complete lack of investigation, in addition to its
everchanging reasons for denying coverage,” Reliance offers two possible grounds
for the jury’s award: (1) “to compensate Reliance for the time and expense it
incurred trying to force Central to investigate its claim” and (2) “for the mental
anguish Debbie Molitor, Reliance’s primary employee, suffered as a result of
Central’s denial of Reliance’s claim without conducting any meaningful
investigation.” But Reliance did not offer any evidence to support an amount of
damages for either of these grounds, and in any event, Molitor is not a plaintiff in
this case and did not assert a cause of action against Central for damages. Further,
the trial court awarded attorney’s fees to Reliance in addition to the jury’s award of
bad faith damages, compensating Reliance for the time and expense incurred by its
attorneys in pursuing its claim at trial and on appeal.
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We conclude there is no evidence to support the jury’s award of $25,000 in
response to Question 9. Consequently, we sustain Central’s sixth issue and reverse
the portion of the judgment awarding Reliance $25,000 in damages for Central’s
failure to comply with its duty of good faith and fair dealing.
CONCLUSION
We reverse the portion of the judgment awarding Reliance $25,000 in
damages for Central’s failure to comply with its duty of good faith and fair dealing.
In all other respects, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
/Robert D. Burns, III/
ROBERT D. BURNS, III
CHIEF JUSTICE
210071F.P05
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S
Court of Appeals
Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
JUDGMENT
CENTRAL MUTUAL INSURANCE On Appeal from the 44th Judicial
COMPANY, Appellant District Court, Dallas County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. DC-18-00856.
No. 05-21-00071-CV V. Opinion delivered by Chief Justice
Burns. Justices Schenck and Partida-
RELIANCE PROPERTY Kipness participating.
MANAGEMENT, INC., Appellee
In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial
court is AFFIRMED in part and REVERSED in part. We REVERSE the award of
$25,000 in damages to appellee Reliance Property Management, Inc. in paragraph 2
of the trial court’s judgment. Judgment is RENDERED that appellee Reliance
Property Management, Inc. take nothing on its claim for breach of the duty of good
faith and fair dealing. In all other respects, the trial court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.
It is ORDERED that appellee Reliance Property Management, Inc. recover
its costs of this appeal and the amount of the judgment as affirmed from appellant
Central Mutual Insurance Company and from the cash deposit in lieu of cost bond.
After all costs have been paid, the clerk of the Dallas court is directed to release the
balance, if any, of the cash deposit to Central Mutual Insurance Company.
Judgment entered May 25, 2022
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