Dunaway v. Allstate Insurance Co.

813 N.E.2d 376, 2004 Ind. App. LEXIS 1627, 2004 WL 1797606
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 12, 2004
Docket88A01-0404-CV-151
StatusPublished
Cited by53 cases

This text of 813 N.E.2d 376 (Dunaway v. Allstate Insurance Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dunaway v. Allstate Insurance Co., 813 N.E.2d 376, 2004 Ind. App. LEXIS 1627, 2004 WL 1797606 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

OPINION

NAJAM, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Donnie and Lisa Dunaway ("the Duna-ways") appeal the trial court's entry of summary judgment in favor of Allstate Insurance Company ("Allstate") and present the following issues for review:

1. Whether the trial court properly granted summary judgment in Allstate's favor on the Dunaways' breach of contract claim based on the policy's one-year limitations clause.
Whether the one-year limitations clause bars the Dunaways' claims for breach of the duty of good faith and unjust enrichment.

We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On March 28, 2001, a fire destroyed the Dunaways' home, along with all of their personal effects in the home. The Duna ways had a homeowners' insurance policy with Allstate, which provided in relevant part:

Section I Conditions
[[Image here]]
3. What You Must Do After a Loss
In the event of a loss to any property that may be covered by this policy, you must:
# os
g) within 60 days after the loss, give us a signed, sworn proof of the loss.
*379 #
4. Our Settlement Options
In the event of a covered loss, we have the option to:
a) repair, rebuild or replace all or any part of the damaged, destroyed or stolen property with property of like kind and quality within a reasonable time; or
b) pay for all or any part of the damaged, destroyed or stolen property as described in Condition 5 "How We Pay For A Loss."
Within 830 days after we receive your signed, sworn proof of loss we will notify you of the option or options we intend to exercise.
*ock ok
12. Suit Against Us
No suit or action may be brought against us unless there has been full compliance with all policy terms. Any suit or action must be brought within one year after the inception of loss or damage.

Appellant's App. at 89-90, 98 (emphasis omitted).

The Dunaways promptly notified Allstate of their loss. On March 28, 2001, Allstate mailed a proof of loss form to the Dunaways. On May 9, 2001, Allstate's legal counsel sent the Dunaways a letter which informed them in relevant part that: (1) Alistate had not made a determination regarding whether it is required to provide coverage for the claim; (2) a full and complete investigation of the claim was necessary; (8) Allstate wanted to conduct examinations of the Dunaways under oath; and (4) the Dunaways needed to submit their proof of loss form before the examinations. That letter also provided: "By conducting further investigation including the examinations under oath, [Allstate] is not waiving any of the rights available to it under the policy of insurance issued to you. It shall reserve all of its rights and defenses and insist upon full and complete compliance with all of the terms and policy provisions." Appellant's App. at 199-200. Allstate conducted examinations of the Dunaways in June 2001 and, with Allstate's agreement, the Dunaways submit, ted their proof of loss form to Allstate on August 15, 2001, which was more than sixty days after their loss.

On August 24, 2001, the Dunaways' legal counsel sent a letter to Allstate demanding payment of their claim by September 15, 2001. Allstate responded, in part, that it would attempt to complete its investigation as soon as possible. On November 9, 2001, almost ninety days after the Duna-ways had submitted their proof of loss form, Allstate sent the Dunaways a letter denying their claim. That letter set forth the limitations clause of the policy, which, again, provided: "No suit or action may be brought against [Allstate] unless there has been full compliance with all policy terms. Any suit or action must be brought within one year after the inception of loss or damage." Appellant's App. at 172. Also on November 9, Allstate sent the Duna-ways a separate letter informing them that Allstate would pay no further living expenses on the Dunaways' behalf after December 30, 2001.

Next, the Dunaways' counsel requested a copy of the insurance policy, which Allstate provided. The Dunaways filed their Complaint against Allstate on August 9, 2002. Allstate filed its Answer in October 2002. In November 2002, Allstate filed its motion for summary judgment. The Dun-aways responded to Alistate's motion and filed designations in opposition to the motion. Allstate filed its reply, and the Dun-aways filed a sur-reply. In January 2004, the trial court heard argument, and on *380 February 9, 2004, the court granted Allstate's motion. The Dunaways filed a motion to correct error, which the court denied. The Dunaways now appeal.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

Standard of Review

As we stated in Brady v. Allstate Indem. Co., 788 N.E.2d 916, 919 (Ind.Ct.App.2003):

The purpose of summary judgment is to terminate litigation about which there can be no material factual dispute and which can be resolved as a matter of law. A trial court's grant of summary judgment is clothed with a presumption of validity on appeal, and the appellant bears the burden of demonstrating that the trial court erred. Nevertheless, the record must be carefully serutinized to ensure that the [nonmoving] party was not improperly denied a day in court. In determining the propriety of summary judgment, we apply the same standard as the trial court. Under Indiana law, the party moving for summary judgment must demonstrate the absence of any genuine issue of material fact and only then is the nonmovant required to come forward with contrary evidence. The court must accept as true those facts alleged by the nonmoving party, construe the evidence in favor of the nonmoving party, and resolve all doubts against the moving party. . .. If the trial court's grant of summary judgment can be sustained on any theory or basis in the record, we affirm.

(Citations and quotations omitted).

Issue One: Waiver of One-Year Limitations Clause

The Dunaways first assert that the trial court improperly granted Allstate's motion for summary judgment because: (1) Allstate waived reliance on the limitations clause which required the Dun-aways to bring suit within one year of the loss; and (2) in the alternative, there is a genuine issue of material fact whether Allstate waived the limitations clause. As we explained in Summers v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 719 N.E.2d 412, 414-15 (Ind.Ct.App.1999):

"It is well-established in Indiana that, while not favored, ...

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Bluebook (online)
813 N.E.2d 376, 2004 Ind. App. LEXIS 1627, 2004 WL 1797606, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dunaway-v-allstate-insurance-co-indctapp-2004.