Encompass Home & Auto Ins. v. Harris

93 F. Supp. 3d 424, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32351, 2015 WL 1242459
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedMarch 17, 2015
DocketCivil No. TJS-12-2588
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 93 F. Supp. 3d 424 (Encompass Home & Auto Ins. v. Harris) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Encompass Home & Auto Ins. v. Harris, 93 F. Supp. 3d 424, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32351, 2015 WL 1242459 (D. Md. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

TIMOTHY J. SULLIVAN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff Encompass Home & Auto Insurance Company (“Encompass”) brought [426]*426this action seeking a declaratory judgment that its insurance policy with the Defendants Nicole Saunders Harris (“Mrs. Harris”) and Corey Harris (“Mr. Harris”) (collectively, the “Defendants”) is void ab initio. (ECF No. 1.) The Defendants filed a counterclaim against Encompass alleging breach of contract. (ECF No. 13.) This Memorandum Opinion and the Judgment that accompanies it address Encompass’s claim and the Defendants’ counterclaim.

I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On April 15, 2014, with the consent of the parties, this matter was referred to the undersigned for all proceedings. (ECF Nos. 39, 41 & 42.) On October 2, 2014, a one-day bench trial was conducted. (ECF No. 55.) On October 16, 2014, both parties submitted proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. (ECF Nos. 57 & 58.) The Court has carefully considered the exhibits admitted into evidence (Exhibits 1-17), the testimony of the witnesses (Jayne Clark, Michele Grossman, April Rakowiecki, and Andrew Schlegel), and the written submissions of the parties. For the reasons set forth below, the Court awards Encompass the declaratory relief sought in the Complaint and further finds that Encompass is not liable to the Defendants for breach of contract. Pursuant to Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court’s findings of fact, legal analysis, and conclusions of law are set forth separately below.

II. FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Jayne Clark (“Ms. Clark”) is an insurance agent employed by Donadio Insurance Group. Ms. Clark is licensed by the State of Maryland to sell insurance.

2. Mrs. Harris is a client of the Dona-dio Insurance Group. She has previously obtained insurance for a condominium located at 3623 Glengyle Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215 (the “Glengyle Property”) and three automobiles through Donadio Insurance Group with Encompass.

3. On or about August 2, 2011, Mrs. Harris and her husband, Mr. Harris, purchased certain real property located at 2700 Classen Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215 (the “Classen Property”) through a foreclosure sale for $7,500.00.

4. Approximately nine months after the Defendants’ purchase of the home, on May 1, 2012, Mr. Harris called Ms. Clark to obtain insurance for the Classen Property. Ms. Clark requested photographs of the property from Mr. Harris.

5. On May 2, 2012, Mr. Harris emailed Ms. Clark and said that he could not take photographs of the Classen Property “due to not having a working camera at the moment.” (Exhibit 10 at 2.)

6. Ms. Clark never received any photographs of the Classen Property from either of the Defendants.

7. Mr. Harris told Ms. Clark that certain renovations to the Classen Property had been completed, and that he and Mrs. Harris intended to make the Classen Property their primary residence.

8. Mr. Harris told Ms. Clark that he got “a really good deal” on the purchase price for the Classen Property. Ms. Clark did not ask Mr. Harris for the purchase price of the Classen Property. Mr. Harris did not disclose that he paid $7,500.00 for the Classen Property in a foreclosure sale.

9. Ms. Clark asked Mr. Harris a series of questions to evaluate the replacement cost value of the Classen Property (to thereby calculate a property damage limit of insurance), including questions about the flooring, fireplace, kitchen countertops and bathrooms in the house.

[427]*42710. Mr. Harris told Ms. Clark that the home was updated, including the heating and cooling systems.

11. Ms. Clark looked at a photograph from the Google Maps website (https:// www.google.com/maps) taken from the outside of the Classen Property. She observed that the roof was bent down and that it was missing shingles. She also observed that the steps wére in need of repair.

12. Mr. Harris told Ms. Clark that he had fixed the roof by re-tarring it but that the steps still needed repair.

13. Based on the information provided by Mr. Harris, Ms. Clark used the Encompass estimator program to generate a replacement cost value quote for the Classen Property of $180,000.00.

14. Mr. Harris told Ms. Clark that he and Mrs. Harris were finishing painting at the Classen Property and were- moving into the property as their primary residence.

15. On May 18, 2012, Ms. Clark emailed a “quote” to Mr. Harris for insurance coverage reflecting that the Classen Property was now the primary residence of the Defendants, and that the Glengyle property was their secondary residence.

16. On May 21, 2012, Mrs. Harris emailed Ms. Clark about “the new monthly amount.” Thereafter, Mrs. Harris wrote to Ms. Clark: “Ok this is doable. I would like to move forward with this transaction and you can make it effective for today.” (Exhibit 10 at 18.)

17. After Mrs. Harris agreed, Ms. Clark uploaded the application and emailed an unsigned application to Mr. Harris.

18. In the application, the Classen Property was referenced to be added as the primary dwelling and owner-occupied by the Defendants. The Glengyle Property was now a secondary property. {See Exhibit 5 at 135, 140 & Exhibit 6 at 167, 177) (stating that the “usage type” for the Classen Property was “primary” and the “usage type” for the Glengyle Property was “secondary” and “seasonal”).

19. In the application, the “Residential Replacement Value” for the Classen Property was $180,000.00 with a $500.00 deductible.

20. On May 22, 2012, Ms. Clark prepared a final and correct application to be signed by Mrs. Harris as the insured. Ms. Clark sent the signature pages of the application to Mrs. Harris. {See Exhibit 6.) After reviewing the final application, Mrs. Harris stated that she had “two concerns why is Glengyle not listed in the summary with the cars and Classen and why is my last name still listed as Saunders?” (Exhibit 10 at 23.)

21. In a June 5, 2012 email from Mrs. Harris to Ms. Clark, Mrs. Harris wrote: “I am going to sign the pages with signatures and email them back to you is that ok.” (Exhibit 10 at 24.)

22. In a June 8, 2012 email from Mrs. Harris to Ms. Clark, Mrs. Harris wrote: “[s]orry the pages are upside down. Can you let me know that you have received these? Thanks.” (Exhibit 10 at 27.)

23. Ms. Clark received the signed application signature pages from Mrs. Harris dated “5/5/12.” Mrs. Harris intended to date the application signature pages for June 5, 2012, but mistakenly dated them for May 5, 2012. (Exhibit 6 at 169-70, 173-76,179 & 181.)

24. In signing the application for insurance for the Classen Property, Mrs. Harris acknowledged that she had “read the[] entire application ... before signing” and that the statements made on the applica[428]*428tion were “correct and true.” (Exhibit 6 at 174; see also Exhibit 10 at 23.)

25. The Defendants did not disclose to Ms.

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93 F. Supp. 3d 424, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32351, 2015 WL 1242459, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/encompass-home-auto-ins-v-harris-mdd-2015.