Hintzel v. Chubb Life Insurance Co. of America

678 So. 2d 1140, 1996 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 354, 1996 WL 240382
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Alabama
DecidedMay 10, 1996
Docket2940938
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 678 So. 2d 1140 (Hintzel v. Chubb Life Insurance Co. of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hintzel v. Chubb Life Insurance Co. of America, 678 So. 2d 1140, 1996 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 354, 1996 WL 240382 (Ala. Ct. App. 1996).

Opinions

THIGPEN, Judge.

This case involves a claim of fraudulent suppression. Richard Allen Hintzel (Richard) and Tanya L. Hintzel (Tanya) appeal from a summary judgment in favor of Chubb Life Insurance Company of America (Chubb).

The record reveals the following pertinent facts: In 1985, John L. Maples, Sr., purchased a $500,000 life insurance policy from Volunteer State Life Insurance Company (Volunteer). Maples listed his wife Tanya and his estate as equal beneficiaries under the policy in the event of his death. In November 1988, Maples disappeared and he has not been seen or heard from since.

On July 14, 1989, a judgment was entered divorcing Tanya and Maples; that judgment, inter alia, transferred the ownership of the Volunteer policy from Maples to Tanya. At that time, Tanya designated herself as the primary beneficiary under the policy and designated her daughter, Blasia Maples, as the contingent beneficiary. It is undisputed that Tanya has at all times paid the premiums due under the policy. On November 17, 1993, Tanya, who had since married Richard, sought a declaration that Maples was presumed dead and petitioned for letters testamentary regarding his estate. This petition was granted on January 4,1994, and on April 7,1994, Tanya designated her husband, Richard, as the primary beneficiary of the policy.

[1142]*1142On April 11, 1994, Chubb, the corporate successor to Volunteer, was contacted by an attorney representing Maples’s son, Kevin. The attorney notified Chubb that pursuant to Ala.Code 1975, § 43-8-2531 if Chubb paid the policy proceeds to the designated beneficiary, then Chubb might be subject to multiple payments in the event the payment violated § 43-8-253. At the time of this communication, Chubb did not inform the Hintzels of any potential challenge to the proceeds of the policy.

In July 1994, when the Hintzels contacted Chubb regarding the paperwork necessary to make a claim under the policy, Chubb informed them by letter that a potential adverse claim had been filed against the policy proceeds. Chubb did not, at this time, inform the Hintzels of the adverse claimant’s identity, or that the claim was being made pursuant to § 43-8-253. On August 8, 1994, the Hintzels’s attorney requested additional information on this potential counterclaim.

On August 22, 1994, the estate of Maples was closed. Because of defects relating to notice, the court reaffirmed the January order declaring that Maples was presumed dead. It is undisputed that August 22, 1994, was the first date on which Richard could legally make a claim for the policy proceeds. Richard sent a statement of claim to Chubb, and on September 9, 1994, Chubb acknowledged receipt of the claim, and furnished Richard’s attorney with the name and address of the adverse claimant’s attorney. Chubb then paid the policy proceeds, plus interest, into court in an interpleader action.

On October 26, 1994, the Hintzels filed a counterclaim against Chubb, alleging bad faith, breach of contract, and fraudulent suppression. Kevin filed a cross-claim against the Hintzels in which he formally contested the change of beneficiary in the policy and asserted that Tanya was a suspect in the death of Maples, and therefore, she was not entitled to any attribute of ownership in the Chubb policy, pursuant to Ala.Code 1975, § 43-8-253. On February 10, 1995, without objection from Chubb, the court entered a summary judgment for Richard in regard to the proceeds, and the funds were released to him the same day.

On March 3, 1995, Chubb moved for a summary judgment on the Hintzels’ counterclaim. After a hearing on Chubb’s motion, the court entered a summary judgment in favor of Chubb on all counts. This appeal followed.

The Hintzels challenge the entry of summary judgment only as to their claim of fraudulent suppression. In regard to the fraudulent suppression claim, the trial court’s order states:

“To establish the tort of fraudulent suppression, the Hintzels must show 1) that Chubb Life had a duty to disclose a material fact, 2) that Chubb Life concealed or failed to disclose that material fact, 3) that Chubb Life’s silence induced [the Hintzels] to act or fail to act, and 4) action or inaction caused them injury. Cato v. Lowder Realty Co., 630 So.2d 378, 383 (Ala.1993).
“The Court need not reach the first three factors set out above. The record fails to show that the Hintzels suffered any damage as a result of Chubb Life’s nondisclosure of Kevin Maples’ April 12, 1994 letter or that payment would have been made before September 15, 1994 if disclosure had been made. The record shows that the Hintzels did not file a claim to the policy proceeds until late August 1994 and, therefore, were not entitled to the policy proceeds until that time. Accordingly, the Hintzels have failed to show that they have suffered any damage as a result of Chubb Life’s non-disclosure of the letter and summary judgment as to [the Hintzels’] Third Cause of Action (Fraudulent Suppression) is due to be granted.”

The Hintzels contend that they produced substantial evidence, including proof of damages, to show the existence of a genuine issue [1143]*1143of material fact in regards to the claim of fraudulent suppression. The Hintzels argue that if they had known of Kevin’s potential adverse claim, they would have procured the necessary affidavits from investigating officers to show that Kevin’s letter was without factual basis, and therefore, they could have received the policy proceeds directly upon filing the appropriate claim. Additionally, the Hintzels argue that they incurred unnecessary litigation expenses in recovering the proceeds, and that Tanya suffered mental anguish due to the circumstances surrounding the interpleader action and Kevin’s claim.

The standards governing the entry of a summary judgment are well established. Rule 56, A.R.Civ.P., provides that a motion for summary judgment, which tests the sufficiency of the evidence, is proper when the trial court determines that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Melton v. Perry County Board of Education, 562 So.2d 1341 (Ala.Civ.App.1990). The party moving for a summary judgment has the burden of negating the existence of a genuine issue of material fact. Rule 56, A.R.Civ.P.

When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in the rule, a party adverse to the motion may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but must present substantial evidence regarding specific facts and creating a genuine issue for trial. Rule 56, A.R.Civ.P. Bass v. SouthTrust Bank of Baldwin County, 538 So.2d 794 (Ala.1989). This Court must also review the entire record in a light most favorable to the non-moving party, the appellant. Mann v. City of Tallassee, 510 So.2d 222 (Ala.1987).

Our review of the record reveals no error in the trial court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of Chubb on the claim of fraudulent suppression. Generally, “silence is not actionable fraud absent a confidential relationship or some special circumstances imposing a duty to disclose.” Wilson v. Brown, 496 So.2d 756, 759 (Ala.1986). Also, mere silence does not constitute fraud, and there is no duty to disclose facts when information is not requested. Hardy v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama, 585 So.2d 29 (Ala.1991).

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Bluebook (online)
678 So. 2d 1140, 1996 Ala. Civ. App. LEXIS 354, 1996 WL 240382, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hintzel-v-chubb-life-insurance-co-of-america-alacivapp-1996.