In re Acceptance Indem. Ins. Co.

562 S.W.3d 645
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided September 26, 2018·No. No. 04-18-00231-CV·Published·Cited by 8 cases

Opinion

Opinion by: Marialyn Barnard, Justice

This is an original proceeding in which relator, Acceptance Indemnity Insurance Company ("Acceptance Indemnity"), contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying its motion to compel appraisal and abate in the underlying dispute over the amount of loss sustained by the real parties in interest, Agrestic I, LP and Tiberious, LLC ("the RPIs"), with regard to overhead, profits, and taxes. Acceptance Indemnity has filed a motion to stay proceedings pending our resolution of this matter. Because we conclude the trial court erred in denying Acceptance Indemnity's motion to compel and abate and there is no adequate remedy at law, we conditionally grant the petition for writ of mandamus. Further, we deny as moot Acceptance *648Indemnity's motion to stay proceedings.

BACKGROUND

Acceptance Indemnity issued a commercial property insurance policy to the RPIs (or their owners) for certain apartment complexes. The RPIs submitted claims under their respective policies to recover damages for property damage incurred after a wind/hail event that occurred in May 2015. The parties could not agree on the cost of repairs. The contractor hired by the RPIs estimated damages at over a million dollars, which was far greater than the appraisal obtained by Acceptance Indemnity. All estimates were provided in August 2015. The RPIs continued to demand payment based on their contractor's estimate, claiming the loss estimate used by Acceptance Indemnity failed to include overhead, profit, and taxes. In September 2015, Acceptance Indemnity requested the RPIs sign a proof of loss, which they ultimately did in December 2015, but they modified it to include notice that they were still seeking full payment based on their contractor's estimated loss. Ultimately, the RPIs completed repairs on the property and Acceptance Indemnity paid them the undisputed amount of loss less the deductibles. Thereafter, the RPIs requested additional payment for their contractor's overhead, profit, and sales tax.

In April 2017, the RPIs sent Acceptance Indemnity a demand letter that gave notice of alleged underpayment, violations of the DTPA and Texas Insurance Code, and breach of the common law duty of good faith and fair dealing. On August 1, 2017, Acceptance Indemnity made a written demand for appraisal, invoking the appraisal provisions set out in the insurance policies. Those provisions provide that if the parties disagree on the amount of loss, either may make a written demand for appraisal of the loss. The provisions go on to describe selection of appraisers, an umpire, and other items associated with the process. In that same letter, Acceptance Indemnity designated its chosen appraiser. The RPIs responded by letter, stating appraisal was not appropriate. They then filed suit against Acceptance Indemnity on August 14, 2017, alleging breach of contract and numerous extra-contractual claims. In response, Acceptance Indemnity filed a motion to compel appraisal and abate, seeking to compel appraisal under the policies and abate the proceedings pending the outcome of the appraisal. After a hearing, the trial court denied the motion to compel and request for abatement. Acceptance Indemnity filed a petition for writ of mandamus, asking this court to order the trial court to order the parties to engage in the appraisal award process and abate the suit filed by the RPIs pending appraisal.

ANALYSIS

Acceptance Indemnity contends that absent a showing of illegality or waiver, which mandates a showing of prejudice, the appraisal clause must be enforced. There was no assertion of illegality, so Acceptance Indemnity contends the trial court erred in denying the motion to compel appraisal and abate because the RPIs failed to establish waiver or prejudice. The RPIs, however, set forth numerous arguments in which they contend appraisal is not proper in this case, and further argue Acceptance Indemnity waived its right to invoke appraisal and the RPIs were prejudiced thereby.

Standard of Review

Mandamus relief is available only to correct a clear abuse of discretion when there is no other adequate remedy at law. In re M-I, L.L.C. , 505 S.W.3d 569, 574 (Tex. 2016) (orig. proceeding);

*649In re Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. , 148 S.W.3d 124, 135-36 (Tex. 2004) (orig. proceeding). A trial court clearly abuses its discretion when its decision is "so arbitrary and unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law." M-I, L.L.C. , 505 S.W.3d at 574 (quoting Walker v. Packer , 827 S.W.2d 833, 839 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding) ). If the trial court fails to analyze or apply the law correctly, it has clearly abused its discretion. Id.

Application

This court has recently held that mandamus is available to remedy the improper denial of a motion to compel appraisal. In re Am. Nat'l Prop. & Cas. Co. , No. 04-18-00138-CV, --- S.W.3d ----, ----, 2018 WL 3264932, at *2 (Tex. App.-San Antonio July 5, 2018, orig. proceeding) (citing In re Allstate Cnty. Mut. Ins. Co. , 84 S.W.3d 193, 196 (Tex. 2002) (orig. proceeding) ); see In re Universal Underwriters of Tex. Ins. Co. , 345 S.W.3d 404, 406 (Tex. 2011) (orig. proceeding). Accordingly, we hold that if we find the trial court abused its discretion in denying Acceptance Indemnity's motion to compel appraisal, mandamus is a proper remedy. See Universal Underwriters of Tex. Ins. Co. , 345 S.W.3d at 406 ; Am. Nat'l Prop. & Cas. Co. , --- S.W.3d at ----, 2018 WL 3264932, at *2.

The dispute in this case centers around an appraisal clause in an insurance policy issued by Acceptance Indemnity to the RPIs (or their owners). It states:

If we and you disagree on the amount of loss, either may make written demand for an appraisal of the loss.

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In re Acceptance Indem. Ins. Co., 562 S.W.3d 645 (Tex. Ct. App. 2018).

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