in Re Century Surety Company, Relator

CourtTexas Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 2, 2015
Docket07-15-00386-CV
StatusPublished

This text of in Re Century Surety Company, Relator (in Re Century Surety Company, Relator) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
in Re Century Surety Company, Relator, (Tex. 2015).

Opinion

ACCEPTED 07-15-00386-CV SEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS AMARILLO, TEXAS 11/2/2015 12:46:05 PM Vivian Long, Clerk

CASE NO. 07-15-00386-CV

IN THE SEVENTH COURT OF APPEALS FILED IN 7th COURT OF APPEALS AMARILLO, TEXAS AMARILLO, TEXAS 11/2/2015 12:46:05 PM VIVIAN LONG CLERK

IN RE: CENTURY SURETY COMPANY, Relator

Original Proceeding from the 320th Judicial District Court, Potter County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 101,961-D The Honorable Don R. Emerson, Respondent

REPLY TO RESPONSE OF REAL-PARTY-IN-INTEREST TO PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

Catherine L. Hanna State Bar No. 08918280 Email: channa@hannaplaut.com Eric S. Peabody State Bar No. 00789539 Email: epeabody@hannaplaut.com HANNA & PLAUT, L.L.P. 211 East Seventh Street, Suite 600 Austin, Texas 78701 Telephone: (512) 472-7700 Facsimile: (512) 472-0205 COUNSEL FOR RELATOR TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS ii

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES iii

SUMMARY OF REPLY 1

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES 2

A. Century did not waive its right to appraisal by defendaing itself in the litigation 1408 J initiated. 2

B. 1408 J has not demonstrated prejudice 6

C. 1408 J has admitted that Century's settlement offer was on its entire claim, which necessitates severance and abatement of the bad-faith causes of action. 7

CONCLUSION AND PRAYER FOR RELIEF 9

VERIFICATION 10

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 11

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE 12

SUPPLEMENTAL APPENDIX TO THE PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 13

ii INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases Page

Elledge v. Friberg—Cooper Water Supply Corp., 240 S.W.3d 869 (Tex. 2007) 6

In re Acadia Ins. Co., 279 S.W.3d 777 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2007, orig. proceeding) 3

In re Guideone Nat'l Ins. Co., 2015 WL 5050233 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 27, 2015, orig. proceeding) 3

In re GuideOne Nat'l Ins. Co., 2015 WL 5766496 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Sept. 29, 2015, orig. proceeding) 4

In re State Farm Mut, Auto. Ins. Co., 395 S.W.3d 229 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2012, orig. proceeding) 9

In re Trinity Universal Ins. Co., 64 S.W.3d 463 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2001, orig. proceeding) 8, 9

In re Universal Underwriters of Tex. Ins. Co., 345 S.W.3d 404 (Tex. 2011) 2, 3, 4, 6

Jai Bhole, Inc. v. Employers Fire Ins. Co., 2014 WL 50165 (S.D. Tex. Jan. 7, 2014) 3, 7

Lund v. Giauque, 416 S.W.3d 122 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2013, no pet.) 6

Palestine Contractors, Inc. v. Perkins, 386 S.W.2d 764 (Tex. 1964) 6

Rules

TEx. R. OF Cry. P. 167 8

iii SUMMARY OF REPLY

Despite 1408 J's characterization of Century's actions as explicitly or

implicitly waiving its right to appraisal, Century never denied liability for 1408 J's

claim and never refused to participate in or be bound by appraisal. After 1408 J

filed suit, the parties negotiated until mediation. Even after mediation failed, both

sides continued to make settlement offers. Century's contractual appraisal

provision is "mandatory" if invoked by either party and contains no time limit;

Century invoked appraisal immediately after impasse and did not waive its right to

appraisal by defending itself in the suit 1408 J initiated.

1408 J incurred litigation expenses because it chose to file suit rather than

invoke appraisal, which is a condition precedent to suit under the Policy. Neither

1408 J's voluntary decision to preemptively file suit nor Century's defense against

1408 J's litigation tactics constitutes "prejudice" to 1408 J as required to establish

waiver.

Century's Rule 167 settlement offer on all of 1408 J's claims necessitates

severance and abatement of 1408 J's extra-contractual claims from its breach of

contract action, because that offer covered all disputed claims and damages 1408 J

asserts. The evidentiary prejudice to an insurance carrier from defending

contractual and extra-contractual claims in the same suit following a settlement

offer on disputed claims is inherent and well-recognized.

Reply to Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Page 1 Because the trial court abused its discretion by improperly applying the law

to both of Century's motions, mandamus should issue.

ARGUMENT AND AUTHORITIES

A. Century did not waive its right to appraisal by defending itself in the litigation 1408 J initiated.

Retreating from its original position that impasse occurred when it filed suit,

1408 J now argues that the parties "reached an impasse nine months before

Century invoked appraisal,"' when Century responded to a settlement demand

from 1408 J with a counterdemand of its own based on causation questions raised

by reinspection of the property. See Response at 14. "An impasse is not the same

as a disagreement about the amount of loss. Ongoing negotiations, even when the

parties disagree, do not trigger a party's obligation to demand appraisal." In re

Universal Underwriters of Tex. Ins. Co., 345 S.W.3d 404, 408-09 (Tex. 2011).

Rather, impasse requires "a mutual understanding that neither will negotiate

further." Id. at 410 (emphasis added). Century's counterdemand did not end the

parties' negotiations; Century invited 1408 J's response to the counterdemand, the

parties continued to investigate the cause and extent of the loss, and Century made

settlement offers at the mediation held on April 27, 2015. See Record Tab 15 at

11:11-20. In fact, even after Century invoked appraisal following the unsuccessful

I Compare Record Tab 7 and Record Tab 15 at 6:21-7:3 with Response at 3, 15.

Reply to Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Page 2 mediation, 1408 J made a bracket offer on May 8, 2015, "in an effort to narrow the

gap in negotiations on this case." Record Tab 6, Ex. C, Ex. 4. 1408 J sent the

offer "prior to conducting additional discovery or appraisal." Id. Even in its formal

response to Century's request for appraisal, 1408 J stated that it was "interested in

continuing settlement negotiations" and solicited Century's response to the

settlement bracket proposed on May 8, 2015. Record Tab 6, Ex. C. Century did

not believe that further negotiation was futile before the April 2015 mediation, and

1408 J's correspondence demonstrates that it did not believe impasse had been

reached even then.2 Century did not deny liability for the loss or refuse to discuss

the matter further. A court may "not infer waiver where neither explicit language

nor conduct indicates that such was the party's intent." Universal Underwriters,

345 S.W.3d at 410.

1408 J also ignores the unique language of Century's appraisal endorsement,

which states that appraisal is "mandatory" when invoked by either party and

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Elledge v. Friberg-Cooper Water Supply Corp.
240 S.W.3d 869 (Texas Supreme Court, 2007)
In Re Universal Underwriters of Texas Insurance Co.
345 S.W.3d 404 (Texas Supreme Court, 2011)
Palestine Contractors, Inc. v. Perkins
386 S.W.2d 764 (Texas Supreme Court, 1964)
In Re Trinity Universal Insurance Co.
64 S.W.3d 463 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2001)
In Re Acadia Insurance Co.
279 S.W.3d 777 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2007)
in Re: State Farm Automobile Insurance Company
395 S.W.3d 229 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2012)
Lund v. Giauque
416 S.W.3d 122 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2013)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
in Re Century Surety Company, Relator, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-century-surety-company-relator-tex-2015.