Isermann v. MBL Life Assurance Corp.

605 N.W.2d 210, 231 Wis. 2d 136, 1999 Wisc. App. LEXIS 1160
CourtCourt of Appeals of Wisconsin
DecidedOctober 20, 1999
Docket98-2846
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 605 N.W.2d 210 (Isermann v. MBL Life Assurance Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Isermann v. MBL Life Assurance Corp., 605 N.W.2d 210, 231 Wis. 2d 136, 1999 Wisc. App. LEXIS 1160 (Wis. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

SNYDER, J.

¶ 1. This appeal stands in the midst of the rehabilitation and liquidation of Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company (MBL) of New Jersey. MBL was placed under rehabilitation by a New Jersey state court in 1991, and its assets and liabilities were subsequently transferred to MBL Life Assurance Corporation (MBLLAC), a subsidiary of and the eventual successor to MBL.

¶ 2. Prior to MBL's rehabilitation, Gregory T. Isermann obtained disability income policies from MBL. In 1993, Isermann submitted a claim under the policies. MBL denied his claim and sought rescission as to two of his policies. Isermann then alleged breach of contract and bad faith claims and requested a declaration of rights as to the contested policies. After both parties moved for summary judgment, the circuit court ruled in MBLLAC's favor and dismissed Isermann's suit. Isermann now contends that the court erred in concluding that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction to address his claims. Upon review, we conclude that Isermann is correct that the court had subject matter jurisdiction; however, fundamental principles of comity compel us to honor the New Jersey rehabilitation court's assertion of exclusive jurisdiction in this matter. We therefore affirm the circuit court's orders *143 granting summary judgment in favor of MBLLAC and denying Isermann's motion for summary judgment.

BACKGROUND

MBL's Rehabilitation

¶ 3. On July 16, 1991, the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Mercer County (the rehabilitation court) placed MBL into rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of MBL was commenced pursuant to New Jersey's Uniform Insurers Liquidation Act (UILA). In 1992, New Jersey repealed the UILA and enacted the Life and Health Insurers Rehabilitation and Liquidation Act (RLA), and MBL's rehabilitation proceeded under this act. See N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 17B.-32-31 to :32-91 (West 1999).

¶ 4. As directed by the rehabilitation court's July 16, 1991 order, the Insurance Commissioner of New Jersey was named the rehabilitator of MBL. The court enjoined further prosecution of any action at law against MBL. As part of the order, MBL ceased to exist as such and "Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company in Rehabilitation" began operating as the successor to MBL. The rehabilitator was ordered to begin conducting the business of MBL and to take such steps "appropriate toward removing the cause and conditions which made rehabilitation necessary." 2 All insurance contracts previously issued by MBL remained in force except where cancellation was allowable by law. The rehabilitation order also enjoined all *144 policyholders from bringing any lawsuit against MBL or the rehabilitator.

¶ 5. On August 7, 1991, the rehabilitation court entered a second order which established a procedure for seeking relief from the restraints set forth in the original order. Pursuant to the order, a claimant could seek relief through the rehabilitator. If the claimant was dissatisfied with the decision issued by the rehabilitator, further review could be sought through the rehabilitation court.

¶ 6. In a subsequent order issued on January 28, 1994, the rehabilitation court approved the "Third Amended Plan of Rehabilitation" (rehabilitation plan) of MBL detailing the treatment of claims against MBL and MBLLAC. Under the rehabilitation plan, the rehabilitation court retained exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all disputes that might arise between "(a) any Claim Holder and (b) MBL, MBLLAC, the Rehabilitator, the Liquidator or the Trusts."

¶ 7. The rehabilitation court's January 28, 1994 order also authorized the "Third Amended Rehabilitation Agreement" (rehabilitation agreement) between MBL and MBLLAC, setting forth procedures for the transfer and restructuring of MBL's assets and liabilities. Under § 2.5 of the agreement, disability income contracts with MBL were to be treated as "Reaffirmed Contracts," which "shall be assigned and transferred to MBLLAC and assumed and reinsured by MBLLAC in accordance with the terms of Article 4." Section 4.2 of the agreement, entitled "Assumption of Liabilities," stated that MBLLAC "shall assume and reinsure the Reaffirmed Contracts ... in effect on the Closing Date and shall pay, perform and/or discharge all liabilities with respect to the Reaffirmed Contracts."

*145 ¶ 8. Pursuant to the rehabilitation agreement, MBL's liquidation proceedings began on the closing date of April 29,1994. MBL currently exists as "Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company In Liquidation." MBL's liquidation continues until December 31,1999.

Isermann's Disability Policies

¶ 9. In 1981, 1982 and 1988, Isermann purchased various disability income insurance policies from MBL. These policies remain in force and are not the subject of this litigation. At issue are two additional disability income policies which were issued to Isermann on March 19 and June 30, 1991.

¶ 10. On March 7, 1993, Isermann submitted a claim requesting disability coverage due to the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. MBL provided coverage under Isermann's 1981, 1982 and 1988 policies, but after reviewing his file it rescinded the 1991 policies on September 7, 1993. According to MBLLAC, Isermann had made material misrepresentations in the applications for his 1991 policies.

¶ 11. On April 29, 1996, Isermann brought this action against MBLLAC as the successor to MBL, claiming breach of contract and bad faith refusal to pay benefits and seeking a declaratory judgment of his rights pursuant to § 806.04, STATS. Both parties brought motions for summary judgment. MBLLAC contended that Isermann had "sued the wrong party in the wrong jurisdiction" and that his claims were against MBL and should have been brought in MBL's rehabilitation proceeding in New Jersey. In September 1997, the circuit court granted MBLLAC's motion for *146 summary judgment on the ground that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. 3

DISCUSSION

¶ 12. Isermann maintains that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of MBLLAC. We review a circuit court's grant of summary judgment using the same methodology as the circuit court. See M&I First Nat'l Bank v. Episcopal Homes Management, Inc., 195 Wis. 2d 485, 496, 536 N.W.2d 175, 182 (Ct. App. 1995). Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See id. at 497, 536 N.W.2d at 182; § 802.08(2), Stats. We must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, in this case, Isermann. See Grams v. Boss, 97 Wis. 2d 332, 338-39, 294 N.W.2d 473, 477 (1980). For the purposes of this appeal, there are no disputed facts; thus, we may resolve this dispute as a matter of law.

¶ 13.

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Bluebook (online)
605 N.W.2d 210, 231 Wis. 2d 136, 1999 Wisc. App. LEXIS 1160, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/isermann-v-mbl-life-assurance-corp-wisctapp-1999.