Nassar v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co.

478 S.W.3d 65, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 10099, 2015 WL 5727667
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedSeptember 29, 2015
DocketNO. 14-14-00277-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 478 S.W.3d 65 (Nassar v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nassar v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 478 S.W.3d 65, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 10099, 2015 WL 5727667 (Tex. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinions

OPINION

William J. Boyce, Justice

In three issues, Elie and Rhonda Nassar challenge summary judgment orders in favor of Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Group, Dave Baker, Mary Hamilton, and Marcus Smith (collectively, “Liberty Mutual”). The trial court signed the summary judgment orders in connection with an insurance coverage dispute and an appraisal award arising from damage to the Nassars’ residence that occurred when Hurricane Ike struck southeast Texas in September 2008. Col-[68]*68leetively, these orders resolve all issues and constitute a final judgment.

We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Background

The Nassars own a residence at 4245 Clayhead Road in Richmond, Texas that is situated on six acres. In addition to the residence itself, these six acres contain a system of fences, barns, and outbuildings. Liberty Mutual insured the Nassars’ dwelling and other structures pursuant to a Texas Homeowners Policy Form A issued for a policy period beginning on August 2, 2008, and ending on August 8,2009. This policy was in effect when Hurricane Ike came ashore'in September 2008 and caused physical loss tó the insured property. .

.Liberty Mutual issued payments under the policy to the Nassars in November 2008 pertaining to certain physical losses caused by Hurricane Ike. Liberty Mutual and the Nassars disagreed about coverage for the Nassars’ fence under the policy; they also disagreed about amounts owed for covered losses for other damage to the Nassars’ dwelling and other structures.

The Nassars sued Liberty Mutual in February 2009 and asserted claims for breach of the homeowners policy; they also asserted a variety of extra-contractual claims based on Liberty Mutual’s position regarding coverage of the fence, and its conduct in connection with the Nassars’ claim. The trial court signed a summary judgment order in Liberty Mutual’s favor on (1) the coverage issue, and (2) the Nas-sars’ extra-contractual claims. Based on this ruling, the only remaining issues involved the parties’ disagreements about amounts owed for covered losses for other damage to the Nassars’ dwelling and other structures. The trial court granted Liberty Mutual’s motion to compel appraisal as to these disputed amounts pursuant to a provision in the homeowners policy. After the appraisal award was issued, the trial court signed a second and final summary judgment in Liberty Mutual’s favor in which it determined that no amounts were owed under the policy beyond those already paid.

.The Nassars appealed and now challenge both summary judgment orders in this court.

Analysis

The Nassars contend that the trial court erred by (1) granting summary judgment in favor of Liberty Mutual with respect to coverage; (2) granting summary judgment in favor of Liberty Mutual with respect to their remaining extra-contractual causes'of action; and (3) compelling appraisal.

All of the issues raised on appeal were decided by way of summary judgment. We review summary judgment orders de novo.. Provident Life & Accident Ins, Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex.2003).

The party moving for a traditional summary judgment must establish that no material fact issue exists and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c); M.D. Anderson Hosp. & Tumor Inst. v. Willrich, 28 S.W.3d 22, 23 (Tex.2000). Once the movant produces sufficient evidence conclusively establishing a right to summary judgment, the burden of proof shifts to the nonmovant to present evidence sufficient to raise a fact issue... See Centeq Realty, Inc. v. Siegler, 899 S.W.2d 195, 197 (Tex.1995). In reviewing a traditional summary judgment, we examine the entire record in the light most favorable to the nonmovant, indulging every reasonable inference and resolving any doubts against the motion. Yancy v. United Surgical Partners Int’l, Inc., 236 S.W.3d 778, 782 (Tex.2007).

[69]*69In reviewing a no-evidence summary judgment under Rule 166a(i), we apply a legal-sufficiency standard. See, e.g., King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 118 S.W.3d 742, 750-51 (Tex.2003). We “review the evidence presented by the motion and response in the light most favorable to the party against whom the summary judgment was rendered, crediting evidence favorable to that party if reasonable jurors could, and disregarding contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors could not.” Mack Trucks, Inc. v. Tamez, 206 S.W.3d 572, 582 (Tex.2006).

I. Coverage

In their first issue, the Nassars challenge the trial court’s coverage determination with respéct to the fence.

The parties agree that property damage to the Nassars’ fence from Hurricane Ike totaled $58,000, and that a Texas Homeowners Policy Form A issued by Liberty Mutual covers this property damage. The parties also agree regarding the liability limits applicable to the individual policy subsections being litigated. They disagree about which policy subsection applies to the fence.

The Nassars contend that this property damage is covered by subsection (1) of “COVERAGE A (DWELLING),” which is subject to a $247,200 liability limit. Liberty Mutual contends that property damage to the Nassars’ fence is covered pursuant to subsection (2) of “COVERAGE A (DWELLING),” which is subject to a $24,720 liability limit that Liberty Mutual already has paid. The trial court agreed with Liberty Mutual and granted summary judgment in its favor on this coverage question.

Insurance policies are construed using ordinary rules of contract interpretation. Tanner v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 289 S.W.3d 828, 831 (Tex.2009). We give policy language its plain, ordinary meaning unless something else in the policy shows the parties intended a different, technical meaning. Id. When construing the policy’s language, we must give effect to all contractual provisions so that none will be rendered meaningless. Kelley-Coppedge, Inc. v. Highlands Ins. Co., 980 S.W.2d 462, 464 (Tex.1998); see also Chrysler Ins. Co. v. Greenspoint Dodge of Houston, Inc., 297 S.W.3d 248, 253 (Tex.2009).

Liberty Mutual filed a traditional motion for summary judgment with respect to coverage. The operative policy language reads as follows.

COVERAGE A (DWELLING)
We cover:
1. the dwelling on the residence premises shown on the declarations page including structures attached to the dwelling.
2. other structures on the residence premises set apart from the dwelling by clear space.

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478 S.W.3d 65, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 10099, 2015 WL 5727667, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nassar-v-liberty-mutual-fire-insurance-co-texapp-2015.