State Farm Lloyds v. Nicolau

951 S.W.2d 444, 1997 WL 377346
CourtTexas Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 2, 1997
Docket94-0287
StatusPublished
Cited by235 cases

This text of 951 S.W.2d 444 (State Farm Lloyds v. Nicolau) 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
State Farm Lloyds v. Nicolau, 951 S.W.2d 444, 1997 WL 377346 (Tex. 1997).

Opinions

SPECTOR, Justice,

delivered the opinion of the Court,

in which CORNYN, ENOCH, BAKER and ABBOTT, Justices, join.

This cause presents several questions about an insurer’s liability for extracontrac-tual damages. The court of appeals upheld jury findings of bad faith and malice, allowing the insureds to recover both mental anguish and exemplary damages. 869 S.W.2d 543. We agree that some evidence supports the jury’s finding that the insurer violated its duty of good faith and fair dealing. In addition, we hold that there is no evidence that the insurer acted unconscionably or with malice. Because the latter holding eliminates the Nicolaus’ recovery of common-law exemplary damages, we remand this cause to the court of appeals to consider the Nicolaus’ entitlement to additional damages on statutoly grounds.

In the insurance claim giving rise to this dispute, loan and Liana Nieolau sought coverage for extensive foundation damage at their Corpus Christi home. The Nicolaus’ homeowners policy, issued by State Farm Lloyds, generally excludes losses caused by “inherent vice,” or by “settling, cracking, bulging, shrinkage, or expansion of foundations.” Under an express exception, however, these exclusions do not apply to losses caused by an “[ajccidental discharge, leakage or overflow of water” from within a plumbing system.

The Nicolaus first experienced foundation problems in 1984, when cracks appeared in their walls. Unaware that the problems might be attributable to a plumbing leak and thus covered under their policy, the Nicolaus did not, at that time, file a claim. Instead, they hired Michael Krismer, a foundation repair contractor, to inspect the house. On his recommendation, they also engaged Dexter Bacon, a structural engineer with Maverick Engineering. After examining the house, Krismer and Bacon concluded that the ongoing drought that year — combined with four mesquite trees in the Nicolaus’ front yard — ■ was drying the soil under the front part of the house, causing the front of the house to sink. To prevent further downward movement, Krismer installed a series of concrete piers beneath the front of the house and part of the sides.

In 1986, the Nicolaus again noticed cracks in the interior and exterior of the house. Krismer again inspected the house but concluded that the cracks were insignificant. Krismer and Bacon both inspected the house again in 1988. Bacon determined that the piers installed in 1984 were providing adequate support. Krismer inspected the house once again in June 1989, and likewise concluded that the piers were continuing to function. Not yet realizing that they had a problem that might be covered under their insurance policy, the Nicolaus still did not file a claim.

In late 1989, however, Krismer became alarmed by additional foundation movement at the Nieolau home. One set of elevations indicated that the back of the house was five inches higher than the front. In Krismer’s words, the rear end of the house appeared to be “digging up out of the ground.” There was significant cracking in the sheetrock and exterior brick, and doors and cabinets were not closing properly.

At Krismer’s request, Bacon reexamined the house. Bacon realized there was a problem and referred the matter to Fred Hayden, [447]*447a licensed civil engineer with Maverick Engineering. Krismer, Bacon, and Hayden together determined that the problem was with swelling of the soil at the back of the house rather than contraction of the soil at the front of the house. For that reason, they decided to test for leaks in the drainline system under the foundation. Such leaks, they reasoned, could be causing expansion of the clay soil under the rear of the house. Initial testing indicated that there was a significant leak in the plumbing system.

Realizing for the first time that their homeowners’ policy might cover their foundation problems, the Nicolaus filed a claim with State Farm in February 1990. State Farm referred the claim to Monty R. Murray, an adjuster with ABJ Adjusters, Inc. Murray provided an initial report to State Farm in late February 1990 and a second report in March. Both reports expressed doubts that the leak was responsible for the foundation damages, because the leak was located toward the front rather than the back of the house.

In late March, at Krismer’s request, Maverick Engineering provided the Nicolaus with a report based on its investigation and testing. The Nicolaus gave the report to Ralph Cooper, State Farm’s claims superintendent. The report stated that the water from the plumbing leak may have flowed along the plumbing lines and trenches and may have caused the rear of the house to heave.

After receiving the Maverick report, Cooper, on behalf of State Farm, notified the Nicolaus that he wanted to obtain a second opinion on the origin and extent of their damages. For that purpose, Cooper authorized ABJ Adjusters to obtain a report from Haag Engineering Company.

Two Haag engineers examined the Nico-laus’ house. They provided Cooper with a report concluding that the reported sewer line leak did not significantly affect the foundation. Cooper forwarded the report to the Nicolaus, together with a letter reserving State Farm’s rights to deny coverage.

A month later, after receiving an estimate from Michael Krismer, State Farm notified the Nicolaus that State Farm was denying most of the coverage sought. State Farm did reimburse the Nicolaus $1,820.50 for expenses incurred in locating and repairing the leak, but rejected the Nicolaus’ claim for $102,200 for further piering or leveling of the foundation. Cooper explained in a letter that State Farm felt the Haag Engineering report was correct: that the foundation damage was not related to the water leak but was instead caused by inherent vice or by settling problems, both of which were not covered.

The Nicolaus then obtained a report from Trinity Engineering Testing Corporation (Tetco) prepared by Chien Fu, a licensed professional engineer with a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering specializing in soils analysis and foundation reports. Based on soil samples taken at the house, Fu concluded that the plumbing leak had allowed water to travel great distances through the cushion sand layer, causing a widespread wet condition in the soils. The Nicolaus forwarded the Tetco report to Cooper.

Cooper then notified the Nicolaus that he and Haag Engineering had reviewed the Tet-co materials. The Haag engineers had reported that Tetco’s conclusions were unfounded, and that the opinions stated in Haag’s initial report remained unchanged. Cooper agreed with Haag and stated that State Farm was adhering to its denial of the Nicolaus’ claim.

The Nicolaus then sued State Farm, asserting breach of contract and several extra-contractual claims based on State Farm’s conduct. At trial, the jury found that State Farm had breached its insurance contract, engaged in an unfair or deceptive act or practice, maliciously breached its duty to deal fairly and in good faith, and knowingly engaged in an unconscionable action. The jury awarded the Nicolaus $102,200 in policy benefits owed for necessary repairs to their home; $50,000 for mental anguish suffered in the past; $300,000 in punitive damages; and attorney’s fees of either forty percent or $150,000.

The trial court chose to disregard all of the jury’s findings except those relating to breach of contract, amount of loss, and attorney’s fees.

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

Related

in Re State Farm Lloyds
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2020
Dennis Webb v. State Farm Lloyds
Texas Supreme Court, 2017
in the Interest of K.I.B.C., a Child
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2015
in Re Commitment of George Jefferson Hatcher
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2015
Mario Santacruz v. Allstate Texas Lloyd's, Inc.
590 F. App'x 384 (Fifth Circuit, 2014)
United National Insurance Company v. AMJ Investments, LLC
447 S.W.3d 1 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2014)
I-10 Colony, Inc. v. Chao Kuan Lee, Li Yang Lee, Li Hsiang Chang
393 S.W.3d 467 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2012)
U.S. Bank, N. A. v. Mitchell Kobernick and Allan Klein
402 S.W.3d 748 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
951 S.W.2d 444, 1997 WL 377346, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-farm-lloyds-v-nicolau-tex-1997.