Spargo v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company
Filing
37
ORDER that 15 Plaintiff's Motion to Compel is denied. FURTHER ORDERED that 28 Defendant's Motion for Protective Order is granted, in part, to the extent that attorney Gina Winspear is not required to testify regarding the contents o f any confidential attorney-client communications with State Farm. Plaintiff is not precluded from deposing Ms. Winspear on any nonprivileged relevant matters.FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff shall immediately return or destroy any copies of the Jul y 14, 2015 and August 6, 2015 letters in its possession, custody or control. Plaintiff's counsel shall file a verification with the Court that it has done so. Signed by Magistrate Judge George Foley, Jr on 6/22/17. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - MMM)
1
2
3
4
5
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
6
DISTRICT OF NEVADA
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
KIRSTEN SPARGO,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
vs.
)
)
STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY
)
COMPANY,
)
)
Defendant.
)
__________________________________________)
Case No. 2:16-cv-03036-APG-GWF
ORDER
14
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel (ECF No. 15), filed on May 10,
15
2017. Defendant filed its Response (ECF No. 25) on May 24, 2017. Plaintiff filed a Supplement to the
16
Motion to Compel (ECF No. 24) on May 24, 2017, and filed her Reply (ECF No. 34) on May 31, 2017.
17
Also before the Court is Defendant’s Motion for Protective Order (ECF No. 28), filed on May 25, 2017.
18
Plaintiff filed her Response (ECF No. 33) on May 31, 2017. The Court conducted a hearing on these
19
motions on June 5, 2017.
20
21
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Kirsten Spargo alleges that she suffered bodily injuries in a May 26, 2009 accident when
22
another motorist ran a stop sign and collided with her vehicle. She made a claim against the other
23
driver’s liability insurance policy and subsequently settled for the $15,000 limits of that policy. On May
24
13, 2011, Ms. Spargo made a claim to State Farm for underinsured motorist benefits. On February 27,
25
2012, she filed a lawsuit against State Farm for breach of the underinsured motorist coverage contract.
26
On April 4, 2012, State Farm sent a letter to Plaintiff’s attorney stating that the medical records showed
27
that Ms. Spargo had seen a doctor for four (4) to five (5) years for neck symptoms and headaches. State
28
Farm stated that to move forward it would need all medical records from Dr. Mayor and Dr. Simoncelli.
1
On July 5, 2012, Plaintiff provided State Farm with signed authorizations for (1) medical records, (2)
2
employment records, (3) insurance claims records, (4) worker’s compensation records, and (5) tax
3
returns. On July 9, 2013, State Farm requested that Ms. Spargo undergo a medical examination with Dr.
4
Schiffini, a doctor hired by State Farm. On October 30, 2014, Planitiff’s attorneys advised State Farm
5
that she was still treating with Dr. Hogan and Dr. Burkhead. Plaintiff alleges that during the lawsuit
6
State Farm unreasonably undervalued her claim and forced her to engage in prolonged litigation to
7
recover the policy limits. State Farm paid the policy limit of $250,000.00 on August 26, 2015. Plaintiff
8
alleges that “State Farm’s attorney in the breach of contract action recommended to State Farm that it
9
pay the policy limits two years earlier in the litigation and State Farm chose instead to delay the litigation
10
11
and force Kirsten into prolonged litigation.” Amended Complaint (ECF No. 1), ¶¶ 11–19.
Planitiff’s counsel Sean Claggett submitted a declaration in which he states that Defendant’s
12
counsel in the breach of contract action, Gina Winspear, “told Samuel Harding—an attorney at my
13
firm—and me that she had advised State Farm to pay the policy limits years earlier than when State
14
Farm finally paid the policy limits.” Motion to Compel (ECF No. 15), pg. 3, ¶ 12. In response, State
15
Farm filed a declaration by Ms. Winspear in which she states that “[d]uring my handling of the defense
16
of the state court case, I never told Plaintiff’s counsel, Sean A. Claggett, Esq. or Samuel A. Harding,
17
Esq., that I recommended that Defendant pay Plaintiff’s $250,000 UIM policy limits because her UIM
18
claim had a value of $250,000.” Response (ECF No. 25), Exhibit B, ¶ 8. In reply, Mr. Claggett
19
submitted another declaration stating that “I distinctly remember Mr. Harding and I talking to Ms.
20
Winspear about the breach of contract action at the Clark County Regional Justice Center following a
21
hearing. During that conversation, Ms. Winspear seemed frustrated at the case and told us that she had
22
been telling State Farm to settle the case for policy limits for years. I recall this conversation because I
23
believed at that time that it likely meant that State Farm acted in bad faith.” Reply (ECF No. 34), Exhibit
24
7, ¶¶ 4-5.
25
26
State Farm has produced portions of its claims file relating to Plaintiff’s UIM claim. It has,
however, withheld letter/reports provided to it by Ms. Winspear in the underlying breach of contract
27
28
2
1
action.1 State Farm also withheld claim log entries regarding communications with its counsel in the
2
underlying action. State Farm asserts that these letter/reports and claim log entries are protected from
3
disclosure pursuant to the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine. Plaintiff argues that
4
she is entitled to obtain these letter/reports and related claim log entries because they are directly
5
relevant to her claim that State Farm unreasonably undervalued and delayed the payment of her claim.
6
Plaintiff argues that neither the attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine protects the
7
letter/reports or log entries from disclosure in this action.
8
9
DISCUSSION
An insurer fails to act in good faith when it refuses without proper cause to compensate the
10
insured for a loss covered by the policy. Such conduct gives rise to a breach of the covenant of good
11
faith and fair dealing and constitutes “bad faith.” Pemberton v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 109 Nev. 789, 858
12
P.2d 380, 382 (Nev. 1993). An insurance company may be found liable in tort for the “bad faith” refusal
13
or failure to pay uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage benefits. Id. at 383. See also Allstate
14
Prop. & Cas. Co. v. Mirkia, 2013 WL 944778, at *7 (D.Nev. March 7, 2013); Chacon v. State Farm
15
Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2017 WL 1179945, at *2 (D.Nev. March 29, 2017). “Bad faith is established where
16
the insurer acts unreasonably and with knowledge that there is no reasonable basis for its conduct.”
17
Guaranty National Ins. Co. v. Potter, 112 Nev. 199, 912 P.2d 267, 272 (Nev. 1996). An insurer may be
18
liable for punitive damages if it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the insurer has been
19
guilty of oppression, fraud or malice. Id. at 273. See also Hackler v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.,
20
210 F.Supp.3d 1250, 1258 (D.Nev. 2016).
21
The duty of good faith continues during any litigation that is brought to recover policy benefits.
22
Knotts v. Zurich Ins. Co., 197 S.W.3d 512, 517-18 (Ky. 2006) (citing White v. Western Title Ins. Co.,
23
710 P.2d 309, 316-17 (Cal. 1985), Haddick v. Valor Ins., 735 N.E.2d 132, 133 (Ill.App. 2000), Harris v.
24
Fontenot, 606 So.2d 72, 74 (La.Ct.App. 1992), Palmer v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, 861 P.2d 895, 913
25
1
26
27
28
State Farm voluntarily submitted these reports to the Court for in camera review should the Court
conclude that such review is necessary. The letter/reports are dated May 8, 2012, June 26, 2012, August 24,
2012, November 13, 2012, February 4, 2013, March 26, 2013 (two letters), July 25, 2013, December 3, 2013,
February 20, 2014, December 11, 2014, January 9, 2014 (this is probably misdated as to year), January 27, 2015,
January 23, 2015, April 30, 2015, July 14, 2015, August 3, 2015, August 6, 2015, and August 25, 2015.
3
1
(Mont. 1993), O’Donnell ex rel. Mitro v. Allstate Ins. Co., 734 A.2d 901, 906 (Pa.Super.Ct. 1999) and
2
Barefield v. DPIC Companies, 600 S.E.2d 256, 267 (W.Va. 2004)). See also Sinclair v. Zurich
3
American Ins. Co., 129 F.Supp.3d 1252, 1257 (D.N.M. 2015). Here, Plaintiff alleges that State Farm
4
acted in bad faith during the course of the underlying breach of contract action.
5
1.
6
The work production doctrine protects from discovery by the opposing party materials prepared
Work Product Doctrine
7
in anticipation of litigation. Fed.R.Civ.Pro. 26(b)(3). Application of the doctrine is governed by federal
8
law. Kandel v. Brother Intern. Corp., 683 F.Supp.2d 1076, 1083 (C.D.Cal. 2009); Moe v. System
9
Transport, Inc., 270 F.R.D. 613, 622 (D.Mont. 2010); and Abueg v. State Farm Mu. Auto. Ins. Co.,
10
2014 WL 550311, at *3 (D.Nev. Oct. 30, 2014). The party claiming work product immunity has the
11
burden of proving the applicability of the doctrine. Kandel, 683 F.Supp.2d at 1083-84 (citing A. Farber
12
& Partners, Inc. v. Garber, 234 F.R.D. 186, 192 (C.D. Cal. 2006)). Rule 26(b)(3) distinguishes between
13
ordinary work product and opinion work product. Ordinary work product is discoverable if the
14
requesting party shows a “substantial need for the materials to prepare its case and cannot, without
15
undue hardship, obtain their substantial equivalent by other means.” Moe, 270 F.R.D. at 626-27
16
(quoting Rule 26(b)(3)(A)(ii)). “In contrast, the Court is obligated to ‘protect against disclosure of the
17
mental impressions, conclusions, opinions, or legal theories of a party’s attorney or other representatives
18
concerning the litigation. Thus, opinion work product is afforded greatest protection, and a party
19
seeking such materials must show that the ‘mental impressions are directly at issue in a case and the
20
need for the materials is compelling.’” Id. at 627 (quoting Dion v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 185 F.R.D.
21
288, 282 (D.Mont. 1998)). See also Phillips v. C.R. Bard, Inc., 290 F.R.D. 615, 634 (D.Nev. 2013).
22
In Holmgren v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 976 F.2d 573 (9th Cir. 1992), the court stated
23
that in a bad faith insurance claim settlement case, the “strategy, mental impressions, and opinions of
24
[the insurer’s] agents concerning the handling of the claim are directly at issue.” Id. at 577 (citing Reavis
25
v. Metropolitan Property & Liability Ins. Co., 117 F.R.D. 160, 164 (S.D.Cal. 1987)). “Unless the
26
information is available elsewhere, a plaintiff may be able to establish a compelling need for evidence in
27
the insurer’s claim file regarding the insurer’s opinion of the viability and value of the claim. We review
28
the question on a case-by-case basis.” The court further noted that “in bad faith settlement cases,
4
1
insurers may call their adjusters to testify to their opinions as to the lack of viability of the underlying
2
claim. When an insurer chooses to remain moot on the subject, the plaintiff is not foreclosed from
3
developing the same evidence.” Id. at 578.
4
The insured’s right to discover the opinions and mental impressions of the insurer’s claims
5
adjusters does not mean, however, that she is entitled to obtain the confidential opinions, mental
6
impressions or legal theories of the insurer’s attorney. In Siddall v. Allstate Ins. Co., 15 Fed.Appx. 522
7
(9th Cir. Aug. 1, 2001) (unpublished memorandum), the plaintiff argued that he had “a substantial need”
8
for the mental impressions, conclusions, and opinions of the insurer’s attorney. The court stated that
9
“[i]n analyzing this contention, it is important to discern the difference between the attorney-client
10
privilege and the work product doctrine. Even if we agreed that Siddall had a substantial need for the
11
requested documents, a substantial need does not, as a matter of law, provide a legal basis for piercing
12
the attorney-client privilege. It can, however, provide a basis for obtaining material withheld under the
13
work product doctrine.” Id. at 522. Likewise, in Dion v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 185 F.R.D. 288, 294
14
(D.Mont. 1998), the court stated that a compelling need to obtain the insurance adjuster’s mental
15
impressions and opinions does not, in and of itself, support production of the mental impressions and
16
opinions of the insurer’s attorney. In Yurick ex rel. Yurick v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 201 F.R.D. 465, 473
17
n. 13 (D.Ariz. 2001), the court relied on Holmgren and Brown v. Superior Court, 137 Ariz. 327, 670
18
P.2d 725, 735 (Ariz. 1983) in stating the mental impressions and opinions of the insurer’s claims
19
personnel were discoverable in a bad faith action, “but not the attorney-client communications” between
20
the insurer and its counsel which were protected by the attorney-client privilege. Therefore, although the
21
work product doctrine may not protect the attorney’s mental impressions and opinions from being
22
discovered in a bad faith action, they may still be protected under the attorney-client privilege.
23
2.
24
In a federal action based on diversity of citizenship jurisdiction, state law governs attorney-client
25
privilege claims. Kandel, 683 F.Supp.2d at 1081. (citing Fed.R.Evid. 501; Star Editorial, Inc. v. United
26
States District Court for Central District of California (Dangerfield), 7 F.3d 856, 859 (9th Cir. 1993);
27
Oakes v. Halvorsen Marine Ltd., 179 F.R.D. 281, 284 (C.D.Cal. 1998)). Nevada Revised Statute (NRS)
28
§ 49.095 states that a client has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from
Attorney-Client Privilege
5
1
disclosing confidential communications (1) between himself or his representative and his lawyer or his
2
lawyer’s representative; (2) between his lawyer and the lawyer’s representative; (3) made for the purpose
3
of facilitating the rendition of professional legal services to the client, by him or his lawyer to a lawyer
4
representing another in a matter of common interest.
5
The attorney-client privilege is waived when the client voluntarily reveals an attorney-client
6
communication to a person outside the scope of the attorney-client relationship. Wardleigh v. Second
7
Judicial Dist. Court, 111 Nev. 345, 891 P.2d 1180, 1186 (1995); Manley v. State, 115 Nev. 114, 979
8
P.2d 703, 707 (1999). As a general rule, a party impliedly waives the attorney-client privilege when it
9
expressly relies on the advice of counsel as a defense to a claim against it. Chevron Corp. v. Pennzoil
10
Co., 974 F.2d 1156, 1162-63 (9th Cir. 1992); Apex Eyewear, Inc. v. E’Lite Optik, Inc., 276 F.Supp.2d
11
1084, 1092-93 (D.Nev. 2003). In such circumstances, the opposing party is entitled to discover the
12
attorney-client communications relating to the subject matter of the advice. Id. State Farm states that it
13
is not relying on the advice of counsel as a defense to Plaintiff’s bad faith claim. It therefore argues that
14
it has not waived the attorney-client privilege regarding confidential communications with its counsel in
15
the breach of contract action.
16
Even if the insurer does not expressly assert advice of counsel as a defense to bad faith liability, a
17
majority of courts hold that the plaintiff may still be entitled to discover the mental impressions or
18
opinions of the insurer’s coverage attorney because they are directly relevant to the issue of bad faith. In
19
Bertelsen v. Allstate Ins. Co., 796 N.W.2d 685,702 (S.D. 2011), the South Dakota Supreme Court stated
20
that an insurer need not expressly rely on the advice of counsel to waive the attorney-client privilege.
21
The court noted that “‘[m]ost sophisticated litigants will know better than to dig that hole for
22
themselves.’” Id. (quoting State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Lee, 199 Ariz. 52, 64, 13 P.3d 1169, 181
23
(2000) (en banc.). The court stated that three general approaches have emerged to determine whether a
24
client impliedly waives the attorney-client privilege by placing its counsel’s mental impressions or
25
opinions in issue. The first approach provides that a litigant waives the attorney-client privilege if, and
26
only if, it directly puts its attorney’s advice at issue in the case. The court cited Palmer by Diacon v.
27
Farmers Insurance, 861 P.2d 895 (Mont. 1993), as one of the decisions adopting this approach. Id. at
28
702, n. 6. The second approach provides that a litigant automatically waives the privilege upon assertion
6
1
of a claim, counterclaim, or affirmative defense that raises an issue to which privileged material is
2
relevant. Under this approach, the insurer’s mere denial of bad faith arguably constitutes a waiver of the
3
attorney-client privilege. Cases applying this approach include Silva v. Fire Ins. Exch., 112 F.R.D. 699
4
(D.Mont. 1986) and Boone v. Vanliner Ins. Co., 91 Ohio St.3d 209, 744 N.E.2d 154 (2001). The third
5
approach balances the need for discovery with the importance of maintaining the privilege. This
6
approach generally applies the three-part test set forth in Hearn v. Rhay, 68 F.R.D. 574 (E.D. Wash.
7
1975). Bertelsen states that a majority of jurisdictions have adopted this approach. Id. at 702.
8
9
Hearn involved a civil rights lawsuit brought by an inmate against prison officials who asserted
qualified immunity as a defense. The qualified immunity defense was, in turn, based on the defendants’
10
alleged good faith. Under the Hearn test, “an implied waiver of the attorney-client privilege occurs
11
when (1) the assertion of the privilege was a result of some affirmative act, such as filing suit; (2)
12
through this affirmative act, the asserting party puts the privileged information at issue; and (3) allowing
13
the privilege would deny the opposing party access to information vital to its defense. Id., 68 F.R.D. at
14
581. The court recognized that the defendants had not engaged in the affirmative conduct of instigating
15
the lawsuit. They had, however, asserted the attorney-client privilege “in aid of the affirmative defense
16
that they are protected from liability by qualified immunity. Therefore, all the elements common to a
17
finding of waiver are present in this case[.]” Id. In applying this test, the court also stated that “[a]
18
substantial showing of merit to plaintiff’s case must be made before a court should apply the exception
19
to the attorney-client privilege defined herein.” Id. at 582.
20
In Home Indemnity Co. v. Lane Powell Moss and Miller, 43 F.3d 1322 (9th Cir. 1995), the Ninth
21
Circuit applied the Hearn test in a case involving a legal malpractice action by an insurer against its
22
former attorneys. The court noted that the Hearn test was used by the district court and that neither party
23
objected to its application on appeal. Id. at 1326. The court further stated that “[i]n Hearn, an
24
overarching consideration is whether allowing the privilege to protect against disclosure of the
25
information would be ‘manifestly unfair’ to the opposing party.”2
26
27
28
2
Decisions in this district have followed Home Indemnity in applying the Hearn test in diversity cases
without discussing whether the Nevada Supreme Court will adopt that test. See Ideal Electric Co. v. Flowserve
Corp., 230 F.R.D. 603, 610 (D.Nev. 2005) and Copper Sands Homeowners Assn’n v. Copper Sands Realty, LLC,
7
1
The court in Bertelsen stated that “the Hearn test alone provides insufficient guidance to be just
2
and workable.” 796 N.W.2d at 703. The court stated that the Hearn test should be supplemented to
3
emphasize the importance of protecting the attorney-client privilege. The analysis should begin with a
4
presumption in favor of the preserving the privilege. A client only waives the privilege by expressly or
5
impliedly injecting his attorney’s advice into the case. A denial of bad faith or an assertion of good faith
6
alone is not an implied waiver of the privilege. Finally, a client only waives the privilege to the extent
7
necessary to reveal the advice he placed at issue. Id. By imposing this presumption in favor of the
8
privilege, Bertelsen comes close to adopting the first approach that the attorney-client privilege is
9
waived if, and only if, the insurer directly puts its attorney’s advice in issue in the case.
10
In Cedell v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Washington, 295 P.3d 239 (Wash. 2013), the Washington
11
Supreme Court adopted a presumption that is essentially the opposite of that adopted in Bertelsen. The
12
Washington court held that there should be a rebuttable presumption in first-party insurance bad faith
13
cases that the work product doctrine and attorney-client privilege do not apply. In so holding, the court
14
explained:
15
16
17
18
19
We recognize that two principles we hold dear are in tension in insurance
bad faith claims. The purpose of discovery is to allow production of all
relevant facts and thereby narrow the issues, and promote efficient and
early resolution of claims. The purpose of the attorney-client privilege is
to allow clients to fully inform their attorneys of all relevant facts without
fear of consequent disclosure. . . . First party bad faith claims by insureds
against their own insurer are unique and founded upon two important
public policy pillars: that an insurance company has a quasi-fiduciary duty
to its insured and that insurance contracts, practices and procedures are
highly regulated and of substantial public interest. . . .
20
21
22
23
24
To protect these principles, we adopt the same basic approach as the Court
of Appeals did in Barry. We start from the presumption that there is no
attorney-client privilege relevant between insured and insurer in the claims
adjusting process, and that the attorney-client and work product privileges
are generally not relevant. Barry, 98 Wash.App. at 204, 989 P.2d 1172.
However, the insurer may overcome the presumption of discoverability by
showing its attorney was not engaged in the quasi-fiduciary tasks of
investigating and evaluating or processing the claim, but instead in
providing the insurer with counsel as to its own potential liability; for
25
26
27
28
2012 WL, at *3 (D.Nev. Dec. 31, 2012). As Home Indemnity states, where the state supreme court has not ruled
on a question in issue, the federal court looks to other state-court decisions, well-reasoned decisions from other
jurisdictions, and any other available authority to determine the applicable state law. 43 F.3d at 1326 (citing
Burns v. International Ins. Co., 929 F.2d 1422, 1424 (9th Cir. 1991)).
8
1
example, whether or not coverage exists under the law.
2
295 P.3d at 245-46 (internal citations omitted).
3
The court exempted uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage bad faith claims from this
4
presumption. The court stated that “[t]he UIM insurer steps into the shoes of the tortfeasor and may
5
defend as the tortfeasor would defend. Thus, in the UIM context, the insurance company is entitled to
6
counsel’s advice in strategizing the same defenses that the tortfeasor could have asserted.” Id. at 245.
7
Even in a UIM bad faith claim, however, there are limits to the insurer’s right to assert the attorney-
8
client privilege. The court adopted the following rule for resolving attorney-client privilege claims in
9
UIM bad faith claims:
10
11
12
First, the court determines whether there is a factual showing adequate to
support a good faith belief by a reasonable person that wrongful conduct
sufficient to invoke the fraud exception to the attorney-client privilege has
occurred. Second, if so, the court subjects the documents to an in camera
inspection to determine whether there is a foundation in fact for the charge
of fraud. The in camera inspection is a matter of trial court discretion.
13
14
Id. at 245.
15
Although Plaintiff cites the Cedell presumption in support of her motion to compel, she fails to
16
discuss the exception to that presumption that the court made for UIM bad faith cases.
17
Other courts have adopted the crime-fraud exception as the test for determining whether
18
communications between the insurer and its counsel may be discovered in a bad faith action. Heyden v.
19
Allstate Ins. Co., 2013 WL 12171613, at *2 (D. Alaska Dec. 10, 2013) (citing Central Construction Co.
20
v. Home Indemnity Co., 794 P.2d 595 (Alaska 1990)); State ex rel. Allstate v. Madden, 601 S.E.2d 25,
21
26 (W.Va. 2004). The court in Madden also adopted the standard set forth in United States v. Zolin, 491
22
U.S. 554, 572, 109 S.Ct. 2619, 2631 (1989) for conducting in camera review of attorney-client
23
communications— the court has the discretion to conduct in camera review where the party seeking
24
disclosure makes a threshold showing adequate to support a good faith belief by a reasonable person that
25
wrongful conduct sufficient to invoke the crime-fraud exception to the attorney-client privilege has
26
occurred. The dissent in Madden criticized the majority’s equation of “fraud” with “bad faith” by the
27
insurer, arguing that the meaning of the terms are not the same and that the decision undermined the
28
narrow scope of the crime-fraud exception. Id. at 43-44.
9
1
Plaintiff argues that this Court should follow Silva v. Fire Ins. Exchange, 112 F.R.D. 699 (D.
2
Mont. 1986) which dismissed the insurer’s privilege objections on the grounds that “[t]he time-worn
3
claims of work product and attorney-client privilege cannot be invoked to the insurance company’s
4
benefit where the only issue in the case is whether the insurer breached its duty of good faith in
5
processing the insured’s claim.” Id. at 699-700. The Silva court cited no authority for this assertion.3 In
6
Boone v. Vanliner Ins. Co., 744 N.E.2d 154, 156-58 (Ohio 2000), the Ohio Supreme Court more
7
persuasively held that the work product doctrine and attorney-client privileges do not apply in a case
8
involving the alleged bad faith denial of insurance coverage. The insurer in Boone initially denied that
9
the insurance policies issued by it provided underinsured motorist coverage for injuries suffered by the
10
plaintiff in an accident. The insurer subsequently reversed its position on coverage. The court held that
11
plaintiff was entitled to obtain attorney-client communications relating to the initial denial of coverage.
12
In Spiniello v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 2008 WL 27775643, at *6 (D.N.J. July 14, 2008), the court stated
13
that Boone is the minority rule and cited several cases rejecting its approach. The court noted that at
14
least one commentator has criticized Boone’s “chilling effect” on insurance companies’ ability to seek
15
legal advice. Id. (citing Steven Plitt, The Elastic Contours of Attorney-Client Privilege and Waiver in
16
the Context of Insurance Company Bad Faith: There’s a Chill in the Air, 34 Seton Hall L.Rev.513, 572
17
(2004)).
18
The Nevada Supreme Court could adopt any one of the three general approaches or some variant
19
thereof. All of these approaches seek to resolve the conflict that exists in upholding an insurer’s
20
assertion of the attorney-client privilege in the context of a bad faith claim in which the opinions and
21
recommendations of its coverage counsel are relevant in assessing whether the insurer acted reasonably
22
in light of “the evidence before it at the time it denied the claim.” City of Myrtle Beach v. United
23
National Ins Co., 2010 WL 3420044, at *4 (D.S.C. Aug. 27, 2010). The Hearn test comes closer than
24
the other approaches in accommodating the public interest in upholding the attorney-client privilege
25
26
27
28
3
Silva was cited in USF Ins. Co. v. Smith’s Food and Drug Center, Inc., 921 F.Supp.2d 1082, 1096-97
(D.Nev. 2013), but only for the proposition that a party can request leave to disclose documents under a
protective order. The court did not adopt Silva’s holding that the attorney-client privilege does not apply in
insurance bad faith cases.
10
1
when it is fair to do so, but in also recognizing that the privilege should not apply when the opinions or
2
advice provided by the insurer’s counsel are material to determining whether the insurer acted in bad
3
faith. Application of the Hearn approach is probably not significantly different from the crime-fraud
4
analysis proposed by the courts in Cedell, Heyden and Madden. The Hearn approach, however, avoids
5
the arguable confusion or weakening of the crime-fraud exception by applying it in the context of an
6
insurance bad faith claim. As the dissent in Madden recognized “bad faith” does not necessarily equate
7
to fraud. See also Potter, 912 P.2d at 272 (defining “bad faith”) and Lubbe v. Barba, 91 Nev. 596, 599,
8
540 P.2d 115, 117 (1975) (setting forth the elements of common law fraud). This Court therefore
9
predicts that Nevada will follow the majority of jurisdictions in adopting the Hearn approach.
10
Hearn stated that before holding that the attorney-client privilege does not apply, the plaintiff is
11
required to make “a substantial showing of merit” to his case. Hearn, 68 F.R.D. at 582. The court
12
applied that requirement in the context of a lawsuit alleging violations of the plaintiff’s civil rights. In
13
City of Myrtle Beach, the district court imposed a similar requirement in an insurance bad faith claim
14
which it characterized as making a prima facie case of bad faith. 2010 WL 3420044, at *7. See also
15
Contravest Inc. v. Mt. Hawley Ins. Co., 2017 WL 1190880, at *4 (D.S.C. March 31, 2017). This Court
16
believes that such a requirement is necessary. Otherwise, an insurer’s mere denial that it acted in bad
17
faith will automatically trigger discovery of confidential attorney-client communications regardless of
18
whether there is any reasonable basis to the claim of bad faith. The plaintiff should be required to show
19
she has a reasonably viable bad faith claim before the the insurer is required to disclose its attorney-
20
client communications.
21
Plaintiff has not provided much detail for her allegation that State Farm unreasonably
22
undervalued her claim and forced her to engage in prolonged litigation to recover the policy limits. The
23
Court knows that Plaintiff filed her underlying lawsuit in February 2012 and that State Farm paid the
24
$250,000 UIM policy limits over three years later in August 2015. How Plaintiff’s injuries or medical
25
condition may have progressed, i.e., deteriorated, remained the same, or improved, during that time
26
period is not described in Plaintiff’s complaint or in the briefs on the motion to compel. Likewise,
27
Plaintiff does not explain when State Farm obtained information during the course of handling the claim
28
that should have caused it to pay the $250,000 limits.
11
1
Plaintiff bases her claim of bad faith on the alleged statement by State Farm’s counsel, Gina
2
Winspear, that she recommended to State Farm that it pay the underinsured motorist coverage limits two
3
years earlier in the litigation. Amended Complaint (ECF No. 1), ¶ 19. Mr. Claggett does not state when
4
Ms. Winspear made this statement to him and Mr. Harding. It appears from the context of his
5
declarations that the alleged statement was made shortly before State Farm paid the underinsured
6
motorist coverage limits. Ms. Winspear denies that she made the statement.
7
If Ms. Winspear did, in fact, recommend that State Farm pay the underinsured motorist coverage
8
limits at a substantially earlier date in the underlying case, it would be relevant in assessing the
9
reasonableness of the insurer’s conduct. Because Plaintiff’s bad faith claim is predicated on this
10
assertion and State Farm has voluntarily submitted Ms. Winspear’s reports for in camera inspection, the
11
Court has determined that in camera inspection is appropriate. Based on its review of the documents,
12
the Court finds no evidence that Ms. Winspear recommended that State Farm pay the underinsured
13
motorist coverage limits, or some other amount, prior to August, 2015. Nor is there any indication that
14
Ms. Winspear was of the opinion that the Plaintiff’s claim had a value at or near the $250,000
15
underinsured motorist coverage limits at a time significantly before the date those limits were paid.
16
Plaintiff has not made any other showing in support of her claim that State Farm should have paid the
17
$250,000 underinsured motorist coverage limits substantially before August 26, 2015. Therefore,
18
Plaintiff has not met her burden under Hearn to support a finding that the attorney-client privilege has
19
been waived or should not be applied in this case.4
20
Defendant’s counsel inadvertently produced to Plaintiff in this action a copy of an August 6,
21
2015 supplemental pretrial report by Ms. Winspear to State Farm. Defendant also inadvertently
22
produced a July 14, 2015 letter from Ms. Winspear’s paralegal to State Farm enclosing copies of
23
Plaintiff’s supplemental disclosures and providing a calculation of Plaintiff’s claimed medical special
24
damages. As stated in Plaintiff’s supplement, Ms. Winspear’s August 6, 2015 report evaluated the case,
25
including the opinions of State Farm’s medical expert, Dr. Maric. Plaintiff’s Supplement (ECF No. 24),
26
pg. 3. Although Plaintiff may be correct that Ms. Winspear’s communications with Dr. Maric are not
27
28
4
The Court would reach the same conclusion under the crime-fraud exception analysis discussed in
Cedell, Heyden and Madden.
12
1
privileged,5 her confidential report to State Farm regarding Dr. Maric’s opinions are protected by the
2
attorney-client privilege unless the Court deems the privilege waived.
3
Plaintiff argues that Ms. Winspear’s “communications go to the very heart of Kirsten’s claim in
4
the instant bad faith claim. Kirsten claims that State Farm should have paid her insurance policy limits
5
much sooner than it did and, instead, forced her into protracted litigation.” Id. Dr. Maric’s July 24,
6
2015 report is attached as an exhibit to Plaintiff’s supplement. It is dated one month before State Farm
7
paid the policy limits. Dr. Maric stated in his report that he “[did] not find objective evidence that Ms.
8
Spargo sustained any physical injuries as a result of the motor vehicle accident in question. I do not feel
9
that any treatment she received after the motor vehicle accident in question was medically indicated or
10
appropriate for any potential physical injuries which could have occurred as a result of the accident.”
11
Plaintiff’s Supplement (ECF No. 24), Exhibit 4, pg. 9. Dr. Maric also noted in his report that Plaintiff
12
was scheduled to undergo surgery by Dr. Cash on August 17, 2015. Id. at pg. 2. Dr. Maric stated that he
13
“[did] not find appropriate medical indications for this surgery.” Id. at pg. 10. A month after Dr.
14
Maric’s report, State Farm settled the breach of contract claim by paying the underinsured motorist
15
coverage limits. Plaintiff does not explain how Dr. Maric’s July 24, 2015 report and Ms. Winspear’s
16
August 6, 2015 report demonstrate that State Farm should have paid her insurance policy limits “much
17
sooner than it did.” Plaintiff has therefore also not made a sufficient showing that the attorney-client
18
privilege as to Ms. Winspear’s August 6, 2015 report should be deemed waived. The Court will
19
therefore order Plaintiff to immediately return or destroy any copies of the inadvertently produced letters
20
in her possession, custody or control. Plaintiff shall file a verification with the Court that she has done
21
so.
22
For the reasons set forth above, the Court will also grant Defendant’s motion for protective order
23
to preclude Plaintiff from deposing Ms. Winspear about the content of her confidential attorney-client
24
communications with State Farm. The Court will not, however, bar Plaintiff from taking Ms.
25
Winspear’s deposition. Ms. Winspear is not counsel for State Farm in this bad faith action. Therefore,
26
case law prohibiting the deposition of the opposing party’s attorney does not apply. To the extent that
27
28
5
This issue is not before the Court and it takes no position with respect thereto.
13
1
Ms. Winspear has knowledge of nonprivileged relevant information about the underlying claim, she may
2
be deposed thereon.
3
4
CONCLUSION
Plaintiff has not made a sufficient showing regarding the merits of her bad faith claim to support
5
a finding that Defendant has impliedly waived the attorney-client privilege regarding confidential
6
communications with its counsel in the underlying breach of contract action. Accordingly,
7
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel (ECF No. 15) is denied.
8
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion for Protective Order (ECF No. 28) is
9
granted, in part, to the extent that attorney Gina Winspear is not required to testify regarding the
10
contents of any confidential attorney-client communications with State Farm. Plaintiff is not precluded
11
from deposing Ms. Winspear on any nonprivileged relevant matters.
12
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff shall immediately return or destroy any copies of
13
the July 14, 2015 and August 6, 2015 letters in its possession, custody or control. Plaintiff’s counsel
14
shall file a verification with the Court that it has done so.
15
DATED this 22nd day of June, 2017.
16
17
18
______________________________________
GEORGE FOLEY, JR.
United States Magistrate Judge
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
14
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?