Erickson v. Thrivent Insurance Agency Inc.
Filing
22
OPINION AND ORDER granting 14 Motion to Compel; granting 14 Motion to Stay. Signed by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on 2/1/17. (SLW)
Pit:en
FEB o
~'
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
4: 16-CV-04044-RAL
RAYMOND J. ERICKSON,
Plaintiff,
OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING
MOTION TO STAY CASE
AND COMPEL ARBITRATION
VS.
THRIVENT INSURANCE AGENCY INC.,
d/b/a THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR
LUTHERANS,
Defendant.
This case involves an insurance contract between Plaintiff Raymond Erickson and a .
fraternal benefit society.
Insurance contracts issued by a fraternal benefit society generally
include the society's bylaws, as well as any subsequent amendments to the bylaws, provided that
the amendments do not reduce the benefits promised in the original contract. This Court must
decide whether Erickson is bound by an arbitration clause that was not in his original insurance
contract but was later added to the fraternal benefit society's bylaws. Because the arbitration
clause does not reduce Erickson's benefits under the contract, this Court finds that the clause
applies to him and requires him to arbitrate his claims.
I.
Facts
Erickson is a South Dakota resident. Doc. 1 at
ii 1.
In 1994, Erickson and his wife
purchased a long-term care insurance policy from Lutheran Brotherhood, a Minnesota fraternal
benefit society. Doc. 1 at ii 7; Doc. 16 at ii 3. Erickson's entire insurance contract consists of the
1
1
2017
~
insurance certificate, including any riders or amendments; the application; and Lutheran
Brotherhood's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws .. Doc. 19-1 at 11.
Unlike a typical
insurance policy that has fixed terms, some portions of Erickson's contract are subject to change.
Specifically; Section 8.1 of the insurance certificate states that the contract includes the "Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Society and all amendments made to them after the Date of
Issue," provided that the amendments do not reduce the benefits promised in the contract. Doc.
19-1 at 11. The contract did not contain an arbitration provision when Lutheran Brotherhood
issued it to Erickson.
In early 2002, Lutheran Brotherhood merged into a Wisconsin fraternal benefit society
called Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL), with AAL continuing on as the surviving entity.
Doc. 16 at ii 3. AAL changed its name to Thrivent following the merger but retained its Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws. Doc. 16 at iiii 3, 6. These Bylaws include a Dispute Resolution
Bylaw that AAL's board of directors adopted in 1999. Doc. 16 at iiii 6, 7. Initially adopted as
Section 12 of the bylaws, the Dispute Resolution Bylaw requires mediation and, if that fails,
binding arbitration. Doc. 16 at iiii 6, 7; Doc. 16-1at4-5; Doc. 16-2 at 6-7. The purpose of the
Bylaw is to provide the "sole means" to resolve disputes between Thrivent and its members and
insureds. Doc. 16-1 at 4-5; Doc. 16-2 at 6-7. It applies ''to all claims, actions, disputes and
grievances of any kind or nature whatsoever." Doc. 16-1 at 4; Doc. 16-2 at 6. AAL filed the
Dispute Resolution Bylaw with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. Doc.
16 at
ii 11..
In December 2008, Thrivent amended its Bylaws by, among other things,
renumbering the Dispute Resolution Bylaw as Section 11. Doc. 16 at
ii 7;
Doc. 16-1 at 4-5.
Thrivent filed the December 2008 amendments with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner
of Insurance and gave notice ofthe amendments to all state insurance departments, including the
2
South Dakota Division of Insurance. Doc. 16 at iii! 9, 12; Docs. 16-3, 16-4. Thrivent notified its
members of the amendments through the Winter 2009 edition of its official publication. 1 Doc.
16 at iJ 10.
Erickson made a claim for benefits under the contract. in December 2014 after he moved
into a long-term care facility. Doc. 1 at iJ 13. Thrivent paid Erickson benefits for some time, but
terminated them in
Novem~er
2015. Doc. 1 at
iii! 16,
18. Erickson then sued Thrivent in this
Court, asserting claims for breach of cop.tract, bad faith, breach of fiduciary duty, punitive
damages, and attorney's fees. Doc. 1. The parties mediated before Magistrate Judge Veronica
Duffy, but were unable to resolve their dispute. Doc. 11. Thereafter, Thrivent filed a Motion to
. Compel Arbitratlon and argued that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-14, and
the Dispute Resolution Bylaw require this Court to stay the case and compel arbitration. Docs.
· 14, 15, 21. Erickson opposed the motion, contending that the Dispute Resolution Bylaw is
unenforceable for several reasons.
II.
Analysis
Congress enacted the FAA to counter judicial aversion· to arbitration and ensure that
courts treat arbitration agreements just like any other contract. Volt Info. Scis., Inc. v. Bd. of
1
The South Dakota and Minnesota statutes governing fraternal benefit societies both address how
societies should notify members of amendments to the bylaws. See S.D. Codified Laws (SDCL)
§ 58-37A-11 (explaining that after the director of insurance has approved an amendment to a
society's bylaws, the society shall "furnish[] [the amendment] to all members of the society
either by mail or by publication in full in the official publication of the society"); Minn. Stat.
§ 64B.11 (same). In the introduction section of his brief, Erickson says "there is no evidence that
[he] was notified of' the Dispute Resolution Bylaw. Doc. 18 at 1. However, Thrivent supplied
that evidence in the form of an affidavit. Doc. 16 at iJ 10. In the argument section of his brief,
Erickson acknowledges Thrivent' s affidavit verifying that it notified members of the December
2008 amendments via its official publication before stating: "However, [Erickson] did not agree
to this change, nor was the change 'endorsed on or attached to' the contract, as required by the
Policy." Doc. 18 at 7. Erickson no longer appears to contest, and submitted no countervailing
·
affidavit, regarding the notice issue.
3
Leland Stanford Junior Univ., 489 U.S. 468, 478 (1989). The key langu~ge of the FAA states
that a written agreement to. arbitrate in a contract involving interstate commerce "shall be valid,
irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the
revocation of any contract." 9 U.S.C. § 2. The FAA provides two mechanisms for enforcing an
arbitration agreement: a stay of proceedings under § 3 when an issue in the case is "referable to
arbitration" and an order compelling arbitration under § 4 when a party has refused to adhere to
an arbitration agreement. 9 U.S.C. §§ 3, 4.
If a contract is subject to the FAA, courts ordinarily engage in a two-part inquiry to
determine whether to stay the case and compel arbitration. See Faber v. Menard, Inc., 367 F .3d
1048, 1052 (8th Cir. 2004); Daisy Mfg. Co. v. NCR Corp., 29 F.3d 389, 392 (8th Cir. 1994).
First, the court determines whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between the parties.
Faber, 367 F.3d at 1052. Second, the court must determine whether the dispute falls within the
scope of the arbitration agreement. Id. These two issues, sometimes referred to together as the
"question of arbitrability," are for the court to decide
"[u]nles~
the parties clearly and
unmistakably provide otherwise." Howsam v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 537 U.S. 79, 83-84
(2002) (alteration in original) (quoting AT&T Techs'., Inc. v. Commc'ns Workers, 475 U.S. 643,
649 (1986)). "'If there is an issue of fact as to the making of the agreement for arbitration, then a
trial is necessary' on the issue of arbitrability."
Dakota Foundry, Inc. v. Tromley Indus.
Holdings, 891 F. Supp. 2d 1088, 1095 (D.S.D. 2012) (quoting Bensadoun v. Jobe-Riat, 316 F.3d
171, 175 (2d Cir. 2003)). When the parties agreed to arbitrate and the particular dispute falls
within the agreement, the FAA allows courts to stay the case and compel arbitration.
The FAA applies here because the contract, including the Dispute Resolution Bylaw, is
in writing and because Erickson's purchase of insurance from an out-of-state company that does
4
business nationwide meets the FAA's interstate commerce requirement.
See Clayton v.
Woodmen of The World Life Ins. Soc'y, 981 F. Supp. 1447, 1450 (M.D. Ala. 1997) ("[A]n
insurance agreement between
a fraternal
benefit society and its member[s] . . . evidences a
transaction in commerce."); In re 2000 Sugar Beet Crop Ins. Litig., 228 F. Supp. 2d 992, 995 (D.
Minn. 2002) (stat_ing that "insurance policies are contracts 'involving commerce"' and are
therefore subject to the FAA); see also Allied-Bruce Terminix Cos. v. Dobson, 513 U.S. 265,
273-74 (1995) (adopting a broad reading of the phrase "involving commerce" in 9 U.S.C. § 2).
The parties agree that this Court should decide the question of arbitrability and nothing in the
contract clearly and unmistakably provides otherwise.
Thus, this Court turns to the first
question, whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between Erickson and Thrivent.
A. Validity of Arbitration Agreement
State contract law governs whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between Erickson
and Thrivent. First Options of Chi .. Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 944 (1995). This Court is
sitting in diversity jurisdiction, so it applies South Dakota's choice-of-law rules to determine
which state's laws govern whether a valid arbitration agreement exists. Dakota Foundry, 891 F.
Supp. 2d at 1095. The parties disagree on which state's law should apply, with Thrivent arguing
for Wisconsin law and Erickson arguing for South Dakota law.
Thrivent argues that Wisconsin law governs because .Thrivent is a fraternal benefit
society domiciled in Wisconsin and organized under Wisconsin law.
Chapter 614 of
Wisconsin's statutes generally requires that fraternal benefit societies have a lodge system, a
representative form of government, and provide insurance and other benefits to their members.
Wis. Stat. § 614.01.
governed by a
Consistent with Wisconsin law, Thrivent is a nonprofit organization
member-ele~ted
board of directors. Id. §§ 614.01, 614.42; Doc. 16 at if 4. Each
5
Thrivent benefit member is entitled to one vote in the board of directors' election, and every
member of the board of directors must also be a benefit member of Thrivent. Doc. 16 at ii 4;
Doc. 16-1 at 2.
~hrivent
is organized under the lodge system, with nearly seven hundred local
lodges across the United States. Doc. 16 at ii 5. Thrivent provides insurance and several other
benefits to its members. Doc. 16 at ii 5.
As Thrivent notes, the Supreme Court of the United States has .held that the
Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause requires courts to apply the law of a fraternal benefit
~
society's domicile when considering the validity of the society's bylaws.
Order of United
Commercial Travelers v. Wolfe, 331 U.S. 586, 624-25 (1947); Sovereign Camp, W.O.W. v .
. Bolin, 305 U.S. 66, 75 (1938); Modem Woodmen of Am. v. Mixer, 267 U.S. 544, 551 (1925).
Several state courts have relied on Wolfe, Bolin, and Mixer to hold that the validity of a fraternal
benefit society's arbitration bylaw must be determined under the law of the society's domicile.
Russell v. Lutheran Bhd., No. 03 CV 6810, 2004 WL 316383, at *1-2 (Colo. Dist. Ct. Feb. 2,.
2004) (holding that the Full Faith and Credit clause required the court to apply Wisconsin law in
suit against Thrivent brought by a plaintiff who had purchased insurance from Lutheran
Brotherhood); Crosby v. Aid Ass'n for Lutherans, No. MC 00-11088, 2004 WL 2584847, at *l
(Minn. Dist. Ct. Oct. 21, 2004) ("The United States Supreme Court's Full Faith and Credit
Clause jurisprudence relating to fraternal benefit societies requires the court to apply Wisconsin
law to this matter because AAL is incorporated pursuant to the laws of Wisconsin ...."); Lulloff
v. Thrivent Fin. for Lutherans, No. 02-CV-3887, 2003 WL 22717879, at *3-4 (Wis. Cir. Ct. Oct.
29, 2003) (relying on Wolfe to conclude that Wisconsin law applies to suit against Thrivent
brought by plaintiffs who had purchased insurance from Lutheran Brotherhood).
6
Erickson does not address the Supreme Court precedent and state cases suggesting that
the Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause requires this Court to apply Wisconsin law to
determine whether the Dispute Resolution Bylaw is valid. Instead, he argues that South Dakota
law applies "as to contract interpretation." Doc. 18 at 4. He also asserts that there are "issues of
fact regarding Thrivent's domicile and which state's law applies" because "[i]t appears ... that
Lutheran Brotherhood was domiciled in Minnesota." Doc. 18 at 4. However, at least two courts
have applied Wisconsin law to lawsuits against Thrivent concerning contracts originally
purchased from Lutheran Brotherhood. Russell, 2004 WL 316383, at *1-2; Lulloff, 2003 WL
22717879, at *3-4. ·
The issue of which state's law applies does not raise a material question of fact because
the Dispute Resolution Bylaw constitutes a valid arbitration agreement under Minnesota, South
Dakota, and Wisconsin law. Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin have all enacted statutes
regulating fraternal benefit societies. Minn. Stat.§§ 64B.Ol--64B.48; SDCL §§ 58-37A-1 to 5837A-39; Wis. Stat. §§ 614.01--614.96, 632.93. Under these laws, a fraternal benefit society
insurance contract consists of the insurance certificate, the member's application, and the laws of
the society.
Minn. Stat. § 64B.19; SDCL § 58-37A-19; Wis. Stat. § 632.93.
Critically,
Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin statutes recognize that contracts between a fraternal
benefit society and its members include later amendments to the society's laws, provided that the
amendments do not destroy or diminish the benefits promised in the original contract. . Minn.
Stat.§ 64B.19(2) ("Any changes, additions, or amendments to the laws of the society duly made
or enacted subsequent to the issuance of the certificate, shall bind the owner and the
beneficiaries, and shall govern and control the benefit contract in all respects the same as though
the changes, additions, or amendments had been made prior to and were in force at the time of
7
the application for insurance, except that no change, additi~n, or amendment shall destroy or
diminish benefits that the society contracted to give the owner as of1_the date of issuance.");
SDCL § 58-37-A-19 ("Any changes, additions or amendments to the laws of the society made or
enacted after the issuance of the certificate, bind the owner and the beneficiaries, and govern and
control the benefit contract in all respects the same as though the changes, additions, or
amendments had been made before and were in force at the time of the application for insurance.
However, no change, addition, or amendment may destroy or diminish benefits which the society .
contracted to give the owner.as of the date of issuance."); Wis. Stat. § 632.93(2) ("[A]ny changes
in the laws of a fraternal made subsequent to the issuance of a policy or certificate bind the
owner and any beneficiary under the policy or certificate as if they had been in force at the time
of the application, so long as they do not destroy or diminish benefits promised in the policy or
certificate.").
As required by Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin law, Minn. Stat.
§ 64B.19; SDCL § 58-37-A-19; Wis. Stat.§ 632.93, Erickson's contract states that the Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws, including any later amendments, are part of the agreement: .
8.1 ENTIRE CONTRACT. The Entire Contract consists of:
· 1) This contract . includit)g any attached riders or
amendments;
2) The Application attached to this contract; and
3) The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of th·e Society
and all amendments made to them after the Date oflssue; Benefits
will not be reduced by any future amendments to our Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws.
Any rider, amendment or application: which reduces, limits or
excludes coverage is valid only if you agree ';Vith it in writing.
Doc. 19-1 at 11.
Several courts applying Wisconsin law have held that a fr~temal benefit society member
is bound by ~n arbitration provision that was not in his original contract but was later added to
the society's bylaws. Hawkins v. Aid Ass'n for Lutherans, 338 F.3d 801, 809 (7th Cir. 2003);
8
Crosby, 2004 WL 2584847, at *1-3; Russell, 2004 WL 316383, at *2-3; Lulloff, 2003 WL
22717879, at *6. In Hawkins, for instance, the Seventh Circuit
enforc~d
a bylaw requiring
arbitration even though the fraternal benefit society enacted the bylaw after it issued the
plaintiffs' insurance contracts. 338 F.3d at 809. Given the unique nature of contracts between a
fraternal benefit society and its members, the Seventh Circuit reasoned that the arbitration bylaw
was not unconscionable or void for lack of assent:
Because. AAL is a fraternal benefit society, it is governed by
different laws than private insurance companies. Accordingly,
members who enter into insurance contracts with AAL are subject
to its bylaws and any changes to those bylaws, provided such
changes do not destroy or diminish the benefits promised.
Appellants here agreed to be bound by these rules when they
·purchased insurance from AAL. and therefore must accept the
consequences of their agreements, including the requirement that
they arbitrate their claims.
·
Id. A Wisconsin state court reached the same conclusion in Lulloff. Like Erickson and his wife,
the plaintiffs in Lulloff purchased insurance from Lutheran Brotherhood ·before it merged with
AAL and before AAL became Thrivent. 2003 WL 22717879, at *l. The.court in Lulloff held
that Thrivent's arbitration bylaw was part of the plaintiffs' contracts and did not diminish any of
the benefits the plaintiffs were originally promised. Id. at *5-6,
Although the parties have not cited any cases applying Minnesota or South Dakota law to
a situation like the one here, the Wisconsin cases discussed above are instructive. After all, the
fraternal codes in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin all recognize that contracts between
a fraternal benefit society and its members include amendments to the society's bylaws, .provided
that the amendments do not destroy or diminish the promised benefits.
Erickson makes four arguments for why the Dispute Resolution Bylaw does not apply to
him. First, he contends that the Dispute Resolution Bylaw "is contrary to" SDCL § 21-25A-3, a
9
South Dakota statute providing that arbitration provisions in "insurance policies" are void.2
Although§ 21-25A-3 applies to policies issued by a commercial insurance company, it does not
apply to Erickson;s contract. The chapter of the South Dakota Code concerning fraternal benefit
societies makes clear that the societies are governed by different laws than commercial insurance
companies: "Except as provided in this chapter, societies are exempt from all other provisions of
the insurance laws of this state unless they are expressly designated in the law, or unless it is
specifically made applicable by this chapter."
SDCL § 58-37A-23. · Because § 21-25A-3
regulates the relationship between insureds and insurers and only applies to entities in the
insurance industry, it qualifies as an "insurance law" under § 58-37A-23, despite the fact that it is
not located in South Dakota's Insurance Code. See Cox v. Woodmen of the World Ins. Co., 556
S.E.2d 397, 402 (S.C. Ct. App. 2001) (holding that statute in South Carolina's Arbitration Act
that precluded arbitration provisions in insurance contracts constituted a "general insurance law"
under South Carolina statute exempting fraternal benefit societies from such laws). Nothing in
the South Dakota Code specifically makes § 21-25A-3 applicable to fraternal benefit societies.
Section 58-37A-39 lists multiple chapters from the South Dakota Code that apply to fraternal
benefit societies "to the extent applicable and not in conflict with the express provisions of this
chapter and the reasonable implications of this chapter." Chapter 21 is not one of the chapters
2
Section 21-25A-3 provides in full: "This chapter [meaning South Dakota's chapter on the
enforcement of arbitration agreements] does not apply to insurance policies and every provision
in any such policy requiring arbitration or restricting a party thereto or beneficiary thereof from
enforcing any right under it by usual legal proceedings in ordinary tribunals or limiting the time
to do so is void and unenforceable. However, nothing in this chapter may be deemed to impair
the enforcement of or invalidate a contractual provision for arbitration entered into between
insurance companies." SDCL § 21-25A-3. ·
·
10
listed as applying to fraternal benefit societies. Accordingly, § 58-37A-23 exempts Thrivent
from§ 21-25A-3. 3
Erickson next argues that the Dispute Resolution Bylaw is unenforceable· because he
never bargained for nor agreed to it. This argument overlooks that Erickson's original contract
contained a provision by which he was bound by later amendments to the Bylaws, so long as the
amendments did not destroy or diminish the promised benefits. Doc. 19-1 at 11; see also Minn.
Stat. § 64B.19; SDCL § 58-37A-19; Wis. Stat. § 632.93. Because Erickson had already agreed
to be bound by amendments to the Bylaws, Thrivent's later addition of the Dispute Resolution
Bylaw was "not an independent contract requiring munial assent." Hawkins; 338 F.3d at 808.
Nor was AAL or Thrivent required.to negotiate individually with Erickson before enacting the
Dispute Resolution Bylaw; as a member of a fraternal benefit society, Erickson delegated control
over the soci~ty's decisions to his el~cted repres.entatives. Wolfe, 331 U.S. at 606 ("As long as
he remains a member [of the fraternal benefit society], the terms of his membership, including
. obligations and benefits relating to the insurance funds of the society, are subject to change
without his individual consent. ·The control over those terms is vested by him and his fellow
members in the elected representative government of their society as authorized and regulated by
the law of [the State.]"); Hawkins, 338 F.3d at 806 (holding that
becaus~
"members of fraternal
benefit societies expressly del~gate decision-making power to their elected representatives," an
arbitration bylaw was not invalid simply because the society failed to negotiate the bylaw with
its members).
3
It is for the South.Dakota Legislature rather than this Court to decide whether fraternal benefit
societies continue to deserve special treatment and exemption from certain insurance laws under
the code or whether such fraternal benefit societies have become largely indistinguishable from for-profit insurance companies.
11
Erickson also argues that the Dispute Resolution Bylaw is unenforceable because it was a
"change" to the contract that was not "endorsed on or attached to" the contract as required by
Section 8.2. This argument is unconvincing. Section 8.2 of the insurance certificate provides:
8.2 CHANGE OF CONTRACT. No change in this contract is
valid unless it is made in writing and signed· by our President and
Secretary. All changes must be endorsed on or attached to this
contract unless waived by us. No agent may change this contract
or waive any of its provisions.
·
Doc. 19-1 at 11. The insurance certificate defines the word "us" as used in Section 8.2 as
"Lutheran Brotherhood," which is now Thrivent. Doc. 19-1 at 6. · Thus, under Section 8.2,
Thrivent can waive the requirement that changes to the contract be endorsed or attached.
Thrivent's ability to waive this requirement, as well as the other language in Section 8.2 saying
that Thrivent' s secretary and president must approve any changes and that agents cannot change
the contract, strongly suggests that Section 8.2 seeks to forbid changes third parties might seek to
make to the contract, rather than amendments Thrivent itself makes to the Bylaws.
This
interpretation is consistent with Thrivent's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, which
specifically address when amendments take effect and how Thrivent notifies members of
amendments. Under Section 26 of the Bylaws, Thrivent must notify its members of amendments·
to the Bylaws via Thrivent's official publication. Doc. 16-1 at 8, Bylaw § 26 ("All amendments
to the ... Bylaws of the Society shall be published in the official publication not later than four
months after the date of filing such amendments with the Commissioner of Insurance of the State
of Wisconsin."); see also Doc. 16-1 at 3, Article of Incorporation VIII ("Notice of changes to the
bylaws shall be given to benefit members ... in a manner prescribed in the bylaws."). Section
34 of the Bylaws provides that "[a]ny changes to these bylaws shall be effective from the date of .
passage or at such other date as stipulated by the board and shall be filed promptly after adoption
12
with the Commissioner of Insurance of the state of Wisconsin. After filing, the changes shall be
published in the official publication as prescribed in these bylaws." Doc. 16-1 at 9, Bylaw§ 34.
Thrivent's Articles oflncorporation and Bylaws do not require that an amendment to the Bylaws
be "endorsed on· or attached to" every members' contracts in order to notify members of the
amendment or make the amendment effective. It is unreasonable to interpret Section 8.2 as
requiring that amendments to the Bylaws be "endorsed on or attached to" members' contracts
when the text of Section 8.2 strongly suggests that it does not apply to amendments to the
Bylaws and the portions of the contract specifically addressing amendments to the Bylaws do not
impose such a requirement.
Erickson's final argument is that the Dispute Resolution Bylaw is unenforceable under
the contract and the statutes governing fraternal benefit societies because the right to litigate in
court constitutes a benefit under the contract and the Bylaw reduces, diminishes, and destroys
this benefit. See Doc. 19-1 at 11 ("Benefits will not be reduced by any future amendments to our
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws. Any rider, amendment or application which reduces, limits
or excludes coverage is valid only if you agree with it in writing."); Minn. Stat. § 64B.19; SDCL
§ 58-37A-19; Wis. Stat. § 632.93(2). "At the least," Erickson contends, the term "benefits" is
ambiguous under the contract and his interpretation must therefore govern. This Court disagrees.
Although the contract does not specifically define the term "benefits," it makes clear that
"benefits" means monetary benefits Thrivent will pay to its insureds if coverage exists. The
. insurance certificate begins by stating "[w]e will pay benefits subject to all of the terms and
conditions of this contract." Doc. 19-1 at 2. Next; Section 2 of the certificate explains how an
insured qualifies for benefits. Doc. 19-1 at 7, § 2 of Contract. The certificate then describes the
two types of benefits available under the contract: the "Nursing Home Benefit" as defined in
13
\
Section 3 and the "Waiver of Premium Benefit" as defined in Section 4. Doc. 19-1 at 8, § 3 of
Contract ("We will pay you the Nursing Home Benefit shown on page 3 for each day that you
meet the Conditions on Eligibility for Benefits as specified in Section 2.1."); Doc. 19-1at8, § 4.
of Contract (explaining when premiums will be refunded or waived). Finally, the contract's
"Spouse Long-Term Care Benefit" rider under which Erickson is seeking coverage lists the
benefits he is entitled to: "BENEFITS PROVIDED. Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this contract will
apply to the Spouse." Doc. 19-1 at 12. The certificate's description of the long-term health care
benefits it provides, as well as its repeated references to paying benefits, belies Erickson's
'
argument that the term "benefits" is ambiguous.
Furthermore, nothing in the contract suggests that the right to litigate in court constitutes
a "benefit." Although Erickson argues that Section 6.7
oft~e
certificate "expressly provide[s]"
for legal action, Section 6.7 merdy establishes when "legal actions" can be brought:
6.7 LEGAL ACTIONS. No legal action may be brought to
recover on this contract:
. 1) Until at least 60 days aftei: written proof of loss· is given
as in Section 6.3; or
2) After three years from the date written proof of loss must
be given.
I
Doc. 19-1 at 9, § 6. 7 of Contract. Arguments that provisions like Section 6. 7 trump arbitration
\
.
.
bylaws because the provisions reserve the right to litigate in court have proved unsuccessful.
Hawkins, 338 F.3d at 806 (explaining that a contractual provision similar to Section 6.7 "did not
reserve the right to a judicial forum, it merely established a default limitations period for
bringing suit"); Aid Ass'n for Lutherans v. Radmer, No. 99-C-1205, 2001 WL 34388864, at *1
n.4, *6 (E.D. Wis. Oct. 31, 2001) (setting forth the contractual provision considered in Hawkins
and concluding that the provision did not reserve the right to a judicial remedy), aff' d sub nom.
Hawkins, 338 F.3d 801 (7th Cir. 2003). Courts have likewise rejected arguments that arbitration
14
provisions in bylaws diminish or destroy benefits provided under fraternal benefit society
I
,
contracts. Hawkins, 338 F.3d at 806 (noting that there was "no authority supporting the position
that losing access to court destroys or diminishes the insurance benefits promised in the policy");
Radmer, 2001 WL 34388864, at *6 ("The right to seek redress in court is rtot a 'benefit' of the
contract that AAL provides to its members .... "); Lulloff, 2003 WL 22717879, at *6 (holding
that Thrivent's arbitration bylaw did not reduce the plaintiffs' benefits under their policies).
By entering into a contract with a fraternal benefit society, Erickson agreed to be bound
by later amendments to the society's bylaws so long as those amendments did not reduce his
benefits.
Because the Dispute Resolution Bylaw does not reduce the long-term healthcare
benefits Erickson contracted for, the Bylaw applies to Erickson and constitutes a valid arbitration
agreement between him and Thrivent.
B. Scope of Arbitration Agreement
\
Erickson argues that he cannot be forced ·to arbitrate his tort claims because they do not
fall within the scope of the Dispute Resolution Bylaw. While state law governs whether a valid
arbitration agreement exists, federal substantive law governs whether a claim falls within the
scope of an arbitration clause. Donaldson Co. v. Burroughs Diesel. Inc., 581 F.3d 726, 731 (8th
Cir. 2009). Under federal law, "any doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues should be
resolved in favor of arbitration," including "construction of the contract language itself." Moses
H. Cone Mem'l Hosp. v. Mercury Constr. Corp., 460 U.S. 1, 24-25 (1983).
Resolution Bylaw in this case is expansive.
The Dispute
It covers "all claims, actions, disputes and
grievances of any kind or nature whatsoever. It includes, but is not limited to, claims based on
breach of benefit contract, as well as claims based on fraud, misrepresentation, violation of
statute ... and infliction of distress .... " Doc. 16-1 at 4. The Eighth Circuit has concluded that
15
broadly worded arbitration provisions like the one here cover tort claims relating to the parties'
contractual relationship. See PRM Energy Sys., Inc. v. Primenergy, LLC, 592 F.3d 830, 837
(8th Cir. 2010) ("Arbitration may be compelled under 'a broad arbitration clause ... as long as
the underlying factual allegations simply "touch maters covered by" the arbitration provision.'"
(quoting 3M Co. v. Amtex Sec., Inc., 542 F.3d 1193, 1199 (8th Cir. 2008))); Hudson v. ConAgra
Poultry Co., 484 F.3d 496, 499-500 (8th Cir. 2007) ("[W]e generally construe broad language in
a contractual arbitration provision to include tort claims arising from the contractual relationship,
and we compel arbitration of such claims."). Erickson's bad faith and breach of fiduciary duty
claims relate to the contract because they are based on Thrivent's alleged failure to properly pay
the benefits promised in the agreement. Thus, Erickson's tort claims fall within the scope of the
Dispute Resolution Bylaw along with his other claims.
III.
Conclusion
F~r
the reasons stated above, it is hereby
ORDERED that Thrivent's Motion to Compel Arbitration and Stay Proceedings, Doc. 14,
is granted. It is further
ORDERED that this case is stayed and the parties must proceed to arbitration m
accordance with the terms of the contract.
DATED this 1st day of February, 2017.
BY THE COURT:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
16
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?