20th Apr 2015
In general
“Mistaken withholding of policy benefits” is a defense often urged by insurers to a suit filed by the insured for wrongful withholding of policy benefits, i.e. a refusal to pay benefits without proper cause. Compare § W31 WRONGFUL WITHHOLDING. [Graciano v. Mercury General (2014) 231 Cal. App. 4th 414, 433-434] This defense may be raised in differing factual contexts. Such contexts are:
1. Is the mistaken withholding based upon a wrongful identity by the third party of the insured or of the policy in question? [Graciano v. Mercury General (2014) 231 Cal. App. 4th 414, 433-434 (third party mistakenly identified the named insured and misidentified the policy number)] Compare § P21.02 PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS TO WRONG PERSON.
2. Is the mistaken withholding of benefits based upon an insurer’s erroneous belief that the claim is not covered? [De Witt v. Monterey Ins. (2012) 204 Cal. App. 4th 233, 251] See § D85 DUTY TO DEFEND [§ D85:18 Duty to defend: Unreasonable denial of defense as bad faith].
3. Is the mistaken withholding of benefits based upon the insurer’s “too narrowly” reading of the third party complaint? [Graciano v. Mercury General (2014) 231 Cal. App. 4th 414, 433-434 (third party mistakenly identified the named insured and misidentified the policy number); Comunale v. Traders (1958) 50 Cal. 2d 654, 660] See § D85 DUTY TO DEFEND [§ D85:1.6]; § P67 POTENTIAL LIABILITY UNDER POLICY [§ P67:2.5.1 Specific allegations vs. general allegations; both alleged in the third party complaint]; § R5 READING THE COMPLAINT.
Where the mistaken withholding of benefits is performed unreasonably or without proper cause to compensate its insured for a loss covered by the policy, the insurer is acting in breach of the policy terms as well as a potential breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. See § P106.02 PROPER CAUSE; §U24 UNREASONABLY .
Mistaken withholding of policy benefits based upon the insurer’s mistaken identity of the insured or the policy due to erroneous information furnished by the third party is a withholding of benefits for “proper cause”. [Graciano v. Mercury General (2014) 231 Cal. App. 4th 414, 433-434]
For related discussions pertaining to mistaken withholding of policy benefits see § B2 BAD FAITH LAWSUIT – FIRST PARTY [§ B2:3.2.2 Evidentiary proof of bad faith by cross-examination of adjuster and/or claims supervisors]; [§ B2:3.5.4 Unfounded basis for denial of claim]; § B3 BAD FAITH LAWSUIT – THIRD PARTY [§ B3:3 Negligence and bad faith, compared; conscious deliberate act required for “bad faith”]; [§ B3:4 Factors: Refusal of insurer to settle with third party]; § D85 DUTY TO DEFEND [§ D85:18 Duty to defend: Unreasonable denial of defense is bad faith]; § S25 SETTLEMENT [§ S25:1.3 Meaning of ‘wrongful’].
References in bold are to Mr. Cornblum’s legal text CALIFORNIA INSURANCE LAW DICTIONARY AND DESK REFERENCE (2014), published by ThomsonReuters (1-800-344-5008). Those with WestLaw can search using the database CAINLAWDDR.
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