Case ID: f-appx_690/html/0536-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

William Jeffrey BURNETT; Joe H. Camp, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CONSECO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, an Indiana corporation; CNO Financial Group, Inc.; CNO Services, LLC, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 15-15854
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Argued and Submitted April 17, 2017 San Francisco, California
    Filed May 4, 2017
    Stephen Adam Weisbrod, Shelli L. Cal-land, Peter J. Toren, Partner, Weisbrod Matteis Copley PLLC, Washington, DC, for Plaintiff-Appellant William Jeffrey Burnett
    Stephen Adam Weisbrod, Shelli L. Cal-land, Weisbrod Matteis Copley PLLC, Washington, DC, for Plaintiff-Appellant Joe H. Camp
    John M. Aerni, Adam J. Kaiser, Alston & Bird LLP, New York, NY, James R. Carroll, Christopher A. Lisy, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Boston, MA, Joan Fife, Attorney, Krista M. Enns, Esquire, Seth Weisburst, Winston & Strawn LLP, San Francisco, CA, Raoul D. Kennedy, Esquire, Attorney, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, Palo Alto, CA, Regina J. McClendon, Attorney, Locke Lord LLP, San Francisco, CA, for Defendants-Appellees Conseco Life Insurance Company, CNO Financial Group, Inc,, CNO Services, LLC Carl C. Scherz, Locke Lord LLP, Dallas, TX
    Before: D.W. NELSON and IKUTA, Circuit Judges, and SEABRIGHT, Chief District Judge.
    
      
       The Honorable J. Michael Seabright, United States Chief District Judge for the District of Hawaii, sitting by designation.
    
   MEMORANDUM

William Jeffrey Burnett and Joe H. Camp (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) appeal the district court’s dismissal of their breach of contract action alleging that Conseco Life Insurance Company (“Conseco Life”) effectively forced Plaintiffs to surrender their whole life insurance policies by improperly raising rates and premiums in breach of the terms of the insurance policies. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Harkonen v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 800 F.3d 1143, 1148 (9th Cir. 2015). We reverse and remand.

In a diversity case, “the district court must apply the choice-of-law rules of the state in which it sits.” Abogados v. AT&T, Inc., 223 F.3d 932, 934 (9th Cir. 2000). Because the district court here sits in California, we apply California’s choice-of-law rules, whieh require the party “arguing that foreign law governs” to show that it “materially differs from California law.” Frontier Oil Corp. v. RLI Ins. Co., 153 Cal.App.4th 1436, 63 Cal.Rptr.3d 816, 840 (2007), as modified (Ct. App. Sept. 5, 2007). Here, the parties do not argue that a foreign law materially differs from California law, so we apply California common law principles.

In California, “[a]n insurance policy is a contract between an insurer and an insured.” Buss v. Superior Court, 16 Cal.4th 35, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 366, 939 P.2d 766, 773 (1997). And “[wjhere a contract is terminable at will, liability attaches for breaches occurring prior to the termination of the contract.” Ravel v. Hubbard, 112 Cal.App.2d 255, 246 P.2d 88, 91 (1952); see also Merrill v. Cont’l Assurance Co., 200 Cal.App.2d 663, 19 Cal.Rptr. 432, 437 (1962) (noting the applicability of this “universal rule” in the insurance context). Thus, California generally permits pre-termination breach of contract claims, including claims involving insurance contracts.

Here, the district court dismissed Plaim tiffs’ pre-termination breach of contract claims, reasoning that because Plaintiffs received cash value upon the termination of their life insurance policies, the claims were no longer “legally cognizable.” Burnett v. Conseco, Inc,, 87 F.Supp.3d 1238, 1246 (N.D. Cal. 2015), While the cash value received did terminate Plaintiffs’ ability to recover any death benefit under their policies, Jennings v. Prudential Ins. Co., 48 Cal.App.3d 8, 121 Cal.Rptr. 125, 129 (1975), Plaintiffs do not seek to recover such benefit. Rather, they seek consequential damages arising from the alleged breach of contract, see Lewis Jorge Constr. Mgmt., Inc. v. Pomona Unified Sch. Dist., 34 Cal.4th 960, 22 Cal.Rptr.3d 340, 102 P.3d 257, 262 (2004) (describing general and consequential damages), which may include, for instance, the difference between the premiums that the insured had been paying and the post-termination premiums he would have to pay for a like amount of insurance. These claims are neither foreclosed by general insurance law nor the surrender agreements themselves.

Indeed, California allows plaintiffs to sue for the replacement cost of life insurance policies. See Wise v. S. Pac. Co., 1 Cal.3d 600, 83 Cal.Rptr. 202, 463 P.2d 426, 431 (1970) (holding that a wrongfully terminated employee could recover the replacement cost of lost life insurance and medical plans).

Moreover, the surrender agreements did not waive Plaintiffs’ right to sue for breach of contract. Although these agreements specifically include a provision that would have “release[d] and discharge[d] ... all claims arising directly or indirectly under the policies], whether contractual or extra-contractual,” this provision only applies if Conseco Life waived surrender charges. Conseco Life did not waive surrender charges, and as a result, Plaintiffs did not waive them contractual claims.

Conseco Life raises three alternative grounds for affirming the district court’s dismissal that it did not raise before the district court. We consider these arguments waived. Mansourian v. Regents of Univ. of Cal., 602 F.3d 957, 974 (9th Cir. 2010) (noting that “[o]ur discretion to affirm on grounds other than those relied on by the district court” is generally extended only to “issues raised in a manner providing the district court an opportunity to rule on it”).

REVERSED and REMANDED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.