Opinion ID: 2525309
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The district court properly exercised its discretion in denying the plaintiffs' motion to amend the complaint to add a punitive damages claim.

Text: The McGilvrays contend that the district court erred in denying their motion to amend their complaint to add a claim for punitive damages. Repeating the arguments made on their bad faith claim, the McGilvrays rely on what they contend were less than honest denials by Farmers New World Life that any payments had been received on Tylar's policy to assert that they should have been allowed to seek punitive damages for unconscionable rejection by Farmers New World Life of the claim for benefits upon Tylar's death. On a motion to add punitive damages under I.C. § 6-1604, the plaintiff is required to show a reasonable likelihood that it could prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant acted oppressively, fraudulently, wantonly, maliciously or outrageously. See Vaught v. Dairyland Ins. Co., 131 Idaho 357, 362, 956 P.2d 674 (1998); O'Neil v. Vasseur, 118 Idaho 257, 796 P.2d 134 (Ct.App.1990). Because we have upheld the dismissal on summary judgment of the bad faith claim and the relief being sought thereunder, we need not address the punitive damages issue any further.