Opinion ID: 202671
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count 3: Violation of Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 93A11

Text: 48 Finally, appellants contend that SunAmerica engaged in an unfair business practice by overcharging on the COI rates for 1999, 2000, and 2001, and subsequently engaging in a willful campaign to conceal their misconduct. See Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 93A, § 2 (Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful.). 49 To the extent that their Chapter 93A claim is premised merely on their allegations that SunAmerica breached the insurance contract — either by violating its express terms or by failing to follow the incorporated standards or procedures on file with the Division of Insurance — it falls well short of the Chapter 93A liability threshold. See Commercial Union Ins. Co. v. Seven Provinces Ins. Co., Ltd., 217 F.3d 33, 40 (1st Cir.2000) (A mere breach of contract does not constitute an unfair or deceptive trade practice under 93A, unless it rises to the level of `commercial extortion' or a similar degree of culpable conduct.) (citing Anthony's Pier Four, Inc. v. HBC Assocs., 411 Mass. 451, 583 N.E.2d 806, 821 (1991)); Chambers Steel Engraving Corp. v. Tambrands, Inc., 895 F.2d 858, 861 (1st Cir.1990) (The mere breach of contract, without more, even if one existed, would not violate ch. 93A.). Moreover, appellants failed even to make a viable Rule 56 proffer that SunAmerica violated any provision of the policy, any procedures or standards on file with the Massachusetts Division of Taxation, or any pertinent statute or regulation. See supra Section II.B. In view of these deficiencies, the district court properly dismissed appellants' Chapter 93A unfair business practices claim. III