Opinion ID: 66322
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gross Negligence (Aikens’ Issues 1-3)

Text: The Aikens argue that the district court erred in granting the Appellees motion for JMOL because there was significant evidence of intentional misconduct by Jordan. Specifically, the Aikens argue that “Jordan committed acts with reckless disregard to the rights of the insured” when he made changes to Chapa’s initial report. The Aikens argue that a jury could easily infer malice and find reckless disregard for the rights of the insured, and they rely on the Mississippi Supreme Court’s decision in Gallagher Bassett Servs. v. Jeffcoat, 887 So. 2d 777 (Miss. 2004). In Gallagher, the Mississippi Supreme Court held that an insurance adjuster, agent or other similar entity may not be held independently liable for simple negligence in connection [to] its work on a claim. Such an entity may be held independently liable for its work on a claim if and only if its acts amount to any one of the following familiar types of conduct: gross negligence, malice, or reckless disregard for the rights of the insured. 887 So. 2d at 784. Jordan, an outside engineer hired to assess the damage caused by wind as opposed to storm surge, qualifies as a “similar entity” who may be found liable for his work on the Aikens’ insurance claim only if his conduct amounts to gross negligence, malice, or reckless disregard for the Aikens’ rights. We have conducted a de novo review of Chapa’s initial report and the report submitted to USAA by Jordan in December 2005. We hold that no reasonable jury could conclude that the changes Jordan made to the initial 5 No. 08-60154 report amount to gross negligence, malice, or reckless disregard for the rights of the insured. Jordan’s changes reflect those of an individual reviewing and revising the report. While we recognize that Jordan deleted the word “destroyed” substituting the word “damaged,” as well as deleting some paragraphs, these revisions did not change the overall conclusion of Chapa’s report. Chapa concluded that the Aikens’ property was damaged as a result of a combination of wind damage and storm surge damage. The October 2005 and December 2005 reports make the same basic conclusion. Furthermore, Jordan’s additional findings, as to what damage to the buildings was caused by wind as opposed to storm surge, were a direct result of USAA’s additional inquiry. The previous reports indicated that the causes of damage, whether by wind or storm surge, could not be determined through a visual inspection. At USAA’s request, Jordan speculated as to the likely causes of damage by relying on weather forecast information and damage to the surrounding area. His reliance on outside resources to provide Rimkus the March 2006 supplemental report does not reflect gross negligence, malice, or reckless disregard for the Aikens’ rights Thus, we AFFIRM the district court’s grant of JMOL with respect to these claim.