Opinion ID: 1677477
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Summary JudgmentAdjuster, Adjusting Company, and Insurer

Text: Tucek asserts that Adjuster, Adjusting Company, and Insurer knowingly and intentionally participated with Mueller in defrauding Tucek. As discussed above, to prove fraud there must be a representation that was: (1) made as a statement of fact, which was untrue by the party making it, or else recklessly made; (2) made with intent to deceive for the purpose of inducing the other party to act upon it; and (3) relied on by the innocent party, inducing that party to act to his injury or damage. Croes Family, 446 N.W.2d at 57; see also Sperry Corp., 394 N.W.2d at 730. There is not one scintilla of evidence bringing the actions of Adjuster, Adjusting Company, and Insurer within the parameters of fraud and deceit. Tucek has not been diligent in presenting facts which show where Adjuster, Adjusting Company, or Insurer made any representations as statement of fact which were untrue with the intent to deceive Tucek. Adjuster did negotiate Tucek's claim with Mueller instead of Tucek. Adjuster's uncontroverted testimony was that it was not unusual in the industry to deal with the parent when negotiating the claim of a child. Mere negotiations do not rise to the level of proof necessary to constitute fraud. Midland Nat'l Bank v. Perranoski, 299 N.W.2d 404, 413 (Minn.1980) (banker not liable to answering partners for fraudulent misrepresentation where he had made no false representations in convincing them to make investment). More than a passing participation is necessary to constitute fraud; each element of fraud must be supported by evidence. Selvidge v. McBeen, 230 Mont. 237, 750 P.2d 429, 433 (1988). There has been no evidence presented in resistance to the motion which show active participation with Mueller in converting the settlement funds to his personal use. There can be no dispute as to who is the scoundrel in this transaction, i.e., Mueller, the father. Likewise, when Koepke asserted that Tucek's signature on the release form was a forgery, Adjuster immediately called Hieb to verify the notarization. Hieb assured Adjuster that the signature was Tucek's. Adjuster acted prudently to insure the release was valid. Furthermore, Tucek, even if she did not sign the settlement and release, accepted the settlement funds and was not upset with the settlement until she learned that Mueller had converted part of the settlement funds in her bank account to his own use. There has been no showing that Adjuster knowingly and intentionally participated in Mueller's fraud or conversion. In her deposition, Tucek admits that she has no information showing Adjuster's participation with Mueller. Again, Tucek can claim no better version of the facts than she testified to in her deposition. Parsons, 502 N.W.2d at 111. In considering this case, one could easily identify with the position of Tucek, since it is evident that she was taken advantage of by her father. On the other hand, jurors are regularly instructed that sympathy is not to play a role during their consideration of the case. The villain in this case is the father and this court should not open up the vaults of the bank or the insurance company to pay for his despicable conduct in converting his daughter's settlement for his personal use. Lest we not forget, Tucek, after receiving the settlement proceeds, did agree to loan a portion of it to her father. Thereafter, he tapped her accounts without her consent and was told to stop, but did not. Further, Tucek has a judgment against Mueller for $230,400.00 which no one has contested. I would affirm the trial court.