Court Opinion

ID: 9382553
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-28 00:00:48.420336+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:39.634587
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-50556        Document: 00516690480             Page: 1      Date Filed: 03/27/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit                                        United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Fifth Circuit

                                                                                       FILED
                                                                                 March 27, 2023
                                       No. 22-50556                                  Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                          Clerk

   Church of the Open Door of Waco,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Church Mutual Insurance Company,

                                                                 Defendant—Appellant.

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                   for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division
                              USDC No. 6:19-CV-00559

   Before Clement, Oldham, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
         The Church of the Open Door of Waco sought benefits under an
   insurance policy issued by Church Mutual Insurance Company after the
   Church’s building sustained damage during a 2018 hailstorm. Both parties
   had the property inspected, resulting in drastically different damage and

         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-50556      Document: 00516690480          Page: 2    Date Filed: 03/27/2023

                                    No. 22-50556

   repair estimates. But Church Mutual denied benefits under the policy, as its
   estimates for repairing the roof fell under the policy deductible.

          The Church sued in Texas state court, alleging breach of the policy,
   breach of the common-law duty of good faith and fair dealing, and violations
   of the Texas Insurance Code and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
   Church Mutual removed the case to federal court, and the case was tried
   before a jury, which returned a mixed verdict and awarded the Church
   $285,000 for breach of the policy. The jury also awarded the Church
   $115,000 in extracontractual damages.

          After trial, the district court entered an order awarding the Church
   attorney fees and costs. After entry of final judgment, Church Mutual filed a
   renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law, an alternative motion to
   amend or alter judgment, and a motion for new trial or for remittitur and
   reconsideration. The district court largely denied the motions. Church
   Mutual timely appealed, asserting: (1) the amount the jury awarded for the
   contract claim is excessive; (2) the judgment should not include any award
   for extracontractual damages; and (3) some of the costs assessed against
   Church Mutual are not recoverable as a matter of law. Church Mutual does
   not challenge the jury’s finding that it breached its contract and is liable to
   the Church.

          After review of the briefs and record, hearing argument from the
   parties, and in view of the deference owed to jury verdicts, we conclude that
   the district court thoroughly considered Church Mutual’s motions and
   committed no reversible error. Accordingly, we AFFIRM.

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