Court Opinion

ID: 4385169
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-08 19:48:24.923626+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:33.445844
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

 GRETCHEN MICHELS,
                                                   No. 77919-2-1
                     Appellant,
                                                  DIVISION ONE
              V.
                                                  UNPUBLISHED OPINION
 FARMERS INSURANCE EXCHANGE,
 an insurance company,

                      Respondent,

 BALLARD SIX, a Washington
 corporation and condominium
 association,

                      Defendant.                  FILED: April 8, 2019

      APPELWICK, C.J. — Michels owns a unit at the Ballard Six condominium
complex, and is a member of the Ballard Six Condominium Association. Michels

sued Farmers and Ballard Six for damages from a fire in her unit. The trial court

dismissed all claims against Farmers on summary judgment. Michels argues that

the trial court erred in concluding she is neither an insured nor a third party

beneficiary under the contract. She also argues that she is entitled to bring a CPA1

claim against Farmers regardless of whether or not she is an insured or a third

party beneficiary. We affirm.

      1 Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW.
No. 77919-2-1/2

                                      FACTS

       Ballard Six is a condominium owners association in Seattle, organized

under the Washington Condominium Act(WCA), chapter 64.34 RCW. Each unit

owner at the Ballard Six condominium complex is a Ballard Six member.2

Gretchen Michels owns a unit at the complex. On May 11, 2015, she suffered a

fire and smoke loss in her unit after placing a microwave on an electric stove burner

that was turned on. A couple of weeks later, she also suffered a water loss in her

unit after a toilet overflowed.

       Michels filed a timely claim with her personal insurer, PEMCO Mutual

Insurance Company (PEMC0).3 She also filed a claim with Farmers Insurance

Exchange (Farmers), the property insurer for the Ballard Six. The Farmers policy

listed Ballard Six, not Michels, as a named insured. At her deposition, Michels

testified that she reported the loss to Farmers on behalf of herself, and was not

representing Ballard Six.

       A Farmers adjuster, Oscar Ortiz, began working on Michels's claimed loss.4

Ortiz inspected the smoke loss on May 13, and created an estimate of the scope

        2 We refer to the Ballard Six condominium association as "Ballard Six," and
specify when we instead refer to the Ballard Six condominium complex.
        3 PEMCO eventually paid Michels approximately $28,000.00 for additional
living expenses, and approximately $30,000.00 for the removal, cleaning, and
replacement of her personal property.
        4 It is unclear from the record when Michels notified Farmers of the water
loss, but she testified that she had called Ortiz about the water loss. It is also
unclear from the record if Ortiz inspected the unit for water damage based on a
separate water loss claim. There does not appear to be an entry in the claim
summary report for a separate water loss claim, and the parties do not provide a
citation for a separate claim.

                                            2
No. 77919-2-1/3

and cost of repairs so that Farmers could issue a payment to Ballard Six. The

damage he noted included the following:

      In the kitchen the range is fire/smoke damage, the laminate
      countertop was burned. The [dishwasher] and Refridgerator [sic] are
      heavily smoke damaged. The cab[inet]s appear to be fine, but will
      need heavy clean[ing] and paint to seal. .. . Base is not caulked and
      Servpro [of Woodinvile] stated that Base should be replaced due to
      the heavy smoke as the [medium-density fibreboard] material would
      be damaged by smoke. Blinds would need replacement. Exhaust
      fan above range would need replacement as well as all light
      fixtures. . . . [A]ll other areas of this . . . unit [are] heavily smoke
      damaged... . Servpro said would [sic] need to scrape and retexture
      [the acoustic ceiling] due to amount of soot damaged [sic]. . . . Tub
      in hall bathroom should be able to be cleaned. Toilet in hall bath will
      need replacement due to heavy soot damage, but in master bath,
      toilet can be cleaned. Doors will need replacement as [they are]
      hollow core and appear would [sic] be smoke damaged Servpro
      stated.      Wall heaters/[baseboard heaters] in unit will need
      replacement due to heavy smoke damage. Vanities. . . are ok and
      can be cleaned.
That day, Ortiz gave Michels an initial $19,567.00 check made out to Ballard Six.

In September 2015, he reinspected the unit, and gave Michels another check

made out to Ballard Six for $9,503.23.

       At his deposition, Ortiz testified that, during the initial inspection, he asked

Michels whether she was authorized to move forward with the claim. He stated

that Michels told him she was authorized, and that she was the treasurer of the

Ballard Six.5 But, after contacting Bill Fraher, Ballard Six's president, Ortiz learned

that Michels was no longer the treasurer and that Fraher was the authorized

representative for purposes of the claim. In October 2015, Ortiz began working

with Fraher to move forward with the claim.

      5 Michels disputes that she ever told Ortiz that she was the authorized
representative of Ballard Six.

                                              3
No. 77919-2-1/4

       Fraher understood that Ballard Six could choose the repair contractor, and

was provided with a list of three contractors Ortiz had worked with before. Two of

those contractors were McBride Construction (McBride) and Charter Construction

(Charter). Fraher called all three contractors, but heard back from only McBride.

At a November 4,2015 meeting of the Ballard Six Board of Directors, Fraher asked

that any members who wanted to suggest a contractor give him that contractor's

name by an agreed deadline. As of the deadline, no members, including Michels,

had suggested a contractor. At the next meeting, the Ballard Six Board of Directors

voted to hire McBride as the repair contractor for Michels's unit.

       John Niederegger, an estimator for McBride, visited the Ballard Six

condominium complex a few times in 2015, but never wrote a repair estimate.

Shortly after, he recommended that Ballard Six and Farmers hire a mitigation

company to complete mitigation and demolition of the unit, so that McBride could

revisit the unit and provide an accurate repair estimate. At his deposition, Ortiz

testified that McBride never issued an estimate because it was going to work off of

his estimate. And, at Fraher's deposition, he testified that he understood that

McBride agreed to do the repairs for $41,180.70, the amount of Ortiz's estimate.

       Michels never saw an estimate from McBride. Concerned about hiring a

contractor without an estimate, she tried to get PEMCO to cover her unit. PEMCO

refused, because the policies said that Farmers was the primary insurer. Around

that time, Fraher was denied entry to Michels's unit.

                                            4
No. 77919-2-1/5

       Michels eventually obtained an estimate from Charter.6 The estimate was

three times more than the amount Farmers offered to pay to repair her home. It

included repairs to walls, wall heaters, windows, doors, cabinets, the ceiling, the

flooring, and the water heater. In September 2016, Michels's attorney forwarded

the Charter estimate to Farmers, which Farmers sent to Fraher. Ortiz also asked

Fraher for an update on the status of repairs. Ortiz never received a response

from Ballard Six about the Charter estimate.

       Michels filed suit against Farmers in November 2016.7 On March 24, 2017,

she filed a second amended complaint for money damages against Farmers and

Ballard Six. Her claims against Farmers included breach of contract, insurance

bad faith, violation of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), chapter 19.86 RCW,

negligent claims handling, and violation of the Insurance Fair Conduct Act(1FCA),

chapter 48.30 RCW. She also sought declaratory judgments against Farmers

regarding its coverage.

       6 Michels also obtained a work plan for her unit from Susan Evans, an
industrial hygienist. Evans concluded, on a more probable than not basis, that
smoke affected all surfaces within the unit, there were metals in the dust on many
surfaces, mold growth was present on numerous surfaces, and the sheet flooring
in the laundry contained asbestos. Evans's work plan required the removal and
destruction of several "contaminated materials" in the unit, including the gypsum
wallboard, vinyl window frames, kitchen cabinets and countertops, certain
appliances, water-damaged laminate flooring, interior doors, and electric wall
heaters. In her brief, Michels does not argue that she provided Evans's work plan
to Farmers.
       7 Michels filed her first complaint on November 14, 2016, and an amended
complaint on December 8, 2016.

                                           5
No. 77919-2-1/6

       Specifically, Michels alleged that Farmers failed to conduct a site visit for

more than 100 days after the water loss, failed to conduct a reasonable

investigation of the loss, and failed to provide her with a full scope of the repairs in

the year after the loss. She also alleged that Farmers deprived her of her right to

select a contractor to perform the repairs.

       On November 13, 2017, Farmers filed a motion for summary judgment,

arguing that Michels's claims should be dismissed because she is not an insured,

nor a party to the insurance contract. As a result, it argued that she has no

standing to assert any of her claims. The trial court granted Farmers's motion. It

concluded that Michels is not a named insured and presented no fact indicating

that she is an intended third party beneficiary to the contract. Michels appeals.8

                                    DISCUSSION

       Michels makes three arguments. First, she argues that she is an insured

and first party claimant under the Farmers policy. Second, she argues that she is

a third party beneficiary to the Farmers policy. Third, she argues that even if she

is not an insured or a third party beneficiary, standing to bring a CPA claim does

not require an insurer-insured or contractual relationship.

        8 In its brief, Farmers notes that Michels settled her claims with the Ballard
Six in advance of trial, but does not provide a citation to any settlement information
in the record. In her complaint, Michels alleged that Ballard Six violated its
declaration and bylaws, and had an obligation to participate in the adjustment of
the insurance claim and ensure that Michels's residence was fully restored in
prompt fashion. She sought damages, declaratory relief, and an injunction
requiring Ballard Six to sue Farmers and authorizing her to pursue an action
against Farmers. There does not appear to be any information regarding a
settlement between Michels and Ballard Six in the record. And, Michels does not
address the settlement in her briefing. As a result, we do not know whether Michels
in fact settled her claims, or what the details of that settlement were.

                                              6
No. 77919-2-1/7

  I.   Standard of Review

       This court reviews summary judgment orders de novo, considering the

evidence and all reasonable inferences from the evidence in the light most

favorable to the nonmoving party. Keck v. Collins, 184 Wash. 2d 358, 370, 357 P.3d

1080(2015). Summary judgment is appropriate only when no genuine isstje exists

as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of

law. Id. If a plaintiff, "fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence

of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the

burden of proof at trial," summary judgment is proper. Young v. Key Pharms.,

Inc., 112 Wash. 2d 216, 225, 770 P.2d 182 (1989)(quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett,

477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986)), overruled on other

grounds by 130 Wash. 2d 160, 922 P.3d 69(1996).

 II.   Insurance

       Interpretation of an insurance contract is a question of law that this court

reviews de novo. Quadrant Corp. v. Am. States Ins. Co., 154 Wash. 2d 165, 171,

110 P.3d 733 (2005). Courts "construe insurance policies as contracts." Id. In

doing so, courts construe the policy as a whole, giving it a fair, reasonable, and

sensible construction, as would be given by the average person purchasing

insurance. Weverhauser Co. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 142 Wn.2d 654,665-

66, 15 P.3d 115 (2000). If the policy language is clear and unambiguous, a court

must enforce it as written. Quadrant, 154 Wash. 2d at 171. Courts may not modify a

policy, or create ambiguity where none exists. Id.

                                              7
No. 77919-2-1/8

       A. Farmers Policy

       The WCA requires that condominium associations maintain, to the extent

reasonably available, property insurance on the condominium and liability

insurance. RCW 64.34.352(1)(a)-(b). The property insurance "may, but need not,

include equipment, improvements, and betterments in a unit installed by the

declarant or the unit owners, insuring against all risks of direct physical loss

commonly insured against." RCW 64.34.352(1)(a).

       Insurance policies under RCW 64.34.352(1) must provide that "[e]ach unit

owner is an insured person under the policy with respect to liability arising out of

the owner's interest in the common elements or membership in the association."

RCW 64.34.352(3)(a). But, condominium associations are not required to maintain

insurance for a unit owner's own benefit. Instead, a unit owner is allowed to obtain

insurance for their own benefit. RCW 64.34.352(5).

       The Farmers policy at issue here lists Ballard Six as the only named

insured. In the policy's "Condominium Liability Coverage Form," a section titled

"Who Is An Insured" lists the following with regard to unit owners:

       4. The developer in the developer's capacity as a unit-owner, but
          only with respect to the developer's liability arising out of:

          a. The ownership, maintenance or repair of that portion of the
             premises which is not owned solely by the developer; or
          b. The developer's membership in the Association.

          However, the insurance afforded with respect to the developer
          does not apply to liability for acts or omissions as a developer.

       5. Each other unit-owner of the described condominium, but only
          with respect to that person's liability arising out of the ownership',
          maintenance or repair of that portion of the premises which is not

                                             8
No. 77919-2-1/9

          owned solely by the unit-owner or out of that person's
          membership in the Association.

       The policy's "Condominium Property Coverage Form" does not include a

section describing who is insured. Under that form, covered property includes the

"[b]ui!ding and structure described in the Declarations." An endorsement later

modified the policy, adding the following to the policy's covered property:

      (6) Any of the following types of property within a residential unit:

          (a) Fixtures, improvements and alterations that are a part of the
              building or structure; and
          (b) Permanently installed appliances, such as those used for
              refrigerating, ventilating, cooking, dishwashing, laundering
              security or housekeeping.

       The property coverage form mentions unit owners only with respeci to their

personal property being excluded. The policy states, "Buildings does not include

personal property owned by, used by or in the care, custody or control of a unit-

owner except for personal property listed in Paragraph A.1.a.(4) above." (Boldface

omitted.) In that paragraph, personal property includes property owned by Ballard

Six "that is used to maintain or service the building or structure."

       B. Insured

       Michels argues that she is an insured under the Farmers policy because

she is the "only real party in interest as to property she exclusively owns."

(Boldface omitted.) She relies on Merriman v. American Guarantee and Liability

Insurance Co., 198 Wash. App. 594, 396 P.3d 351, review denied, 189 Wash. 2d 1038,

413 P.3d 565 (2017), Community Association Underwriters of America, Inc. v.

KaIles, 164 Wash. App. 30, 259 P.3d 1154 (2011), and Robbins v. Milwaukee

                                             9
No. 77919-2-1/10

Mechanics Insurance Co., 102 Wash. 539, 173 P. 634 (1918). She also argues

that Farmers considered her an insured.

       In Merriman, a fire destroyed a storage warehouse owned by Bernd,

including the personal property of its customers. 198 Wash. App. at 601. After the

customers sued Bernd, its insurer, and the insurance adjuster, the trial court

granted the insurance adjuster's motion for summary judgment dismissal of the

customers' claims. Id. at 603-04. The Merrimans appealed, and th s court

considered first whether the Merrimans' claim under the property provisions of the

policy was a first party claim by an insured. Id. at 604.

       This court noted that the section in the policy describing covered property

included "'[p]ersonal property of others in [Bernd's] care, custody and control." Id.
                                                                             i
at 607. The section also stated, "our payment for loss of or damage to personal

property of others will only be for the account of the owner of the property." Id.

The court determined that this language clearly and unambiguously included as
                                                                      1
                                                                      I
covered property the Merrimans' personal property. Id. And, it found that the

statement "our payment for loss of or damage to personal property of others will

only be for the account of the owner of the property" unambiguously contemplated

that the insurer would pay the loss directly to the owner of that property. Id. Thus,

it concluded that the policy was "most reasonably read to include all ovVners of

covered property as insureds, thereby making the Merrimans and other storage

customers first party claimants." Id. at 610.

                                            10
No. 77919-2-1/11

       Merriman does not control. Here, the section in the policy describing

covered property refers to unit owners, but only to exclude their personal property

from coverage. The one exception to the exclusion of personal property coverage

is personal property owned by Ballard Six that is "used to maintain or service the

building or its structure or its premises." Michels made a separate claim with her

personal insurer, PEMCO, for her personal property losses. Unlike Merriman,

there is no provision that Farmers will pay unit owners directly for the loss of their

property. There is a provision that Farmers's payment "for loss of or damage to

personal property of others will only be for the account of the owners of the

property." But, again, the policy excludes coverage of unit owners' personal

property.

       Michels's claims against Farmers are based on the Charter estimate, which

includes repair estimates for structural damage to her unit, including damage to

walls, wall heaters, windows, doors, cabinets, the ceiling, the flooring, and the

water heater. The Farmers policy covers some property within a residen ial unit,

including "[fixtures, improvements and alterations that are a part of the building or

structure" and certain "permanently installed appliances." But, Ballard Six is the

named insured for those covered items.

       Next, in KaIles a condominium board had a fire insurance policy that listed

the named insured as "'Harbour Commons, A Condominium." 164 Wash. App. at

33. The condominium declaration requiring the board to maintain fire insurance

stated that the board was "named as insured as trustee for the benefit of owners

                                             11
No. 77919-2-1/12

and mortgagees as their interest may appear." Id. at 32. After a fire damaged a

unit leased by the Kalleses from the Elkinses, the fire insurer sued the Kalleses,

as subrogee of the Harbour Commons,for negligently causing the fire. Id. at 32-

33. The Kalleses successfully moved for summary judgment, arguing tI hat the

insurer could not sue them because they were a coinsured under the policy. Id. at

33.

      This court determined that "the law presumes a tenant to be the landlord's

coinsured absent an express agreement to the contrary." Id. at 36. The insurer

argued in part that this rule did not apply because the landlords, the Elkinses, were

not insured under the policy, only the board was. Id. at 37. This court did not

agree. See H. Although Harbour Commons was the named insured, it pointed

out that the condominium declaration required the board to obtain fire insurance

"as trustee for the benefit of the owners." Id. Even though the insurer did not

bargain directly with the Elkinses to insure them, it bargained with "their trustee,

the Board, to insure the Harbour Commons." Id. This court found that "[t]here can

be no question that the insurance policy served to benefit the Elkinses." Id.

Accordingly, because the Kalleses were in privity of contract with the Elkinses and

shared a property interest in the unit, they had reason to expect that the policy

would cover them as well. Id.

       KaIles is distinguishable for two reasons. First, the main issue involved

whether the tenants under a lease could avoid an insurer's subrogation claim,

based on the argument that they were a coinsured under the policy. See i . at 33.

                                            12
No. 77919-2-1/13

Here, there is no landlord-tenant relationship nor subrogation claim. Second, the

condominium declaration for the Harbour Commons required that the board obtain

fire insurance "as trustee for the benefit of owners." Id. at 32. Michels Lies not

point to similar language in the Ballard Six's condominium declaration. Rather, its

declaration provides that "[a]n insurance policy issued to the Association does not

prevent a Unit Owner from obtaining insurance for the Owner's own benefit." And,

it requires the policy to provide that unit owners are insured "with respect th liability

arising out of the Owner's interest in the Common Elements or membership in the

Association." It does not require the policy to provide that unit owners are also

insured with respect to property coverage.

       Last, in Robbins, Robbins sold two pool tables to Kempf. 102 Washi at 540.

Under a conditional sale agreement, she reserved title in the pool tables until

Kempf completed a certain number of installment payments, totaling $300.00. Id.

After making only a few small payments, Kempf made a bill of sale of the property,

including the pool tables, in his place of business to his father. Id. Kempf, as his

father's agent, then obtained a fire insurance policy that covered the property in

the bill of sale. Id. Shortly after, all of the insured property was destroyed in a fire.

Id. at 540-41. Robbins sought to enjoin the insurance company from paying money

for the pool tables to Kempf, and asked that she be paid her interest in tie pool

tables. Id. at 541. The trial court entered a judgment in favor of Robbins. Id. at

541-42.

                                              13
No. 77919-2-1/14

       The State Supreme Court affirmed, noting that legal title to the pool tables

at all times remained in Robbins. Id. at 542, 545. It also noted that the trial court

found that Kempf, in procuring the insurance, disclosed that he had not paid for

the pool tables. Id. at 543. Despite the insurance company's argument that there

was no contractual relationship between it and Robbins, the court determined that

the company "received its premium, the property was destroyed, and it ought not,

in good conscience, to avoid paying the loss on a mere technicality." Id.t 544.

       The facts here differ from those in Robbins. Ballard Six did not obtain an

insurance policy on personal property it was in the process of purchasing from

Michels. Rather, it obtained property coverage on a condominium complek where

Michels owns a unit. The policy covers some property within the units, including

"fflixtures, improvements and alterations that are a part of the building or structure"

and "[p]ermanently installed appliances."         But, the condominium declaration

provides that "[a]ny loss covered by the property insurance . . . must be adjusted

with the Association." The insurance proceeds for that loss "are payable to any

insurance trustee designated for that purpose, or otherwise to the Association, and

not to any holder of a Mortgage." The parties do not point to any language in the

declaration indicating that a unit owner is an "insurance trustee." And, the Farmers

policy expressly excludes coverage for personal property of the unit owner.

       Michels also argues that Farmers considered her to be an insured. She

points out that Farmers adjusted the claim exclusively with her for five months after

the loss. But, Ortiz testified that Michels told him she was authorized to move

                                             14
No. 77919-2-1/15

forward with the claim.     After Fraher told him that he was the authorized

representative, Ortiz worked with Fraher to adjust the claim. And, Michels does

not provide authority to support that, despite the policy language, Farmers working

with her on the claim means that she was an insured.

       Ballard Six is the only named insured in the Farmers policy. The policy

includes both property and liability coverage. The liability coverage form lists unit

owners as insureds, but only with respect to their liability arising out of the

ownership, maintenance, or repair of "the premises which is not owned sblely by

the unit-owner or out of that person's membership in the Association." The

property coverage form does not similarly provide that unit owners are insured. It

excludes unit owners' personal property and covers some property within a unit.

That property includes "fixtures, improvements and alterations that are a part of

the building or structure" and certain "permanently installed appliances." But, there

is no provision that Farmers will pay unit owners directly for those losses.

       These facts are not disputed, and Michels does not argue that any language

in the policy is ambiguous. Therefore, under the policy's plain language, Michels

is not an insured as to property coverage. The trial court did not err in concluding

the same.

       C. Third Party Beneficiary

       Michels argues next that she is a third party beneficiary to the Farmers

policy, because the policy "provides direct coverage for the risk of loss not only to

common element property owned by the Association, but also to property owned

                                            15
No. 77919-2-1/16

exclusively by the unit owners." She cites several statutes in the WCA. She also

argues that"when a policy covers property owned by one person but is in the name

of another, the property owner is a third party beneficiary." (Boldface omitted.)

She relies on an Oklahoma case, Hensley v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.,

2017 OK 57, 398 P.3d 11.

       To create a third party beneficiary contract, the parties must intend that the

promisor assume a direct obligation to the intended beneficiary at the time they

enter into the contract. Postlewait Constr., Inc. v. Great Am. Ins. Cos., 106 Wash. 2d
96, 99, 720 P.2d 805(1986). "[T]he test of intent is an objective one." Id. Rather

than looking at whether the parties "had an altruistic motive or desire to benefit the

third party," the key is whether performance under the contract would necessarily

and directly benefit that party. Id. "The contracting parties' intent is determined by

construing the terms of the contract as a whole, in light of the circumstances under

which it is made." Id. at 99-100.

       Michels first points to a provision in the "Loss Payment" section of the policy,

which states,

       Our payment for loss of or damage to personal property of others wi I
       only be for the account of the owners of the property. We may adjust
       losses with owners of lost or damaged property if other than you. If
       we pay the owners, such payments will satisfy your claims against
       us for the owners [sic] property. We will not pay the owners more
       than their financial interest in the Covered Property.
       This section refers to payment for loss of or damage to "personal property

of others." As established above, the policy's property coverage does not include

the personal property of unit owners, except for personal property owned by

                                             16
No. 77919-2-1/17

Ballard Six. The policy distinguishes between unit owners' personal property,

which is not covered, and certain property within a residential unit that is covered.

That property includes fixtures, improvements, and alterations that are a part of

the building or structure, and certain permanently installed appliances. For those

items, Ballard Six is the named insured. There is no similar provision stating that

Farmers will pay unit owners directly for the loss of that property.

       Michels quotes several statutes within the WCA.           First, under RCW

64.34.354, a condominium association must "notify each insurance company that

has issued an insurance policy to the association for the benefit of the ' owners

under RCW 64.34.352 of the name and address of the new owner and request

that the new owner be made a named insured under such policy." But, there is no

requirement within RCW 64.34.352 that an insurance policy be issued for the

benefit of the owners with respect to property coverage. In fact, RCW 64.34.352(5)

provides that "[a]n insurance policy issued to the association does not prevent a

unit owner from obtaining insurance for the owner's own benefit."

       Next, RCW 64.34.352(4) provides that a condominium association "shall

hold any insurance proceeds in trust for unit owners and lienholders as their

interests may appear." But, Ballard Six did not insure the personal property of

individual unit owners, only the common property interests. Michels does not

establish that Ballard Six is holding insurance proceeds in trust for her related to

her personal property losses. On these facts, this section of the statue does

                                            17
No. 77919-2-1/18

nothing to demonstrate she was an intended third party beneficiary of the Ballard

Six insurance contract.9

       Last, Michels relies on Hensley for the proposition that "[w]hen a policy

covers property owned by one person but in the name of another, the property

owner is a third party beneficiary." (Boldface omitted.) But, this is not What the

Hensley court held. See 398 P.3d at 25.

       In Hensley, Douglas bought a mobile home using a contract for deed from

the Hensleys, who had an insurance policy on the home. Id. at 14. The Hensleys

continued making premium payments on the policy, which continued to be

renewed. Id. Under the contract for deed, Douglas made monthly payments to

the Hensleys that were required to include the insurance premium amounts. Id.

Douglas was not expressly named in the policy. Id. After reporting a theft and

vandalism of the home, Douglas and the Hensleys sued the insurer. Id. at 15. The

insurer filed a summary judgment motion, arguing that Douglas was a stranger to

the insurance contract and unable to bring his claim. Id. at 15-16. The trial court

granted the insurer's motion. Id. at 16.

       On appeal, Douglas argued that that he was a third party beneficiary to the

contract. Id. at 22. He relied on the insurer treating him and his wife as insureds,

his equitable interest in the property, and the insurance covering the risk of harm

to the entire property, not just the Hensleys' insurable interest. Id. at 22-23. The

       9 Michels also quotes language from RCW 64.32.220. But, the provisions
of chapter 64.32 RCW do not apply to condominiums created after July 1,, 1990.
RCW 64.34.010(2). Ballard Six was formed in 2008. Thus, RCW 64.32.220 does
not apply here.

                                            18
No. 77919-2-1/19

Supreme Court of Oklahoma held that Douglas's equitable title to the property was

"insufficient by itself to confer upon him the status of insured." Id. at 25 But, it

found that there was a dispute of material fact as to whether the insurer construed

the policy to include Douglas as an insured or beneficiary. Id. Douglas presented

facts showing that he was considered an insured and that the policy covered the

entire value of the property, not just the Hensleys' interest. Id. On the other hand,
                                                                             1
the insurer presented facts indicating that it distinguished between Hensley as the

insured and Douglas as a tenant. Id. The court reversed and remanded the case.

Id.

       Michels may benefit from Farmers's performance under the policy. But, she

does not point to language within the policy that suggests Farmers and Ballard Six

intended that Farmers assume a direct obligation to her. Rather, Ballard Six is the

only named insured. The policy's liability coverage form provides that unit owners

are insured as to their liability "arising out of the ownership, maintenance or repair

of that portion of the premises which is not owned solely by the unit-owner or out

of that person's membership in the Association." The policy's property coverage

form does not include a similar provision. While it covers certain property within

residential units that is a part of the building or structure, it does not provide that

Farmers will pay unit owners directly for those losses.

       These facts are not disputed. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in

concluding that Michels is not a third party beneficiary to the Farmers policy.

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No. 77919-2-1/20

       D. CPA Claim

       Michels argues last that, even if she is not an "insured, first-party c aimant,

or third-party beneficiary, CPA standing does not required an insured/inSurer or

contractual relationship." She relies on Panaq v. Farmers Insurance Company of

Washington, 166 Wash. 2d 27, 204 P.3d 885(2009), and University of Washington v.

Government Employees Insurance Company, 200 Wash. App. 455, 404 P.3d 559

(2017).

       In Panaq, the State Supreme Court considered whether the CPA applies to

a collection agency's "allegedly deceptive efforts to collect on an insurance

company's subrogation claim against an uninsured motorist." 166 Wash. 2d at 34.

The collection agency and its client insurance companies argued that the CPA

"applies only to disputes arising from a consumer or business transaction, not an

alleged tort." Id. The court disagreed, and found that, under RCW 19.86.090 "[t]he

CPA allows '[a]ny person who is injured in his or her business or prope y by a

violation' of the act to bring a CPA claim." Id. at 39 (second alteration in original)

(quoting RCW 19.86.090). It determined that nothing in that language " equires

that the plaintiff must be a consumer or in a business relationship." Id.

       But, in a footnote, the court distinguished Panaq from a CPA claim based

on an insurer's violation of its statutory duty of good faith. Id. at 43 n.6. While it

noted that contractual privity is not usually required to bring a CPA claim, it stated

that only an insured may bring a CPA claim for an insurer's breach of its statutory

duty. Id.

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No. 77919-2-1/21

       Similarly, in University of Washington, the insurer argued that the trial court

erred in allowing the University to bring a CPA claim against it, because the

University was not one of its insureds. 200 Wash. App. at 469. The University's

claim was based on the insurer's repudiation of a private agreement to split liability

between the two. Id. at 464. This court noted that "a '[CPA] claim against an

insurance company for breach of its duty to exercise good faith under RCW

48.01.030 is limited to the insured." Id. at 470 (alteration in original) (quoting

Green v. Holm, 28 Wash. App. 135, 137, 622 P.2d 869 (1981)). But, the court

concluded that the insurer's argument did not apply to a private CPA claim, which

the University had brought. Id. The trial court had not allowed the University to

bring a "per se CPA action for breach of insurance claims handling regulations,"

and the University "did not proceed on a bad faith theory under the CPA " Id. at

471. Thus,the court found that the University was a proper party to bring the claim.

Id.

       Unlike Panaq and University of Washington, Michels's CPA claim was

based on Farmers's alleged breach of insurance claims handling regulations. In

her complaint, she alleged that Farmers engaged in "unfair or deceptive acts or

practices." She based her CPA claim on Farmers's "violation of the provisions of

the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Regulation," located at WAC 284-30-300

through 284-30-450. The regulation derives its statutory authority from RCW

48.30.010, which prohibits insurers from engaging in unfair trade      practices and
authorizes the insurance commissioner to define methods of competition and acts

                                            21
No. 77919-2-1/22

and practices in the insurance business that are unfair or deceptive. WAC 284-

30-300.

         Accordingly, because Michels is neither an insured nor a third party

beneficiary to the Farmers policy, the trial court did not err in dismissing her CPA

claim.

         We affirm.

WE CONCUR:

0;144,/                                     k./(144-42)2-1A-4- 1

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