Court Opinion

ID: 2652849
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-10 21:45:04.238766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:44:19.934256
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

TYLER AINSWORTH,                                 NO. 69433-2-

                    Respondent,                  DIVISION ONE
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PROGRESSIVE CASUALTY                             UNPUBLISHED OPINION                        3>„'
INSURANCE COMPANY, a foreign
insurance company,                               FILED: February 10, 2014
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                    Appellant.                                                            —IC3

       l_AU] j _ progressive Casualty Insurance Company appeals the order granting

partial summary judgment in Tyler Ainsworth's favor on his income continuation (wage

loss) benefit claim under applicable provisions of his automobile insurance policy.1 We
hold that (1) the plain meaning of the relevant policy provisions entitles Ainsworth to

income continuation benefits under the circumstances here, (2) Progressive

unreasonably denied coverage and payment of benefits under the Insurance Fair

Conduct Act (IFCA), RCW 48.30.015, (3) no material fact issues exist, and (4)

       1Progressive filed its notice of appeal from a partial summary judgment order
that resolved Ainsworth's claims for breach of contract and violation of the Insurance
Fair Conduct Act. At the time, additional claims for violation of the Washington
Consumer Protection Act (CPA), insurance bad faith, and negligence remained pending
before the trial court. We stayed appellate proceedings pending entry of CR 54(b)
findings certifying the partial summary judgment orderfor immediate appeal. The trial
court entered an order directing entry of a final judgment on the partial summary
judgment order and declaring Ainsworth's CPA, bad faith, and negligence claims moot.
We lifted the stay and now review the merits of the summary judgment order.
69433-2-1/2

Progressive failed to preserve its "actual damages" claim. Accordingly, we affirm the

partial summary judgment order and the trial court's award of attorney fees and costs.

                                          FACTS

       On July 14, 2010, Tyler Ainsworth suffered neck and back injuries on Interstate 5

in Seattle when an "18 wheeler" tractor trailer truck traveling 50 to 55 miles per hour

rear-ended the car he was driving.2 Shortly afterthe accident, he submitted a claim for
income continuation (wage loss) benefits to Progressive. He claimed he lost income

from his warehouse job at Contour Inc.,3 and from his part-time evening delivery job at
Pagliacci Pizza Inc., due to his accident-related bodily injuries.

       Progressive's claim representative, Michelle Becerra, calculated the amount of

wage loss benefits.4 Becerra did not include Ainsworth's lost Pagliacci wages in her
wage loss calculation. Progressive paid Ainsworth's wage loss benefits based solely on

lost Contour wages.

       Becerra obtained medical updates from Ainsworth's primary care physician,

Dr. Christopher Smith. In a letter dated September 21, 2010, Dr. Smith stated that

Ainsworth was "making excellent progress" and indicated that he could resume full-time

work, "[w]ith [rjestrictions," on October 15, 2010. Dr. Smith specified, "Current

restrictions are lifting no more than 50 pounds. Rarely more than 25 pounds.

[Ainsworth] will need more frequent rest breaks. Ten minutes per hour." He also noted

       2 Progressive adjusted Ainsworth's property loss claim and determined that the
vehicle was a total loss due to the damages.

       3 At the time Ainsworth submitted his claim, Contour was known as "Twenty20
Inc." We refer to Twenty20, Inc. as "Contour."

       4The policy pays no wages lost for the first 14 days after the accident and caps
at 54 weeks from the accident.
                                           -2-
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that the restrictions would remain in effect pending a "follow-up visit in 3 to 4 weeks."

Finally, he indicated that he had "not yet determined" the date on which Ainsworth

would regain the ability to work without restrictions.

       On September 27, 2010, Becerra noted in Progressive's claim log that she "rcvd

[sic] clarification from Dr. Smith re: Tyler wage loss." (Formatting omitted). Her note

continued, "As of 10/15/10 [Ainsworth] can increase to 8 hrs day." (Formatting omitted.)

       Progressive stopped paying Contour wage loss benefits on October 14, 2010.

The next day, Ainsworth returned to work at Contour as a full-time, hourly employee.

He later claimed 60 hours of work missed in October and November 2010 due to

medical appointments with various health care providers for injury-related treatment.

       On December 7, 2010, Ainsworth requested additional wage loss benefits for the

Contour wages he lost while attending these medical appointments. Progressive

denied the claim. It concluded that Ainsworth's contractual entitlement to wage loss

benefits ended on October 15, 2010, the date Dr. Smith released him to resume

restricted full-time work. In a letter dated December 29, 2010, Becerra denied

additional benefits, explaining that Progressive's obligation to pay wage loss benefits

under the policy ended on "the date on which the insured person is reasonably able to

perform the duties of his or her usual occupation . . . ." She stated, "We have not

received anything to date that Mr. Ainsworth is not able to perform the duties of his

usual occupation. Therefore, additional wage loss is not owed."

       Ainsworth sued Progressive, alleging breach of contract, a violation of IFCA

based on the failure to pay wage loss benefits due under the policy, and other claims

not relevant in this appeal. He then moved for partial summary judgment, arguing it was

                                           -3-
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undisputed that he lost Contour and Pagliacci wages due to accident-related bodily

injuries. He calculated that Progressive owed him $5,458.18 in unpaid benefits—

$736.12 for lost Contour wages and $4,722.06 for lost Pagliacci wages. He asked the

court to award unpaid benefits as contract-based damages, along with attorney fees

and costs. He also asked the court to enhance his award under IFCA's treble damages

provision, RCW 48.30.015(2).5
       Progressive responded, arguing that its duty to pay wage loss benefits for lost

Contour wages terminated as a matter of law when Ainsworth resumed restricted full-

time employment on October 15, 2010. It also argued, "With regard to Pagliacci,

Plaintiff has never provided any note from a doctor restricting him from Pagliacci and

has admitted that he never received a restriction relating to this employer." It then

argued that no IFCA violation occurred, since the record contained no proof that it

unreasonably denied Ainsworth's claim for wage loss.6
      The trial court granted Ainsworth's partial summary judgment motion, ruling, "The

uncontested medical evidence is that Plaintiff, the insured, was not 'reasonably able' to

perform the duties in his two jobs due to the restrictions his doctor placed on him." It

concluded that Ainsworth was entitled to $5,458.18 in unpaid income continuation

benefits, covering both Contour and Pagliacci wage loss. Turning to the IFCA claim, it

      5 RCW 48.30.015(2) provides, "The superior court may, after finding that an
insurer has acted unreasonably in denying a claim for coverage or payment of benefits
or has violated a rule in subsection (5) of this section, increase the total award of
damages to an amount not to exceed three times the actual damages."

      6 Progressive's appellate briefing fundamentally misapprehends Ainsworth's
wage loss claims. The partial summary judgment record is clear that Ainsworth sought
Contour wage loss benefits related only to wages lost due to medical appointments in
October 2010 and November 2010. As to Ainsworth's Pagliacci wage loss claim, he
sought wage loss benefits for the period July 14, 2010, to August 2011.
                                          -4-
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found, "The Defendant unreasonably denied the 'income continuation benefits' without

adequate investigation, erroneously concluding his return to some work justified the

decision." Citing IFCA's treble damages provision, it stated, "Since the denial [of

income continuation benefits] was not reasonable, the court DOUBLES the amount of

actual damages under RCW 48.30.015(2) to $10,916.36." Finally, the court awarded

Ainsworth attorney fees under IFCA and Olympic Steamship Co. v. Centennial

Insurance Co.. 117 Wash. 2d 37, 811 P.2d 673 (1991). Progressive appeals.

                                        ANALYSIS

       In this action to recover personal injury protection (PIP) wage loss benefits,

Progressive contends that it properly paid wage loss benefits "throughout Ainsworth's

convalescence" and stopped payments only when Ainsworth's doctor released him to

work full-time on October 15, 2010. Br. of Appellant at 5. It relies on policy language

that states benefits end when the insured is "reasonably able to perform the duties of

his or her usual occupation." It also contends no benefits are payable for wage loss to

attend medical appointments and Ainsworth failed to mitigate his damages. Ainsworth

responds that Progressive raised no material issues of fact that he "remained medically

restricted" from performing his usual job duties or failed to mitigate his damages.

Resp't's Br. at 20.

       Summary Judgment

       When reviewing a grant of summary judgment, we engage in the same inquiry as

the trial court. RAP 9.12; Harris v. Ski Park Farms. Inc.. 120 Wash. 2d 727, 737, 844 P.2d
1006 (1993). Summary judgment is appropriate only when, after reviewing all facts and

reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and all

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questions of law de novo, there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving

party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c); Wilson v. Steinbach, 98
Wash. 2d 434, 437, 656 P.2d 1030 (1982).

       An affidavit "'does not raise a genuine issue of fact unless it sets forth facts

evidentiary in nature, i.e., information as to what took place, an act, an incident, a reality

as distinguished from supposition or opinion.'" Johnson v. Recreational Equip., Inc.,

159 Wash. App. 939, 954, 247 P.3d 18 (2011) (quoting Snohomish County v. Ruqq, 115
Wash. App. 218, 224, 61 P.3d 1184 (2002)). "Likewise, ultimate facts, conclusions of fact,

conclusory statements of fact or legal conclusions are insufficient to raise a question of

fact." Ruqq, 115 Wash. App. at 224. A party opposing a motion for summary judgment

may not rely on speculation, argumentative assertions that unresolved factual issues

remain, or its affidavits considered at face value. Rather, the nonmoving party must set

forth specific facts that sufficiently rebut the moving party's contentions and disclose

that a genuine issue as to a material fact exists. Herman v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am., 104
Wash. App. 783, 787-88, 17 P.3d 631 (2001).

       Coverage

       "The courts liberally construe insurance policies to provide coverage wherever

possible." Bordeaux, Inc. v. Am. Safety Ins. Co., 145 Wash. App. 687, 694, 186 P.3d
1188 (2008). Construction of an insurance policy is a question of law. Queen City

Farms, Inc. v. Cent. Nat'l Ins. Co. of Omaha, 126 Wash. 2d 50, 65, 882 P.2d 703 (1994).

We examine the policy "to determine whether under the plain meaning of the contract

there is coverage." Kitsap County v. Allstate Ins. Co., 136 Wash. 2d 567, 576, 964 P.2d
1173 (1998). "Terms undefined by the insurance contract should be given their ordinary

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and common meaning, not their technical, legal meaning." Allstate Ins. Co. v. Peasley,

131 Wash. 2d 420, 424, 932 P.2d 1244 (1997). Terms in an insurance policy "must be

given a fair, reasonable, and sensible construction as would be given by an average

insurance purchaser." Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Henault, 128 Wash. 2d 207, 213, 905 P.2d
379 (1995). We interpret an insurance contract from the point of view of the average

person purchasing insurance. Holden v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., 169 Wash. 2d 750,

756, 239 P.3d 344 (2010).

       "A determination of coverage involves two steps: first, '[t]he insured must show

the loss falls within the scope of the policy's insured losses.'" Moeller v. Farmers Ins.

Co. of Wash., 173 Wash. 2d 264, 271-72, 267 P.3d 998 (2011) (alteration in original)

(quoting McDonald v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 119 Wash. 2d 724, 731, 837 P.2d 1000

(1992)). "Then, in order to avoid coverage, the insurer must 'show the loss is excluded

by specific policy language.'" Moeller, 173 Wash. 2d at 272 (quoting McDonald, 119

Wn.2dat731)).

       Personal Injury Protection Coverage - Purpose

              The no-fault insurance system and personal injury protection (PIP)
       benefits are intended to provide victims of motor vehicle accidents adequate and
       prompt reparation for certain economic losses at the lowest cost to both the
       individual and the no-fault insurance system. The individual victim is benefited
       through quick compensation for economic losses incurred as a result of the
       accident, [irrespective] of fault and without having to bring a lawsuit.

12 Steven Putt, Daniel Maldonado & Joshua D. Rogers, Couch on Insurance 3d

§ 171:45, at 171-46 (2006) (footnote omitted).

             Compensation for lost earnings or wages is generally one of the "basic
       economic losses" covered by no-fault and personal injury protection (PIP)
       insurance policies. This compensation for lost earnings or wages provides
       reimbursement for loss of earnings from work which the injured claimant would
69433-2-1/8

      have received had he or she not been injured and provides protection from
      economic hardship caused by the loss of a wage earner's income.

12 Putt.etal, supra, § 171:53, at 171-54 to-55 (footnote omitted); see also 5B

Matthew King, Washington Insurance Law and Litigation § 4:1, at 29-30 (2013-14).

      Ainsworth's Wage Loss Claims

      The relevant PIP policy language here provides:7
              PART II - PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION COVERAGE
      INSURING AGREEMENT
      Subject to the Limits of Liability, if you pay the premium for Personal Injury
      Protection Coverage, we will pay the following benefits to or on behalf of an
      insured person for losses or expenses incurred because of bodily injury
      sustained by an insured person caused by an accident and arising out of the
      ownership, operation, maintenance, or use of an automobile:

      2. income continuation benefits to or on behalf of each insured person engaged
         in a remunerative occupation at the time of the accident.

      ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS

      3. "Income continuation benefits" means payment of an insured person's loss
          of income from work, subject to the following:
      a. income from work lost between the date of the accident and the 14th day after
      the accident will not be paid;
      b. [P]ayments will end the earliest of:
              (i)   the date on which the insured person is reasonably able to perform
                    the duties of his or her usual occupation;
             (ii) 54 weeks from the date of the accident; or
             (iii) the date of the insured person's death; and
       c. income earned during the period income continuation benefits are being paid
      will be deducted from income continuation benefits.

      7These policy provisions closely mirror chapter 48.22 RCW's personal injury
protection statutes. On May 7, 1993, Washington State enacted a statute that required
all state auto insurers to offer PIP no-fault coverage that was authorized, but not
required to be offered, by the 1973 regulation. Like the disputed policy clause here,
RCW 48.22.005(3) provides in part: "The benefit payment period begins fourteen days
after the date of the automobile accident and ends at the earliest of the following:
(a) The date on which the insured is reasonably able to perform the duties of his or her
usual occupation." "[U]nlike other types of contracts, insurance policies must be
interpreted in light of important public policy and statutory considerations." Mission Ins.
Co. v. Guarantee Ins. Co.. 37 Wash. App. 695, 699, 683 P.2d 215 (1984).
                                           -8-
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      EXCLUSIONS - READ THE FOLLOWING EXCLUSIONS CAREFULLY. IF AN
      EXCLUSION APPLIES, COVERAGE WILL NOT BE AFFORDED UNDER THIS
      PART II.
      Coverage under this Part II does not apply to bodily injury:
      1. to any person who intentionally causes their own bodily injury;
      2. resulting from any pre-arranged or organized racing or speed contest, or in
          practice or preparation for any such contest;
      3. due to war, whether or not declared, or to an act or condition incident to war;
      4. resulting from the radioactive, toxic, explosive, or other hazardous properties
          of nuclear material;
      5. to you or a relative while occupying a motor vehicle, other than a covered
         auto owned by you or furnished for your regular use;
      6. to a relative while occupying a motor vehicle, other than a covered auto
         owned by the relative or furnished for the regular use of a relative; or
      7. to any person who sustains bodily injury while using an automobile in the
          commission of a felony.
      LIMITS OF LIABILITY
      The Limits of Liability for losses or expenses incurred by or on behalf of one
      insured person because of bodily injury sustained in any one accident will be as
      follows:

      2. $10,000 for income continuation benefits, subject to a limit of $200 per week.
         However, the combined weekly payment an insured person may receive
         under personal injury protection coverage, workers' compensation, disability
         insurance, or other income continuation benefits may not exceed 85% of the
         insured person's weekly income at the time of the accident.

(Formatting omitted.)

       Progressive agreed to pay income continuation benefits if Ainsworth lost income

from work as a result of a bodily injury caused by an automobile accident. The burden

rests on Ainsworth to demonstrate coverage under the policy language quoted above-

that he lost Contour and Pagliacci wages, that all wage loss resulted from bodily injuries

caused by the automobile accident, and that he was not reasonably able to perform the

duties of his usual occupation.8

      8We note problems can arise, however, in distinguishing between what must be
proved by the insured in order to establish that a claim comes within the general
coverage of the policy and what constitutes an exception to coverage. Here, the
existence of coverage depends in part on the applicability of the "reasonably able to
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      Pagliacci Wage Loss Claim

      The following material facts are undisputed. Ainsworth submitted a completed

pre-printed application form for PIP wage loss benefits to Progressive indicating his

current employers as Contour and Pagliacci. He answered, "yes" in response to the

question, "Did you lose wages or salary as a result of your injury?" (Formatting

omitted.) He also reported his "disability from work began" on July 14, 2010, the

accident date. (Formatting omitted.) He signed the application and authorization to

release medical information to Progressive. Six days after the accident, Becerra mailed

letters to Pagliacci and Contour requesting Ainsworth's wage loss information from each

employer. She enclosed Ainsworth's signed authorization to release the information

and a preprinted wage and salary verification form. Pagliacci's payroll accountant,

Pedro Z. Fernandez, completed the verification form on August 13, 2010. He indicated

Ainsworth's job duties as "deliver pizza to customers," wage rate of $8.55 per hour, and

worked an average of 12 hours per week. He also indicated Ainsworth had not returned

to work since the accident date. As to whether Ainsworth was entitled to "a wage or

salary continuation plan," Fernandez indicated "No." In response to a specific wage

perform the duties of his or her usual occupation" clause found under the definition of
"income continuation benefits" in the insuring clause of the policy. In other words, this
clause does not appear under the "Exclusions" or "Limitations" provisions. According to
a noted authority on insurance law, "The best rule, under [these] circumstances, is
probably to place the burden of proving that the proviso is not applicable on the insured.
The insured has the burden of establishing a prima facie case of coverage. The carrier,
therefore, should not automatically have the burden of proof with regard to each
provision in the policy that happens to be written in an exclusionary fashion." 2 Allan D.
Windt, Insurance Claims and Disputes: Representation of Insurance Companies and
Insureds § 9:1, at 10-11 (6th ed. 2013) (footnote omitted).

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information question, Fernandez provided weekly wage information from June 6, 2010,9
through July 18, 2010. For each week, he indicated number of days worked, tip

amounts earned, and gross earnings. He signed the verification form and included his

job title and contact telephone number. He then faxed the completed form to Becerra

the same day he signed it. The fax coversheet included Fernandez's full name, contact

telephone number, fax number, Ainsworth's full name, and Becerra's full name and fax

number.

          Based on the wage loss information provided by Contour, Becerra prepared a

PIP wage calculation sheet for Ainsworth's Contour wage loss claim but prepared no

calculations for his Pagliacci wage loss claim. The calculation worksheet shows

Becerra's wage loss calculations for Contour for the period of July 28, 2010, through

October 14, 2010. For this period, Progressive does not dispute that Ainsworth's

treating physician, Dr. Smith, declined to release him to work due to his accident-related

disability.

          Progressive periodically obtained medical disability information from Dr. Smith to

determine eligibility for wage loss benefits. Dr. Smith's April 13, 2012 declaration

testimony, submitted in support of Ainsworth's motion for partial summary judgment,

stated:

                  3. The following points and opinions are on a more probable than not
          basis to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.
                 4. Tyler Ainsworth is my patient at Pacific Medical Center and has been
          for many years.
                  5. Mr. Ainsworth was injured in a motor vehicle collision on July 14, 2010
          and I first saw Mr. Ainsworth in relation to his collision-related injuries on July 15,
          2010. To this day, I continue to treat Mr. Ainsworth for his collision-related
          injuries.

          9Ainsworth started working for Pagliacci on July 6, 2010.
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               6. I medically cleared Mr. Ainsworth to resume working full time on
      October 15, 2010, but with significant restrictions. I informed Mr. Ainsworth's
      insurer, Progressive, of this on September 21, 2010. I received no request for
      additional information or clarification of any kind from Progressive. Releasing a
      patient to work full time is not the same as declaring the patient to be able to
      perform their job duties. Progressive never asked me whether Mr. Ainsworth
      was unable to perform the duties of his job. I made no distinction between Mr.
      Ainsworth's warehouse type job and his job delivering pizzas and was not asked
      to make any such distinction by Progressive.
               7. I have not yet medically cleared Mr. Ainsworth to resume working
      without restrictions. If Mr. Ainsworth's job duties at either job call for frequent
      lifting of items weighing close to 25 pounds, then Mr. Ainsworth is not reasonably
      able to perform the duties of his job due to his collision-related injuries to this
      day. Additionally, I consider being able to show up to work a job duty for both a
      warehouse type job and a job delivering pizzas. If Mr. Ainsworth was unable to
      show up to work because he was at appointments with his health care providers,
      including visits to my office, then he was unable to perform a duty of his job.
               8. Mr. Ainsworth received massage therapy and physical therapy on my
      referral. Mr. Ainsworth also underwent mental health counseling for the severe
      depression he suffered following the collision on my referral. These modalities of
      treatment, along with visits to a physiatrist, were reasonable and necessary to
      treat Mr. Ainsworth's collision-related injuries. In fact, Mr. Ainsworth's condition
      regressed when he was not able to continue with his regular massage therapy.

               Ainsworth's May 24, 2012 declaration testimony stated:

            3. Christopher Smith, M.D. is my primary care doctor and has been for
      many years. I first saw Dr. Smith for treatment the day after the collision. Dr.
      Smith referred me to other health care providers and directed my return to work.
      As of October 15, 2010, Dr. Smith allowed me to return to work, but with
      restrictions. One of the restrictions was that I was not permitted to frequently lift
      items weighing close to 25 pounds. Another restriction is that he required me to
      take a 10 minute break every hour.
            4. At the time of the collision I had two jobs. One job was at Contour, Inc.
      and the other was at Pagliacci Pizza. I presently have the same two jobs.
              5. My job at Contour, Inc. is full-time. My job duties include moving stock,
      shipping and receiving items, and diagnosing and repairing broken cameras.
      The job requires frequently lifting items weighing more than 25 pounds. To this
      day, I remain unable to perform all of my job duties at Contour, Inc. due to the
      restrictions of Dr. Smith.
               6. In October and November of 2010, I missed time from work to receive
      treatment from my health care providers for my injuries. In October I missed 22
      hours and in November I missed 38 hours. My hourly rate of pay at the time was
      $13.46. My time loss is reflected on the pay stubs that were provided to
      Progressive Insurance. A copy of the pay stubs are attached as Exhibit 1.

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              7. My job at Pagliacci Pizza is a part-time job three evenings a week. My
      job duties include washing dishes, moving bulk cardboard, making boxes,
      restocking items, cleaning, laundry, carrying many pizzas and drinks at one time,
      and delivering many pizzas and drinks. The job requires frequently lifting items
      weighing more than 25 pounds. To this day, I remain unable to perform all of my
      job duties at Pagliacci Pizza due to the restrictions of Dr. Smith.
              8. Beginning the day of the crash, I missed time from my job at Pagliacci
      Pizza due to my injuries. I could not even return to work at all until September
      2010. Even then I continued to miss time from work because Pagliacci Pizza
      was reluctant to give me all of my hours back. More than a year after the
      collision passed before I was finally able to get all of my hours back. My hourly
       rate of pay was $8.55 and I worked an average of 22.95 hours every two week
       pay period. I also received tips averaging $236.12 every two week pay period.
       My time loss is reflected on the pay summaries from Pagliacci Pizza that were
       provided to Progressive Insurance. Copies of my pay summaries are attached
       as Exhibit 2.

Ainsworth testified during his deposition, quoted below, that pizza delivery was "not a

light duty job." He stated the work was fast-paced and physically burdensome. He

reiterated that he missed hours after Dr. Smith cleared him for restricted full time work

due to "[excruciating pain from [his] injuries from the accident."

       Ainsworth also submitted numerous exhibits, including Progressive's electronic

claim file for Ainsworth through March 25, 2011, and Dr. Smith's medical disability

updates on Ainsworth noted above. In opposition to partial summary judgment,

Progressive submitted Ainsworth's deposition testimony, Ainsworth's responses to

requests for admission and interrogatories, and a declaration from Becerra's supervisor,

Jaimee Manley, with various exhibits attached. It submitted no testimony from Becerra.

       Progressive contends that the plain meaning of the income continuation benefit

provision found in paragraph 3(b)(i) controls. That provision provides that wage loss

benefits end when the insured "is reasonably able to perform the duties of his or her

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usual occupation."10 (Emphasis added.) Progressive claims that Ainsworth is able to

perform his usual occupation because Dr. Smith released him to work full-time. Even

viewing the policy clause in a light most favorable to Progressive, its meaning is

susceptible to only one reasonable interpretation. Progressive's argument ignores the

critical term "usual." The common meaning of "usual" is "habitual or customary: her

usual skill." Dictionary.com, http://dictionary.reference.com (last visited Jan. 24,

2014).11 This is the ordinary meaning that an average purchaser of insurance would

give the term. See Holden, 169 Wash. 2d at 756 (courts interpret insurance contracts from

the viewpoint of the average purchaser).

       The undisputed evidence shows Dr. Smith released Ainsworth to work full-time

under "significant restrictions." Dr. Smith's written status update to Progressive on

September 21, 2010, indicated those restrictions limited Ainsworth from "lifting no more

than 50 pounds. Rarely more than 25 pounds. He will need more frequent rest breaks.

Ten minutes per hour." On October 15, 2010, Dr. Smith restricted Ainsworth to no

frequent lifting of 25 pound items and 10 minute rest breaks every hour. As of April 13,

2012, Dr. Smith had not yet cleared Ainsworth "to resume working without restrictions."

As quoted below, Dr. Smith's undisputed declaration testimony concluded that so long

as Ainsworth's job duties involve frequent lifting of 25 pound items, he "is not

reasonably able to perform the duties of his job . . . ."

       10
            Ainsworth does not contend this provision is ambiguous.

       11 "'[W]e may discern the plain meaning of nontechnical statutory terms from their
dictionary definitions.'" State v. Kintz. 169 Wash. 2d 537, 547, 238 P.3d 470 (2010)
(alteration in original) (quoting State v. Cooper, 156 Wash. 2d 475, 480, 128 P.3d 1234
(2006)).
                                           -14-
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       Ainsworth's testimony shows that the "duties of his usual occupation" at Pagliacci

and Contour, require him to routinely lift 25 pounds or more. His November 22, 2011

deposition taken by Progressive establishes his job duties for both employers routinely

require him to lift items over 25 pounds. Progressive's attorney questioned Ainsworth

about the medical restriction's effect on his usual job duties at Contour and Pagliacci.

       [Contour]
              Q. Your job description, as I understood you to say, was that you would
       have to lift a hundred pounds repeatedly, is that correct?
                A. Yes.
                Q. Okay. Is that what you're actually doing?
                A. I can't do that.
             Q. Okay, you can't do that—
             A. Right now.
             Q. Okay. So, if you could do that, would you be repeatedly lifting a
       hundred pounds in your current job?
             A. I would be lifting 25 to a hundred pounds, moving cases and various
       units.
                Q.   And I understand that you're not currently doing that; why?
                A.   I'm on weight restrictions from my doctor.
                Q.   Who has you on the weight restrictions?
                A.   Dr. Christopher Smith.

       [Pagliacci]
               Q. You mentioned that you deliver pizza for Pagliacci, so you know it's
       not a light duty job; what about the job do you think makes it either medium or
       heavy duty?
               A. Well, where I work we have anywhere from 500 to 750 pizzas on a
       busy night. On a slow night we deliver at least 300 pizzas to 400 pizzas. And in
       order to do that, you have to be quick, you have to run fast, you have to carry
       large loads of pizzas, put them in your car, get in and out of the car, over and
       over and over again. And maybe somebody who's in top physical condition, it's a
       very easy job and not very heavy lifting, but to other people, it's difficult. To me,
       it's not a light duty job, it's not like other places.

      Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to Progressive, the record

evidence shows Ainsworth was not reasonably able to perform his usual work duties at

Pagliacci due to the significant weight restrictions imposed by Dr. Smith.

                                             -15-
69433-2-1/16

       Our review of the record shows, and Progressive does not dispute, that it paid no

wage loss benefits related to Ainsworth's Pagliacci job for any period of time loss. And

it submitted nothing in response to partial summary judgment or on appeal explaining

this failure. Instead, it merely argues that Ainsworth's medical release to return to full-

time work, under the policy, justified the no entitlement to wage loss decision. The

undisputed record shows that Progressive took no further action to adjust his Pagliacci

wage loss claim once it received Pagliacci's completed wage and salary verification

form12 for the undisputed time loss period ofJuly 28, 2010, through October 15, 2010,
and for the period after.

       Progressive's response to Ainsworth's partial summary judgment motion consists

almost entirely of conclusory and argumentative assertions and evidence quoted out of

context. For example, Progressive claimed, based on the Manley declaration, that it

"accepted Ainsworth's PIP wage loss claim and began making payments according to

the specific terms and conditions of the policy under Washington law." Br. of Appellant

at 5. It argues, "Progressive continued to make these payments throughout Ainsworth's

convalescence, until October 15, 2010, when he was cleared by his doctor to return to

work full-time." Br. of Appellant at 5. While this testimony may address Progressive's

discussion about the Contour claim, it avoids any discussion about the Pagliacci claim,

for which it paid no benefits for any period. The testimony further states that Ainsworth

amended his complaint "to include an additional claim for wage loss at Pagliacci." As

further example, Progressive argued "Ainsworth deliberately chose treatment

       12 There is no mention of the Pagliacci wage loss claim in Progressive's claim file
until Progressive stopped paying wage loss after Ainsworth was released to work full-
time with restrictions and this dispute ensued.
                                          -16-
69433-2-1/17

appointments knowing that they would occur during his working hours." Br. of Appellant

at 3. Progressive failed to cite any record evidence to support this assertion. The clear

implication of this unsupported argument is to suggest an improper motive for

Ainsworth's timing of medical appointments during working hours. We address this

assertion below.

       Progressive relies on Tyrrell v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., 140 Wash. 2d 129, 994
P.2d 833 (2000), and Foote v. Viking Ins. Co. of Wisconsin, 57 Wash. App. 831, 790 P.2d
659 (1990), to argue, "In the State of Washington, PIP provisions have been narrowly

construed." Br. of Appellant at 14. Nothing in either of these cases supports this

argument.13 As noted above, "courts liberally construe insurance policies to provide
coverage wherever possible." Bordeaux, 145 Wash. App. at 694. Plaintiff also relies on

Zollerv. Transamerica Ins. Co., 215 N.J. Super. 552, 522 A.2d 479 (1987), to argue that

"if the insured can work, and chooses not to, the policy does not apply." Br. of

Appellant at 15. Zoller is inapplicable because it did not address the policy clause at

issue here.14

       In sum, Progressive submitted no evidence that raises a genuine issue of

material fact on the Pagliacci wage loss claim. None of Progressive's partial summary

       13 We note Progressive fails to cite any language or page number from Tvrell or
Foote to support this argument.

       14 Zoller supports Ainsworth's position. It states, "There may be instances under
the PIP statute where the insured suffers a partial disability and continues to work, but
has a loss of income. In that circumstance, the measure of income loss is the
difference between what the insured would have earned had injury not occurred and
what he or she did earn. However, the insured still must demonstrate that the lost
income was due solely to bodily injury incapacity." Zoller, 215 N.J. Super, at 559
(citation omitted).

                                          -17-
69433-2-1/18

judgment submissions address why it never paid Ainsworth for his undisputed Pagliacci

wage loss for the period from July 28, 2010, through October 15, 2010, even though it

paid his Contour wage loss for this period. Progressive does not dispute that Dr. Smith

confirmed that Ainsworth's disability for this period prevented his release to work. It

submitted no evidence to rebut or raise questions about any of Dr. Smith's opinions or

conclusions.

       In addition, Progressive's partial summary judgment submissions failed to raise

any genuine material issues of fact on the question of whether Ainsworth was

"reasonably able to perform the duties of his or her usual occupation."15 Progressive
submitted nothing challenging Dr. Smith's opinions and conclusions and Ainsworth's job

description.

       Contour Wage Loss Claim

       Progressive argues that "PIP benefits are not intended for attending

appointments." Br. of Appellant at 16 (formatting omitted). It cites to Patton v.

Commissioner of Social Security, No. 10-13314, 2011 WL 4577250 (E.D. Mich. Sept.

30, 2011) (unpublished), and In re Gaqnon, 147 N.H. 366, 787 A.2d 874 (2001). Patton

and Gaqnon are inapposite. Patton involved an administrative Social Security disability

hearing and Gagnon involved a workers' compensation board appeal. Neither case

       15 Progressive argues, "The claim of lost wages made byAinsworth [is] wholly
unsupported by anything other than self-serving, conclusory statements." Br. of
Appellant at 20. This argument is unavailing. As discussed above, Ainsworth submitted
sworn testimony via declaration. He also submitted the sworn declaration of Dr. Smith.
Civil Rule 56 permits reliance on affidavits in support of a summary judgment motion,
provided the affiant testifies to admissible facts based on personal knowledge.
CR 56(c), (e). Progressive does not argue that Ainsworth lacked personal knowledge or
testified to inadmissible facts.

                                          -18-
69433-2-1/19

pertains to automobile insurance PIP wage loss benefits. Progressive's assertion

frustrates the very purpose of PIP benefits discussed above—to provide vehicle

accident victims quick and adequate compensation for economic losses regardless of

fault. Wage loss compensation is one of the basic economic losses covered by PIP

insurance policies. As noted above, wage loss compensation reimburses the injured

claimant for wages lost which he would have received had he not been injured. It

"provides protection from economic hardship caused by the loss of a wage earner's

income."16 12 Putt, etal, supra, § 171:53 at 171-54 to -55.

       As quoted above, Ainsworth submitted evidence that he missed time from work

for reasonably necessary medical appointments to treat his bodily injuries sustained

in the automobile accident. Ainsworth submitted his pay stubs to verify the time loss.

Dr. Smith testified by declaration that he prescribed massage and physical therapy to

treat Ainsworth's bodily injuries. He also referred Ainsworth for mental health

counseling for severe depression suffered as a result of the accident and injuries. He

also referred Ainsworth for treatment with a physiatrist (rehabilitation physician).

Progressive does not dispute that these medical treatments were reasonable,

necessary, and related to the bodily injuries Ainsworth sustained in the accident. It is

undisputed that Ainsworth would not have lost time from work to attend these medical

appointments had it not been for the accident.

       Progressive cites to no policy limitation, exclusion, or provision that precludes

compensation for wages lost while attending reasonable and necessary medical

appointments to treat accident-related bodily injury. The insuring agreement plainly

       16 Nothing in our review of the PIP legislative history supports Progressive's
argument.
                                           -19-
69433-2-1/20

covers wage loss benefits for "losses or expenses incurred because of bodily

injury      "; see Foster v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 240 N.J. Super. 122, 572 A.2d 680

(1990) (plaintiff was entitled to reimbursement for gasoline expense, parking fees, tolls,

and lost wages incurred in traveling to medical facility 35 miles from plaintiff's home

where travel was reasonable and necessary because no closer facility was available).

         We are unpersuaded by Progressive's unsupported assertion that time loss from

work to attend reasonably necessary medical appointments is not compensable under

PIP benefits. Because Ainsworth lost wages he would have received had it not been for

the accident, in order to obtain reasonably necessary medical treatment, he is entitled to

wage loss compensation under the plain reading of the policy.

         Duty to Mitigate

         Progressive claims that Ainsworth failed to mitigate his damages by setting

appointments during work hours.17 Progressive specifically argues that Ainsworth
deliberately scheduled appointments during working hours rather than scheduling

appointments on weekends and outside normal work hours. Progressive raises no

genuine issues of material fact on its failure to mitigate claim. The duty to mitigate

damages applies to a claim for lost earnings. Kubista v. Romaine, 87 Wash. 2d 62, 67,

549 P.2d 491 (1976). "The doctrine of mitigation of damages, sometimes referred to as

the doctrine of avoidable consequences, prevents recovery for those damages the

injured party could have avoided by reasonable efforts taken after the wrong was

committed." Bernsen v. Big Bend Elec. Co-op., Inc., 68 Wash. App. 427, 433, 842 P.2d
17 Progressive does not claim failure to mitigate as to Ainsworth's Pagliacci wage
loss claim. Even assuming it asserts this claim, Progressive submitted no evidence that
raises a genuine material fact issue.

                                           -20-
69433-2-1/21

1047 (1993). The party asserting the claim of an unreasonable failure to mitigate

damages bears the burden of proof. Cox v. Keg Rests. U.S., Inc., 86 Wash. App. 239,

244, 935 P.2d 1377 (1997); 6 Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury

Instructions: Civil 33.01. Here, Progressive bears the burden to establish that

Ainsworth unreasonably failed to mitigate damages.18 Our review of the record shows

Progressive raised no genuine material issues of fact on its failure to mitigate claim.

      Ainsworth submitted evidence that he missed time from work at Contour due to

the following medical appointments:19
      October 2010
       10/18/2010 at 8:10 am
       10/19/2010   at 5:00 pm
       10/25/2010   at 12:00 pm
       10/25/2010   at 4:00 pm
       10/25/2010   at 4:30 pm
       10/28/2010 at 9:00 am

       November 2010
       11/01/2010 at 2:00 pm
       11/02/2010 at 8:00 am
       11/02/2010 at 9:00 am
      11/02/2010 at 5:00 pm
      11/04/2010 at 9:00 am
      11/08/2010 at 2:00 pm
      11/12/2010 at 8:00 am
      11/18/2010 at 9:00 am
      11/22/2010 at 6:00 pm

      18 Progressive improperly places the burden to prove mitigation on Ainsworth. Its
brief on appeal argues, "[Ainsworth] never provided evidence that he could not make
appointments before or after work." Br. of Appellant at 17. It also argues, "Ainsworth
has failed to show that he could not seek appointments with medical providers outside
of work hours, but rather enlarged his alleged damages by voluntarily missing work
when he did not have to. . . . [H]e is intentionally manufacturing his damages
Reply Br. of Appellant at 13.

      19 Progressive submitted no evidence to show which ofAinsworth's health care
providers he saw at these times. We also note that these appointments were all
scheduled for early morning, lunch hours, and at the end of the day.
                                          -21-
69433-2-1/22

       11/24/2010 at 11:20 am
       11/29/2010 at 1:00 pm

Progressive raised no genuine material fact issues that the above appointment

schedule was unreasonable under the circumstances. Progressive assumes without

citation to authority that the duty to mitigate is satisfied only if an injured claimant

schedules medical appointments on weekends or outside of normal business hours.

Progressive also suggests this duty requires an injured claimant to seek out medical

care providers who see patients on weekends and outside of normal business hours.

The burden rests on Progressive to show that the timing of medical appointments with

Ainsworth's health care providers was unreasonable. Progressive's mere submission of

general appointment times for various healthcare providers falls short of meeting its

burden to show Ainsworth unreasonably failed to mitigate his damages.

       We conclude that Progressive raises no genuine material issues of fact that

Ainsworth unreasonably failed to mitigate Contour damages related to his medical

appointments.

       Insurance Fair Conduct Act Violation (RCW 48.30.015)

       Progressive challenges the trial court's IFCA award premised on two grounds.20
First, it contends that it violated no IFCA requirements because it reasonably denied

       20 Progressive claims for the first time in its reply brief on appeal that material
issues of fact remain as to whether its wage loss benefit denial was unreasonable. We
will not consider issues argued for the first time in the reply brief. In re Marriage of
Sacco, 114 Wash. 2d 1, 5, 784 P.2d 1266 (1990). The reply brief is limited to a response to
the issues in the responding brief. To address issues argued for the first time in a reply
brief is unfair to the respondent and inconsistent with the rules on appeal. RAP 10.3(c);
State v. Hudson, 124 Wash. 2d 107, 120, 874 P.2d 160 (1994). Even assuming
Progressive timely raised the issue, the record amply demonstrates no genuine material
issues of fact.

                                            -22-
69433-2-1/23

Ainsworth's wage loss claim according to the policy terms, and IFCA only applies to

coverage, not valuation disputes. It also contends that the wage loss benefits awarded

here do not constitute "actual damages" subject to IFCA enhancement. It claims, "The

penalty for IFCA violations, like with bad faith or Consumer Protection Act claims,

should only apply to the harm caused above and beyond the denial of benefits." Br. of

Appellant at 28.

       Under IFCA, if the trial court finds that an insurer "acted unreasonably in denying

a claim for coverage or payment of benefits," RCW 48.30.015(2), or that it violated one

ofthe regulations enumerated in RCW 48.30.015(5),21 the court "may . . . increase the
total award of damages to an amount not to exceed three times the actual damages."

RCW 48.30.015(2). Subsection (1) describes two separate acts giving rise to an IFCA

claim. The insured must show the insurer unreasonably denied a claim for coverage or

       21 IFCA provides:
      "(5) A violation of any of the following is a violation for the purposes of
subsections (2) and (3) of this section:
      "(a) WAC 284-30-330, captioned 'specific unfair claims settlement practices
defined';
       "(b) WAC 284-30-350, captioned 'misrepresentation of policy provisions';
       "(c) WAC 284-30-360, captioned 'failure to acknowledge pertinent
communications';
       "(d) WAC 284-30-370, captioned 'standards for prompt investigation of claims';
       "(e) WAC 284-30-380, captioned 'standards for prompt, fair and equitable
settlements applicable to all insurers'; or
        "(f) An unfair claims settlement practice rule adopted under RCW 48.30.010 by
the insurance commissioner intending to implement this section. The rule must be
codified in chapter 284-30 of the Washington Administrative Code." RCW 48.30.015.
Ainsworth alleged various violations under the insurance commissioner regulations
noted above that support an IFCA violation. We also note that Progressive argues for
the first time in its reply brief that its claim investigation was reasonable. Reply Br. of
Appellant at 17-18. The argument is untimely. RAP 10.3(c); Hudson, 124 Wash. 2d at
120; Sacco. 114 Wash. 2d at 5. Even assuming Progressive timely raised the issue, the
record evidence raises no material issues of fact.

                                              -23-
69433-2-1/24

that the insurer unreasonably denied payment of benefits. Ifeither or both acts are

established, a claim exists under IFCA.

       Here, whether cast as an unreasonable denial of a claim for coverage or

payment of benefits, the undisputed record discussed above establishes IFCA violations

premised on both acts—an unreasonable denial of wage loss benefit coverage and

unreasonable denial of wage loss payments—involving both employers.22 For example,
the undisputed record shows Progressive unreasonably denied coverage and payment

for Ainsworth's Pagliacci wage loss. Progressive never adjusted this claim, investigated

it further after receiving wage verification information, or paid any period of time loss. A

reasonable jury could reach only one conclusion on this record—Progressive
unreasonably denied coverage and unreasonably denied payment of Ainsworth's wage

loss benefits.

       We are also unpersuaded by Progressive's claim that "payment of benefits for

Ainsworth's loss was based on a reasonable interpretation of the policy ..." Br. of

Appellant at 22. As discussed above, Progressive's interpretation of the policy ignored
the plain text of the income continuation benefit clause. As noted above, Progressive
acknowledged that the relevant income continuation clause is plain and unambiguous.
The record demonstrates that Progressive's coverage and payment denial was

unreasonable as a matter of law.

       22 As discussed below, we are unpersuaded by Progressive's attempt to recast
the claims as a "valuation dispute" to avoid IFCA's application. Br. ofAppellant at 23.
        23 The goal ofstatutory interpretation is to effectuate the intent ofthe legislature,
and if the meaning of a statute is plain, enforcing it as written effectuates the legislative
intent. Burns v. City of Seattle. 161 Wash. 2d 129, 140, 164 P.3d 475 (2007).
                                           -24-
69433-2-1/25

       Progressive next challenges the trial court's IFCA award of "actual damages."

The trial court doubled "the amount of actual damages under RCW 48.30.015(2) to

$10,916.36." Progressive argues the trial court's wage loss benefit award does not

constitute "actual damages" subject to IFCA's treble damages provision. It argues the

trial court relied on "an extra-contractual theory of law." Br. of Appellant at 24. It also

argues, "The penalty for IFCA violations, like with bad faith or CPA claims, should only

apply to the harm caused above and beyond the denial of benefits." Br. of Appellant

at 28. It relies on bad faith and CPA case authority to make its point.

       Ainsworth is correct that in Progressive's response to the partial summary

judgment motion, "Progressive's argument that the trial court improperly doubled

Ainsworth's damages is raised for the first time on appeal." Resp't's Br. at 32.

Progressive does not address or rebut this assertion. Our review of Progressive's

partial summaryjudgment response indicates it made the present arguments for the first

time on appeal. It is well settled that "[w]e will not review an issue, theory, argument, or

claim of error not presented at the trial court level." Lindblad v. Boeing Co., 108 Wn.

App. 198, 207, 31 P.3d 1 (2001). A party must inform the court of the rules of law it

wishes the court to apply and afford the trial court an opportunity to correct any error.

Smith v. Shannon, 100 Wash. 2d 26, 37, 666 P.2d 351 (1983). Failure to do so precludes

raising the error on appeal. Smith, 100 Wash. 2d at 37. "While an appellate court retains

the discretion to consider an issue raised for the first time on appeal, such discretion is

rarely exercised." Karlberg v. Often. 167 Wash. App. 522, 531, 280 P.3d 1123 (2012).

Progressive failed to preserve the alleged error it now asserts on appeal. And it fails to

argue why an exception to this rule applies in this case.

                                           -25-
69433-2-1/26

       Attorney Fees and Costs

       The trial court awarded attorney fees and costs to Ainsworth under IFCA

(RCW 48.30.015(3)) and Olympic Steamship Co. v. Centennial Insurance Co., 117

Wn.2d37, 811 P.2d 673 (1991). CP 438. We affirm the award.

       Under Olympic Steamship, "an award of fees is required in any legal action

where the insurer compels the insured to assume the burden of legal action, to obtain

the full benefit of his insurance contract, regardless of whether the insurer's duty to

defend is at issue." Olympic S.S., 117 Wash. 2d at 53. The rule does not apply where the

parties solely dispute "the value of the claim presented under the policy." Dayton v.

Farmers Ins. Grp„ 124 Wash. 2d 277, 280, 876 P.2d 896 (1994). In sum, the rule applies

in coverage disputes but not in valuation disputes. Leingang v. Pierce County Med.

Bureau, Inc., 131 Wash. 2d 133, 147, 930 P.2d 288 (1997).

       To avoid the Olympic Steamship rule, Progressive attempts to characterize this

case as a valuation dispute, as opposed to a coverage dispute. We are not persuaded

by this claim. "Coverage disputes include both cases in which the issue of any

coverage is disputed and cases in which 'the extent of the benefit provided by an

insurance contract' is at issue." Leingang, 131 Wash. 2d at 147 (quoting McGreevv v.

Oregon Mut. Ins. Co., 128 Wash. 2d 26, 33, 904 P.2d 731 (1995)). Here, Progressive

denied Ainsworth's claim for lost Contour wages on the basis that payments terminated

under the plain policy language. It never challenged Ainsworth's valuation of the claim.

Further, it never adjusted Ainsworth's Pagliacci claim for any time period. Because this

                                           -26-
69433-2-1/27

case clearly involves a coverage dispute for purposes of an award of fees and costs

under Olympic Steamship, we affirm the trial court's award of fees and costs.24

Ainsworth also requests attorney fees and costs on appeal. Because he prevailed in his

coverage dispute below, we award reasonable appellate costs and fees, subject to

compliance with RAP 18.1. Safeco Ins. Co. v. Woodlev, 150 Wash. 2d 765, 773-74, 82
P.3d 660 (2004); Olympic Steamship. 117 Wash. 2d at 54.

                                   CONCLUSION

       In sum, Progressive raised no genuine material issues of fact related to whether

Ainsworth was entitled to wage loss compensation under the policy's insuring

agreement and whether Progressive violated IFCA when it unreasonably denied a claim
for coverage and unreasonably denied payment of benefits. Progressive also failed to

preserve for appeal its challenge to the actual damages awarded under IFCA. We

affirm the trial court's order on partial summary judgment.

                                                                7

WE CONCUR:

                                                 \+.QuUn4Qte=r

       24 Given our disposition, we need not determine whether the trial court properly
awarded fees and costs under RCW 48.30.015(3). We note, however, that
Progressive's sole timely argument against RCW 48.30.015(3) fees and costs is that
Ainsworth failed to prove his IFCA claim. Br. of Appellant at 31-32. This argumentfails
for the reasons discussed above.
                                          -27-