Court Opinion

ID: 4995597
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-29 16:01:07.644032+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:16:52.924605
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 20-14651     Date Filed: 09/29/2021    Page: 1 of 12

                                                           [DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                         ________________________

                               No. 20-14651
                           Non-Argument Calendar
                         ________________________

                  D.C. Docket No. 8:19-cv-01293-TPB-AAS

LINDA J. ROBLES, as Personal
Representative of the Estate of
Miguel A. Mercado, deceased,

                                                             Plaintiff - Appellant,

                                    versus

GEICO INDEMINITY COMPANY,

                                                           Defendant - Appellee.

                         ________________________

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Middle District of Florida
                        ________________________

                             (September 29, 2021)

Before WILSON, NEWSOM, and ANDERSON Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
           USCA11 Case: 20-14651          Date Filed: 09/29/2021       Page: 2 of 12

       This is a third-party insurance bad-faith action brought by Linda Robles, as

Personal Representative of the Estate of Miguel M. Mercado (Ms. Robles) against

GEICO Indemnity Company (GEICO). At the district court level, GEICO filed a

motion for summary judgment, arguing that no reasonable jury could find that

GEICO acted in bad faith.1 Ms. Robles appeals the district court’s order adopting

the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation to grant GEICO’s motion for

summary judgment.

       On appeal, Ms. Robles argues that the district court erroneously adopted the

magistrate judge’s report and recommendation because it failed to adhere to

Florida insurance law and that GEICO’s conduct created a genuine issue of fact

therefore precluding summary judgment.2 After careful review, we affirm.

                                  I.     BACKGROUND

       Because we write for the parties, we assume familiarity with the facts and

set out only those necessary for the resolution of this appeal.

       On October 19, 2008, Aaron Swanson’s vehicle rear-ended a truck while

Miguel Mercado, a City of Tampa employee, was working in front of the truck.

The accident killed Mr. Mercado. GEICO insured Mr. Swanson under an

1
  The parties agreed to GEICO’s “Statement of Undisputed Facts.”
2
  Florida law authorizes a cause of action by which the victim—here, Ms. Robles on behalf of
the Estate of Mr. Mercado—may maintain suit directly against the tortfeasor’s insurer to collect
on a judgement against the insured.
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automobile liability policy that provided bodily injury (BI) coverage for $10,000

per person.

       On October 22, 2008, the day after GEICO learned of the accident, GEICO

claims examiner Helen Gerdjikian advised Mr. Swanson that the claims against

him could exceed his coverage, that he would be personally liable for any amount

over his policy limits, and that he had the right to obtain personal counsel. GEICO

soon after determined that the insured was at fault and that it would tender the

Estate of Mr. Mercado the $10,000 policy limit.

       On October 30, 2008, Ms. Gerdjikian sent Ms. Mercado, the widow of Mr.

Mercado, a letter and advised her that GEICO would tender Mr. Swanson’s

$10,000 BI policy limit. That same day, a representation agreement was executed

with Christine Franco, Esq., from Franco and Franco, P.A to handle the Estate of

Mr. Mercado.

       Ms. Gerdjikian contacted Ms. Franco’s office by phone or letter on eight

separate occasions between November 2008 and April 2009 to confirm whether

Ms. Franco represented the Estate of Mr. Mercado and to offer to tender the

$10,000 once GEICO received a letter of representation. Even though Ms.

Gerdjikian’s attempts were unsuccessful, she continued to update Mr. Swanson of

her efforts and his potential liability.

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      In January 2009, Ms. Gerdjikian mailed the check for the BI policy limit and

a release to Ms. Mercado. Ms. Gerdjikian then followed-up twice with Ms.

Mercado in June 2009 and July 2009 regarding the status of the unexecuted check

and release. Ms. Gerdjikian sent letters to Mr. Swanson in March, April, May, and

June stating there was no change of status regarding the check and release.

      On August 3, 2009, Ms. Franco mailed GEICO a letter of representation.

Ms. Franco offered to settle the claims against Mr. Swanson in exchange for

payment of the policy’s BI limits and specified property damage amounts. Ms.

Franco also requested strict performance with her terms and specified the release

should not contain any hold harmless or indemnification language for anyone other

than Ms. Swanson. Ms. Franco’s letter requested a timely response on or around

August 31, 2009.

      On August 6, 2009, the day after GEICO received the letter, Ms. Gerdjikian

faxed an affidavit of coverage and certified copy of the policy to Ms. Franco. The

next day, Ms. Gerdjikian faxed Ms. Franco a blank affidavit and a proposed release

that included a hold harmless and indemnity agreement. On August 11, 2009, Ms.

Gerdjikian sent a letter to Ms. Franco and stated that she “previously faxed a copy

of our release and affidavit for [Ms. Franco’s] review to see if it would suffice

[her] requirements.” The same day, Ms. Gerdjikian sent Mr. Swanson a letter and

included a copy of the August 3, 2009, demand, and an affidavit of coverage for

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him to complete. Ms. Gerdjikian advised Mr. Swanson that he could be personally

liable for judgment over his policy limits if the claim did not settle.

         On August 12, 2009, Ms. Gerdjikian sent a letter to Ms. Franco which stated

that GEICO issued a check for the personal property and a check for the BI policy

limits. The letter also stated in relevant part: “Again, I am requesting that if you

need to change anything, please do so and forward to my attention as soon as

possible.” GEICO immediately issued the checks and sent them to Ms. Franco.

         On August 17, 2009, Ms. Gerdjikian faxed Mr. Swanson’s completed

affidavit to Ms. Franco. On the cover page, Ms. Gerdjikian asked whether the

affidavit was acceptable. On August 24, 2009 (approximately one week before

Ms. Franco’s response deadline), Ms. Gerdjikian sent another follow-up letter to

Ms. Franco about the release and affidavit, and again requested that Ms. Franco

advise if they were acceptable. On October 28, 2009, Ms. Gerdjikian followed-up

again.

         Ms. Franco did not respond to any of Ms. Gerdjikian’s seven pre-deadline

written communications. Instead, on November 12, 2009—two months after Ms.

Franco’s imposed response deadline—GEICO received a rejection letter from Ms.

Franco which took issue with the proposed release that included a hold harmless

and indemnity agreement. The next day, Ms. Gerdjikian responded to Ms.

Franco’s rejection letter in relevant part providing that, “The release was sent to be

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reviewed by you and to make any necessary changes, that is why it was blank.”

Ms. Franco did not respond or make any changes to the complained-of release.

      In December 2009, Ms. Robles filed a wrongful death action against Mr.

Swanson. A final judgment was entered against Mr. Swanson for just under

$5,000,000 in September 2016. This bad faith suit followed in federal district

court. GEICO then moved for summary judgment, arguing that no reasonable jury

could conclude GEICO acted in bad faith. Ms. Robles opposed the motion. The

district court later adopted the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation to

grant GEICO’s motion for summary judgement. Ms. Robles appealed the

decision.

                        II.    STANDARD OF REVIEW

      We review de novo the district court’s grant of summary judgment,

“applying the same legal standards as the district court and construing the facts and

drawing all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the non-

moving party.” Centurion Air Cargo, Inc. v. United Parcel Serv. Co., 420 F.3d

1146, 1149 (11th Cir. 2005). Summary judgment shall be granted “if the movant

shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A dispute about a

material fact is “genuine” if a reasonable jury could find for the non-moving party.

Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). “[M]ere conclusions

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           USCA11 Case: 20-14651          Date Filed: 09/29/2021      Page: 7 of 12

and unsupported factual allegations are legally insufficient to defeat a summary

judgment motion.” Ellis v. England, 432 F.3d 1321, 1326 (11th Cir. 2005) (per

curiam).

                                   III.   DISCUSSION

        Upon Ms. Robles3 bringing a single claim against GEICO alleging bad faith

in the handling of the claim, GEICO moved for summary judgment. GEICO

contended that it acted diligently to resolve the claim and performed its duties for

its insured, however, there was no reasonable opportunity for settlement. The

district court ruled in favor of GEICO.

        Ms. Robles now argues on appeal that the district court erroneously applied

Florida’s bad faith insurance law. Ms. Robles also contends that the district court

invaded the province of the jury as to whether GEICO acted diligently and

reasonably when specifically considering GEICO’s response to the Ms. Roble’s

settlement demand letter sent on August 2, 2009. According to Ms. Robles, the

undisputed facts as assessed by the district court create a genuine issue of material

fact.

        Florida law recognizes third-party bad faith actions brought by the injured

third party against the insured’s liability carrier. QBE Ins. Corp. v. Chalfonte

3
 Within this section, the actions attributed to Ms. Robles are, at some points, those of the Ms.
Franco, the attorney who handled the discussions with the Ms. Gerdjikian, who worked on behalf
of GIECO.
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          USCA11 Case: 20-14651        Date Filed: 09/29/2021     Page: 8 of 12

Condo. Apt. Ass’n, Inc., 94 So. 3d 541, 545–46 (Fla. 2012). “[A] third-party bad

faith cause of action arises when the insurer fails to act in good faith in handling a

claim brought by a third party against an insured.” Macola v. Gov’t Emps. Ins.

Co., 953 So. 2d 451, 457 (Fla. 2006). The basis of the claim focuses on the

insurer’s duty of good faith to the insured as opposed to any duty of the insurer to a

third-party. Id.

      “[T]he critical inquiry in a bad faith [case] is whether the insurer diligently,

and with the same haste and precision as if it were in the insured’s shoes, worked

on the insured’s behalf to avoid an excess judgment.” Harvey v. GEICO Gen. Ins.

Co., 259 So. 3d 1, 7 (Fla. 2018). An insurer is obligated “to act in good faith in the

investigation, handling, and settling of claims brought against the insured.” Berges

v. Infinity Ins. Co., 896 So. 2d 665, 683 (Fla. 2004). This good faith duty, among

other things, requires “the insurer to advise the insured of settlement opportunities,

to advise as to the probable outcome of the litigation, to warn of the possibility of

an excess judgment, and to advise the insured of any steps he might take to avoid

same.” Boston Old Colony Ins. Co. v. Gutierrez, 386 So. 2d 783, 785 (Fla. 1980)

(per curiam).

      Whether an insurer acted in bad faith is determined under a “totality of the

circumstances” standard. Harvey, 259 So. 3d at 7. The focus of a claim of bad

faith is on the actions “of the insurer in fulfilling its obligations to the insured,” and

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         USCA11 Case: 20-14651        Date Filed: 09/29/2021    Page: 9 of 12

not on the actions of the claimant. Id. “Although bad faith is ordinarily a question

for the jury, both this court and Florida courts have granted summary judgment

where there is no sufficient evidence from which any reasonable jury could have

concluded that there was bad faith on the part of the insurer.” Eres v. Progressive

Am. Ins. Co., 998 F.3d 1273, 1278 (11th Cir. 2021) (internal quotation marks and

citation omitted) (alteration adopted).

      Ms. Robles primarily argues that GEICO acted in bad faith when it failed to

accept the offer made by Ms. Robles on August 3, 2009. The argument goes:

GEICO failed to fulfill its obligations to the insured, Mr. Swanson, when it did not

accept the terms of that letter in strict compliance. Ms. Robles contends that a

good-faith acceptance of such terms would only be possible where GEICO drafted

the release it later sent to Ms. Robles to exclude any hold harmless or

indemnification language as opposed to putting the onus on Ms. Robles to draft a

release to her liking. As such, GEICO’s failure to accept the Ms. Robles’s offer in

such a manner, which is not specifically requested in the letter itself, was to the

detriment of the insured.

      While it is true that the insurer owes a fiduciary duty to act in the insured’s

best interest, Ms. Robles’ argument suffers from several flaws. First, this court has

rejected arguments with a singular focus on allegedly-overbroad release language

as an attempt to create a genuine issue of fact. Id. at 1279. Such singular focus

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ignores the “totality of the circumstances” analysis required under Florida law. Of

course, the August 3, 2009 demand letter is important, but it cannot be taken out of

context where Ms. Gerdjikian attempted to discuss settlement matters several times

with Ms. Robles before the letter was sent, while Ms. Robles’s “offer” was open,

and after that point as well. Furthermore, Ms. Gerdjikian, acting on behalf of

GEICO, maintained contact with and provided updates to the insured as to

settlement opportunities and the risk of liability as required under Florida law. Id.

      Second, Ms. Robles attempts to create an issue of fact through contract

interpretation by conflating the obligations owed to the insured with obligations

owed to the claimant. Ms. Robles maintains that GEICO demonstrated bad faith on

part of its insured when it provided her with a release that was not a mirror-image

response in strict compliance with her demand letter. While an overbroad release

that does not conform with a claimant’s demand letter can create a jury question

regarding bad faith, it does not necessarily do so. Id. And where “federal courts

have found a fact issue regarding bad faith based on overbroad release language,

they have relied on the insurers’ refusal to remove the release’s indemnification”

all together. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted and alteration adopted).

       Here, the release did not have the name of the parties and Ms. Gerdjikian

specifically asked Ms. Robles to strike through any undesirable language and to

send back any changes to GEICO. Ms. Gerdjikian contacted Ms. Robles seven

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times concerning the release before Ms. Roble’s imposed deadline on or around

August 31, 2021. During these attempted communications, Ms. Gerdjikian

inquired about the status of the release and again stated that Ms. Robles could

strike any language she found unsatisfactory.

      Under Florida law, Ms. Gerdjikian’s obligations were merely owed to the

insured. Id. An insurer “has a duty to use the same degree of care and diligence as

a person of ordinary care and prudence should exercise in the management of his

own business.” Berges, 896 So. 2d at 668-69. When viewed as a whole, Ms.

Gerdjikian, on behalf of GEICO, exercised the requisite degree of care and

diligence by continuously communicating with Ms. Robles regarding the

complained-of release language. Ms. Gerdjikian never refused to remove the

language, but instead tried to elicit a release from Ms. Robles that would meet the

demands of Ms. Robles and further the conversation. Without a response from Ms.

Robles, it is difficult to see how Ms. Gerdjikian put GIECO’s interests before the

insured’s interest when Ms. Robles had the opportunity to draft a release to her

own liking.

      These facts at worst show ways in which GEICO might improve processing

claims—specifically when it comes to handling releases—in the future. The

potential need to improve the process cannot be said to rise to the level of bad

faith. Even if one were to view GEICO’s conduct as imprudent, without more, its

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conduct falls short of demonstrating bad faith. On the undisputed facts, viewed in a

light most favorably to the plaintiff-appellant, Ms. Robles has raised no inference

of bad faith to create a genuine issue of material fact.

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the grant of summary judgment to GEICO.

      AFFIRMED.

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