Court Opinion

ID: 9556794
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-18 18:00:52.94105+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:04:25.212095
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-40811       Document: 00516863019             Page: 1      Date Filed: 08/18/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit                                          United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                           Fifth Circuit
                                    ____________                                         FILED
                                                                                   August 18, 2023
                                     No. 22-40811
                                   Summary Calendar                                 Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                         Clerk
                                   ____________

   Meridian Security Insurance Company,

                                                                    Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                           versus

   Curtis Murphy,

                                             Defendant—Appellant.
                    ______________________________

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Eastern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 6:21-CV-353
                    ______________________________

   Before Jones, Smith, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam:*
           The district court correctly granted summary judgment against Curtis
   Murphy’s counterclaims for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing.
   Meridian Security Insurance Company had substantial evidence that
   Murphy did not reside at the property on the homeowner policy’s inception

          _____________________
          *
              Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion
   should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set
   forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4.
Case: 22-40811      Document: 00516863019           Page: 2     Date Filed: 08/18/2023

                                     No. 22-40811

   date as required by the insurance contract, and it therefore had a reasonable
   basis to deny Murphy’s insurance claim. See Laws. Title Ins. v. Doubletree
   Partners, L.P., 739 F.3d 848, 869 (5th Cir. 2014). The court likewise did not
   err in granting summary judgment against Murphy’s claim under
   Section 541.060 of the Texas Insurance Code. Undisputed evidence
   demonstrated that Meridian conducted a reasonable investigation, timely
   denied Murphy’s claims, provided a reasonable explanation of the basis of
   that denial, and did not misrepresent material facts relating to coverage.
   TEX. INS. CODE §§ 541.060(a)(1)–(4), (7).
          As to Murphy’s asserted trial errors, the district court correctly
   allocated the burdens of proof, see Fiess v. State Farm Lloyds, 392 F.3d 802,
   807 (5th Cir. 2004); evidence supported the jury’s verdict that Murphy did
   not reside at the property on the policy’s inception date, see Flowers v. S. Reg’l
   Physician Servs., Inc., 247 F.3d 229, 238 (5th Cir. 2001); and the jury’s finding
   precluded Murphy’s prompt payment claims, TEX. INS. CODE §§ 542.058,
   542.060.
          All other errors asserted by Murphy are meritless. AFFIRMED.

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