Court Opinion

ID: 9594617
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:31:27.08493+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:23.973631
License: Public Domain

WALTERS, Chief Judge,
specially concurring.
I concur in the foregoing opinion, although very reluctantly on the attorney fees determination. Ordinarily, I would be constrained to follow an opinion of our Supreme Court, such as Linn v. North Idaho District Medical Service Bureau, Inc., 102 Idaho 679, 638 P.2d 876 (1981), even though I might disagree with that opinion. Here, the result in Linn seems reasonable — Blue Cross should be treated as an insurance company and I.C. § 41-1839 should allow an award of attorney fees. But, as our decision in this case points out, the statutes governing service corporations preclude application of § 41-1839. Our Supreme Court — whether intentionally or not — failed to explain in Linn how it found the statute applicable. It simply referred to the medical payments coverage contract in that case as an “insurance policy.” I would welcome a review by our Supreme Court in the instant case to clarify its ruling in Linn.