Court Opinion

ID: 4313397
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-18 21:00:26.585458+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:49.328122
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        SEP 18 2018
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

MARY-ANN BERNADETTE KERRIGAN, No.                      18-35019

                Plaintiff-Appellant,            D.C. No. 2:16-cv-01637-RSM

 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
QBE INSURANCE CORPORATION, a
foreign company,

                Defendant-Appellee.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Western District of Washington
                   Ricardo S. Martinez, Chief Judge, Presiding

                          Submitted September 12, 2018**

Before:      LEAVY, HAWKINS, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.

      Mary-Ann Bernadette Kerrigan appeals pro se from the district court’s

summary judgment in her diversity action alleging state law claims arising from a

homeowners insurance policy. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We

review de novo. Gordon v. Virtumundo, Inc., 575 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
We affirm.

      The district court properly granted summary judgment on Kerrigan’s extra-

contractual claims because Kerrigan failed to raise a genuine dispute of material

fact as to whether defendant’s investigation of her insurance claim and the denial

of benefits was reasonable. See Wash. Rev. Code § 48.30.015(1) (requirements for

an Insurance Fair Conduct Act claim); Truck Ins. Exch. v. Vanport Homes, Inc., 58

P.3d 276, 284 (Wash. 2002) (en banc) (discussing insurance claims under the

Washington Consumer Protection Act); First State Ins. Co. v. Kemper Nat’l Ins.

Co., 971 P.2d 953, 959 (Wash Ct. App. 1999) (recognizing ordinary care standard

for a negligent claim handling); Indus. Indem. Co. of the Nw. v. Kallevig, 792 P.2d

520, 526 (Wash. 1990) (en banc) (requirements for bad faith and breach of

fiduciary duty claims brought by an insured); Dicomes v. State, 782 P.2d 1002,

1012 (Wash. 1989) (en banc) (elements of a tort of outrage claim); see also Mut. of

Enumclaw Ins. Co. v. Dan Paulson Constr., Inc., 169 P.3d 1, 8 (Wash. 2007)

(“[T]o establish bad faith, an insured is required to show the breach was

unreasonable, frivolous, or unfounded.” (citation omitted)).

      In her opening brief, Kerrigan fails to challenge the district court’s dismissal

of her claims premised on the insurance contract and specifically its ruling

                                          2                                    18-35019
regarding the insurance policy’s one-year contractual limitations provision, and she

has therefore waived any such challenge. See Smith v. Marsh, 194 F.3d 1045,

1052 (9th Cir. 1999) (“[O]n appeal, arguments not raised by a party in its opening

brief are deemed waived.”); Greenwood v. FAA, 28 F.3d 971, 977 (9th Cir. 1994)

(“We will not manufacture arguments for an appellant . . . .”).

      Kerrigan’s motions to supplement the record (Docket Entry Nos. 2, 10) are

denied because Kerrigan has not demonstrated “extraordinary circumstances.” See

Gonzalez v. United States, 814 F.3d 1022, 1031 (9th Cir. 2016) (“Absent

extraordinary circumstances, we generally do not permit parties to supplement the

record on appeal.”).

      The parties’ motions to strike various filings (Docket Entry Nos. 6, 7, 26)

are denied.

      AFFIRMED.

                                         3                                   18-35019