Jama v State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, No. 2:2020cv00652 - Document 29 (W.D. Wash. 2020)
Court Description: ORDER granting in part and denying in part Defendant's 13 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Judge Marsha J. Pechman. (PM)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 8 9 10 11 ANYSA NGETHPHARAT, JAMES KELLEY, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, 12 13 14 15 v. STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY Defendant. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 CASE NO. C20-454 MJP FAYSAL A JAMA, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, CASE NO. C20-652 MJP Plaintiff, v. STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY, Defendant. 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 1 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS 1 This matter comes before the Court on Defendant State Farm Mutual Insurance 2 Company’s and State Farm Fire and Casualty’s1 Motions to Dismiss in each of the above- 3 captioned cases, which have been coordinated given the overlapping nature of the claims the 4 Plaintiffs pursue. The Court has reviewed the following materials from Ngethpharat, C20-454: 5 (1) Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. No. 16): (2) Plaintiffs’ Opposition (Dkt. No. 18); (3) 6 Defendant’s Reply (Dkt. No. 24); (4) Plaintiffs’ Surreply (Dkt. No. 27); and (5) all supporting 7 materials. The Court has also reviewed the following materials from Jama, C20-652: (1) 8 Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. No. 13); (2) Plaintiff’s Opposition (Dkt. No. 15); (3) 9 Defendant’s Reply (Dkt. No. 16); and (4) all supporting materials. For the reasons set forth 10 below the Court DENIES in part and GRANTS in part Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in both 11 matters and GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike in Ngethpharat, 12 C20-454. 13 Background Plaintiffs Anysa Ngethpharat and James Kelley (collectively “Ngethpharat Plaintiffs”) 14 15 have sued their insurer, State Farm, alleging it improperly applied a “typical negotiation 16 discount” to determine the cash settlement value for their damaged cars. Plaintiff Faysal Jama 17 makes the same allegations and also contends that State Farm improperly applied a “condition 18 adjustment” in determining the cash settlement value of his damaged car. The Ngethpharat 19 Plaintiffs assert individual and class claims alleging that the “typical negotiation discount” 20 violates Washington state insurance regulations and the Washington Consumer Protection Act. 21 They also seek declaratory and injunctive relief. Plaintiff Jama brings these same individual and 22 23 1 24 The Court refers to Defendants collectively as State Farm. ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 2 1 class claims, and also pursues claims directly under the state insurance regulations, as well as 2 claims for common law bad faith and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.2 3 A. The Ngethpharat Plaintiffs’ Factual Allegations 4 The Ngethpharat Plaintiffs had their vehicles badly damaged in separate accidents. Their 5 insurer, State Farm, declared both cars total losses and made a cash payment to settle each claim. 6 But Plaintiffs allege that State Farm violated state insurance regulations by applying a “typical 7 negotiation discount” to reduce amount it paid for the loss. This deduction was used to lower the 8 actual cash value of comparable vehicles State Farm used to determine the settlement amount. 9 Plaintiff Ngethpharat owned a 2014 Subaru Forrester insured through State Farm. (First 10 Amended Complaint (“FAC”) ¶ 1.7 (Dkt. No. 5).) After the car was badly damaged in late 2019, 11 Ngethpharat presented her claim to State Farm, which determined the vehicle a total loss. (Id.) 12 State Farm then offered Ngethpharat $13,378 as the value of her totaled car and provided her a 13 valuation reflecting this amount. (FAC ¶ 1.8.) But State Farm did not supply the “underlying 14 support for that offer.” (Id.) After repeated requests from Ngethpharat, State Farm provided a 15 report that it claimed supported the valuation. (Id.) The report was prepared by Autosource, 16 which Plaintiffs allege included “an unverifiable and unclear deduction for ‘typical negotiation’ 17 off the verifiable price for each of the four comparable vehicles (‘comps’), resulting in the base 18 price (what the average of the four comps show as the value) for Plaintiff’s vehicle being 19 $919.75 lower than had a ‘typical negotiation’ discount not been taken.” (Id. (emphasis 20 omitted).) The Autosource reports applied different discount rates to the price of the four 21 22 State Farm does not challenge Plaintiff Jama’s bad faith and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing claims. 2 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 3 1 comparable vehicles—two were reduced by 7% and the two more expensive comparable cars 2 were reduced by 6%. (Id. ¶ 1.16.) 3 Plaintiff James Kelley owned a 2020 Ford Explorer that State Farm insured. (FAC ¶ 1.9.) 4 After his car was badly damaged in January 2020, State Farm determine the car a total loss and 5 offered Kelley $54,056 as the value of his car. (Id. ¶ 1.10.) State Farm did not provide any 6 supporting materials with this valuation. (Id.) Upon request, State Farm then provided an 7 Autosource report showing “an unverifiable and unclear deduction for ‘typical negotiation’ off 8 the verifiable price of the comparable vehicle identified in the report, resulting in the base price 9 for Plaintiff KELLEY’s vehicle being $2,929.00 lower (5% less) than had a ‘typical negotiation’ 10 11 discount not been taken.” (Id.) The Ngethpharat Plaintiffs allege that the “typical negotiation discount” is “hidden in the 12 fine print” of the Autosource reports. (FAC ¶ 1.11.) They allege that the price listed for the 13 comparable vehicle is not the advertised price but is instead the advertised price “adjusted to 14 account for typical negotiation.” (Id.) The report itself only discloses the existence of this 15 deduction in fine print in a footnote and does not provide any further detail as to how this 16 deduction was calculated or determined. (See id.) The result, Plaintiffs allege, is that the base 17 price used for comparable vehicles is less than the verifiable prices for comparable vehicles. (See 18 Id. ¶ 1.12.) Plaintiffs also allege that the “typical negotiation” discount is not consistently applied 19 to vehicles being held as comparable to the loss vehicle. (Id. ¶ 1.16.) For example, the 20 Autosource report provided to Plaintiff Ngethpharat discounted two comparable vehicles’ 21 advertised price by 7% while discounting two others’ advertised price by 6%. (Id.) And for 22 Plaintiff Kelley, the “typical negotiation” discount was 5% off the advertised price of the 23 comparable vehicle. (Id. ¶¶ 1.10-1.11.) 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 4 1 B. 2 Plaintiff Jama’s Factual Allegations Plaintiff Jama owned a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid sedan that State Farm insured. 3 (Complaint ¶ 5.14 (Dkt. No. 1-3).) The car was damaged in May 2019, and after he presented his 4 claim to State Farm it deemed the car a total loss. (Id. ¶¶ 5.15, 5.19.) State Farm determined the 5 actual cash value to be $6,939 and sent to Jama its valuation determination and the Autosource 6 report that included comparable vehicle values on which it was based the valuation. (Id. ¶ 5.21.) 7 The Autosource report set the “base” price for the comparable vehicles by reducing their 8 advertised prices by 9 percent through a purported “typical negotiation discount.” (Id. ¶ 5.24.) 9 The Autosource report also deducted $155 from the actual cash value of Jama’s car based on the 10 “perceived condition” of Jama’s car. (Id. ¶ 5.27.) But as alleged, neither Autosource nor State 11 Farm inspected Jama’s car. (Id. ¶ 2.28.) 12 C. Relevant Regulatory Framework 13 Plaintiffs’ claims turn on the allegations that State Farm violated Washington insurance 14 regulations applicable to total loss settlements: WAC 284-30-391 (“Section 391”). Section 391 15 establishes the methods by which an insurer “must adjust and settle vehicle total losses” and the 16 standards of practice for the settlement of total loss vehicle claims. These two standards work in 17 tandem and impose intertwined, but independent requirements on the insurer. 18 1. Settlement and adjustment process requirements 19 Section 391 states: “unless an agreed value is reached, the insurer must adjust and settle 20 vehicle total losses using the methods set forth in subsections (1) through (3) of this section.” 21 WAC 284-30-391 (emphasis added). But the insurer need follow just one of these three methods. 22 23 At issue in this case is Section 391’s “cash settlement” methodology. This provision permits the insurer to “settle a total loss claim by offering a cash settlement based on the actual 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 5 1 cash value of a comparable motor vehicle, less any applicable deductible provided for in the 2 policy.” WAC 284-30-391(2). Section 391(2) includes two key provisions to determine actual 3 cash value of a comparable motor vehicle. First, to determine the actual cash value, “only a 4 vehicle identified as a comparable motor vehicle may be used.” WAC 284-30-391(2)(a). Second, 5 the insurer must “determine the actual cash value of the loss vehicle by using any one or more of 6 the following methods”: (1) comparable motor vehicle; (2) licensed dealer quotes; (3) advertised 7 data comparison; or (4) computerized sources. WAC 284-30-391(2)(b)(i)-(iv). 8 9 The insurance regulations include two general definitions relevant to this dispute. First, the regulations define the term “actual cash value” to mean “the fair market value of the loss 10 vehicle immediately prior to the loss.” WAC 284-30-320(1). And the regulations define 11 “comparable motor vehicle” as “a vehicle that is the same make and model, of the same or newer 12 model year, similar body style, with similar options and mileage as the loss vehicle and in similar 13 overall condition, as established by current data.” WAC 284-30-320(3). This definition also 14 states that “[t]o achieve comparability, deductions or additions for options, mileage or condition 15 may be made if they are itemized and appropriate in dollar amount.” Id. 16 2. Total loss claim settlement practice requirements 17 Section 391 also “establish[es] standards of practice for the settlement of total loss 18 vehicle claims” which the “insurer must” follow. WAC 284-30-391(4). Relevant here is Section 19 391(4)(b), which says that the insurer must “[b]ase all offers on itemized and verifiable dollar 20 amounts for vehicles that are currently available, or were available within ninety days of the date 21 of loss, using appropriate deductions or additions for options, mileage or condition when 22 determining comparability.” 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 6 1 2 D. Alleged Violations of Section 391 The Ngethpharat Plaintiffs allege that the application of the “typical negotiation 3 discount” violates Section 391 in nine ways. First, State Farm violated Section 391(2)(b) by 4 applying the “typical negotiation discount” to the verifiable price of comparable vehicles in 5 determining the actual cash value of the loss vehicle. (FAC ¶ 1.14.) Second, State Farm violated 6 Section 391(2)(b) by failing to base the actual cash value of the loss vehicle on verifiable sales 7 data or other data acceptable under Section 391(2)(b)(i)-(iv). (Id.) Third, State Farm violated 8 Section 391(4)(b) by basing its settlement offer on a “typical negotiation discount” which is not 9 one of the expressly permitted deductions in Section 391(4)(b). (See id.) Fourth, State Farm 10 violated Section 391(4)(b) by failing to base its settlement offer on verifiable dollar amounts for 11 vehicles currently or recently available because the “typical negotiation discount” is not 12 verifiable. (Id.) Fifth, State Farm violated Section 391 by failing to base the “typical negotiation 13 discount” on purported sales within 120 miles of the damaged car, and instead based it on 14 regional data. (Id. ¶ 1.15(a).) Sixth, State Farm violated Section 391 by failing to base the 15 “typical negotiation discount” on the purported sales prices of vehicles within 90 days of the 16 loss, but instead using years’ worth of data with no adjustments for seasonality. (Id. ¶ 1.15(b).) 17 Seventh, State Farm violated Section 391 by failing basing the “typical negotiation discount” on 18 the “claimed difference between the asking price and reported sales prices of vehicles which is 19 obtained by Autosource from venders who in turn obtain it from dealers and state taxing and 20 licensing departments” which is purportedly “lower than the actual bonafide market clearing sale 21 prices due to trade-in value being removed and/or the underreporting of price to save on sales 22 tax.” (Id. ¶ 1.15(c).) Eighth, State Farm violated Section 391 by using the Autosource reports, 23 which average the discount data for all vehicles, “not vehicles of the same make, model, and/or 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 7 1 year, and is then separated into pre-set price bands, with the average difference in the unreliable 2 data being then rounded to reflect the claimed ‘typical negotiation’ discount for that price band.” 3 (Id. ¶ 1.15(d) (emphasis omitted).) Ninth, State Farm’s violated Section 391 when it applied a 4 “typical negotiation discount” based on Autosource data that has not been tested for its reliability 5 or accuracy. (Id. ¶ 1.15(e).) 6 Plaintiff Jama alleges that the “uniform ‘negotiation fee’ of 9 percent is without any 7 empirical foundation” and violates WAC 284-30-391 because the adjustment is not a “verifiable” 8 dollar amount as required by the regulations. (Compl. ¶¶ 5.29-5.30.) Plaintiff Jama also alleges 9 that the 9 percent negotiation reduction violates Section 391(2) because it is created using data 10 that fails to meet the location and timing rules in Section 391(2)(b)(iv). (Id. ¶ 5.32.) And, lastly, 11 Plaintiff Jama alleges that State Farm violated Section 391 by making a condition adjustment to 12 his car without inspecting the car or showing that the comparable vehicles were different in 13 condition from his. (Id. ¶¶ 5.28, 5.33.)3 14 15 Analysis A. Legal Standard Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), the Court may dismiss a complaint for “failure to state a 16 17 claim upon which relief can be granted.” In ruling on a motion to dismiss, the Court must 18 construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and accept all 19 well-pleaded allegations of material fact as true. Livid Holdings Ltd. v. Salomon Smith Barney, 20 Inc., 416 F.3d 940, 946 (9th Cir. 2005); Wyler Summit P’ship v. Turner Broad. Sys., 135 F.3d 21 658, 661 (9th Cir. 1998). Dismissal is appropriate only where a complaint fails to allege “enough 22 Plaintiff Jama concedes that Section 391(5) “may not specifically prohibit a negotiation discount.” (Dkt. No. 15 at 14.) The Court therefore does not consider any alleged violation of Section 391(5) to support any of Plaintiff Jama’s claims. 3 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 8 1 facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 2 544, 570 (2007). A claim is plausible on its face “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that 3 allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct 4 alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). 5 B. 6 Breach of Contract State Farm seeks dismissal of all Plaintiffs’ breach of contract claims on the theory that 7 Plaintiffs have not alleged any underlying violations of Section 391. None of State Farm’s 8 attacks has merit. 9 1. 10 Legal standard In Washington, courts “construe insurance policies as contracts, giving them a fair, 11 reasonable, and sensible construction as would be given to the contract by the average person 12 purchasing insurance.” Xia v. ProBuilders Spec. Ins. Co., 188 Wn.2d 171, 181 (2017) (quotation 13 and citation omitted). To assert a breach of contract claim, a plaintiff must allege the existence of 14 a valid contract, a breach of the contract, and damages. See Meyers v. State, 152 Wn. App. 823, 15 827-28 (2009). The failure by an insurer to follow WAC requirements in settling an insurance 16 claim is a per se breach of contract. Van Noy v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 98 Wn. App. 17 487, 495-96 (1999) aff’d, 142 Wn.2d 784 (2001). 18 This case requires construing the provisions of Section 391. The typical canons of 19 statutory interpretation apply to this task. Silverstreak, Inc. v. Wash. State Dep’t of Labor & 20 Indus., 159 Wn.2d 868, 881 (2007). When applying basic statutory construction principles, the 21 “primary task is to determine which interpretation best reflects the intent of the legislature in 22 enacting the prevailing wage act and to give effect to that interpretation.” Id. at 882. 23 Accordingly, “[a]s in statutory interpretation, where a regulation is clear and unambiguous, 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 9 1 words in a regulation are given their plain and ordinary meaning unless a contrary intent 2 appears.” Id. And “a reviewing court has a duty to give meaning to every word in a regulation.” 3 Id. at 884. 4 2. 5 State Farm argues that because the regulations define “actual cash value” as “fair market Section 391 does not permit adjustments for a “typical negotiation discount” 6 value,” a negotiation deduction can be applied to reflect the “realities of haggling.” (Ngethpharat 7 Dkt. No. 16 at 6-7; Jama Dkt. No. 13 at 6-7.) But State Farm’s argument is premised on a flawed 8 reading of Section 391 that violates the canons of statutory construction. Specifically, State Farm 9 asks the Court to ignore the specific, detailed methodologies in Section 391(2) that must be 10 followed to determine a comparable car’s “actual cash value.” See WAC 284-30-391(2)(b). 11 Instead, State Farm suggests that because the general definition of “actual cash value” means 12 “fair market value,” it can apply a negotiation discount to determine the actual cash value of the 13 comparable car. This reading of the statute would render superfluous all of the detailed, 14 mandatory requirements of Section 391(2)(b) to determine the actual cash value of the loss 15 vehicle. This violates basic principles of regulatory construction. See Silverstreak, 159 Wn.2d at 16 884; State v. Roggenkamp, 153 Wn.2d 614, 624 (2005) (“Statutes must be interpreted and 17 construed so that all the language used is given effect, with no portion rendered meaningless or 18 superfluous.”) (citation and quotation omitted). To give full effect to the language of Section 19 391(2), the Court finds that the “actual cash value” determination must comply with the 20 methodologies set forth in Section 391(2). This determines the “fair market value” of a 21 comparable vehicle, which is consistent with the general definition of “actual cash value” in 22 Section 320. 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 10 1 State Farm’s argument also fails to grapple with Section 391(2)(b)(ii), which expressly 2 says that the use of advertised prices to determine actual cash value is, in fact, an appropriate 3 methodology. And, notably, nowhere does this subsection state that negotiation deductions on 4 top of the advertised prices are permissible. 5 6 State Farm has failed to demonstrate why the alleged violations of Section 391(2) cannot support Plaintiffs’ breach of contract claims. 7 3. 8 As to the Ngethpharat Plaintiffs State Farm argues that it has not violated the settlement 9 10 Section 391(4)(b) does not permit a negotiation discount procedures in Section 391(4)(b) for three reasons, none of which has merit. First, State Farm argues Section 391(4)(b) provides a non-exclusive list of “deductions 11 for options, mileage or condition when determining comparability” and do not exclude additional 12 deductions. (Ngethpharat Dkt. No. 16 at 8) This requires looking at Section 391(4)(b) in full, 13 which states: 14 15 16 17 18 When settling a total loss vehicle claim using methods in subsections (1) through (3) of this section, the insurer must . . . [b]ase all offers on itemized and verifiable dollar amounts for vehicles that are currently available, or were available within ninety days of the date of loss, using appropriate deductions or additions for options, mileage or condition when determining comparability. WAC 284-30-391(4)(b). State Farm is correct that the Section 391(4)(b) does not say that these are the “only” 19 deductions. And State Farm is correct to distinguish Plaintiff’s reliance on Durant v. State Farm 20 Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 191 Wn.2d 1 (2018). Durant involved interpreting a different regulation 21 which specifically listed certain bases for denying personal injury protection claims as the “only 22 grounds.” But State Farm’s reading of Section 391(4)(b) would essentially allow insurers to 23 come up with any deductions they see fit—so long as they were “itemized and verifiable.” This 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 11 1 would contravene the intent of the regulations and their authorizing statute requiring insurers to 2 act in “good faith, abstain from deception, and practice honesty and equity in all insurance 3 matters.” RCW § 48.01.030. Reading Section 391(4)(b)’s deductions as exclusive gives full 4 effect to the insurance statute and regulations. See Silverstreak, 159 Wn.2d at 884. The Court 5 thus rejects State Farm’s argument. See Zuern v. IDS Property Cas. Ins. Co., C19-6235MLP, 6 2020 WL 2114502, at *5 (May 4, 2020) (“A plain reading of the regulation suggests that the list 7 is exhaustive to the extent it provides the basis for deducting or adding to the value of a 8 comparable vehicle.”) 9 Second, State Farm argues that Section 391(4)(b)’s list of deductions only applies to 10 assessing comparability, not determining the actual cash value of a comparable car. (Ngethpharat 11 Dkt. No. 16 at 8.) This argument does not give full effect to all of provisions in Section 391. 12 Comparability does, in fact, have application to determining the actual cash value. Section 13 391(2) mandates that a cash settlement offer use a “comparable motor vehicle” to determine “the 14 actual cash value.” WAC 284-30-391(2). And Section 391(4)(b) list the deductions that can be 15 made to a comparable car. Reading these provisions together shows that to determine actual cash 16 value, the insurer must use a comparable motor vehicle’s actual cash value reduced only by the 17 deductions listed in Section 391(4)(b). 18 Third, State Farm argues that if one defines “actual cash value” as the advertised price 19 adjusted only by deductions for options, mileage, or condition, then you read the general 20 definition of “actual cash value” as “fair market value” out of the WACs. This mirrors State 21 Farm’s arguments made above as to Section 391(2), and is without merit. Section 391(2)’s 22 methodologies guide the insurer to arriving at a fair market value. 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 12 1 2 3 State Farm has failed to demonstrate why the alleged violations of Section 391(4)(b) cannot support Plaintiffs’ breach of contract claims. The Court also rejects State Farm’s attack to Plaintiff Jama’s allegations that State Farm 4 violates Section 391(2) by applying a “typical negotiation” discount that fails to meet the 5 regulation’s proximity and temporal requirements. (Dkt. No. 13 at 9 n.6.) State Farm relegates its 6 single-sentence argument to a footnote and provides no reasoning to justify dismissal. (Id.) State 7 Farm has not demonstrated why Plaintiff Jama’s allegations cannot support his breach of 8 contract claim. (See Compl. ¶ 5.32.) 9 10 4. As alleged, the negotiation discount is not verifiable State Farm argues that the “typical negotiation discount” contained in the Autosource 11 reports is “itemized and verifiable” as required by Section 391(4)(b) because the discount can be 12 calculated by comparing the list price to the purchase price. The Court rejects this argument. 13 Before addressing the merits of this argument, the Court must define the meaning of both 14 “itemized” and “verifiable.” The regulations do not define these terms, but the issue has been 15 considered already in this District: “Merriman Webster defines the term ‘itemized’ as ‘to set 16 down in detail or by particulars; list’ and defines ‘verifiable’ as to be able to ‘establish the truth, 17 accuracy or reality of.’” Lundquist v. First Nat’l Ins. Co., C18-5301, Order on Order to Show 18 Cause and on Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. No. 33) at 8 (W.D. Wash. July 9, 2018). The Court adopts 19 these same definitions. 20 State Farm fails to show that the “typical negotiation discount” is “itemized” or 21 “verifiable.” While the dollar amount of the “typical negotiation discount” is set forth in the 22 Autosource reports, it is not detailed and lacks sufficient information to allow the insured to test 23 its truth or accuracy. The reports do not disclose the methodology used to calculate the discount 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 13 1 or information to understand why a particular discount was applied to any given comparator 2 vehicle. For example, the Autosource report provided to Plaintiff Ngethpharat applied a 6% 3 negotiation reduction for two comparable cars and a 7% negotiation reduction for two others. 4 (FAC ¶ 1.16). The reports nowhere explain or provide information as to why the discounts were 5 different or whether they were accurate or truthful—the insured is left to guess. The Court finds 6 that all Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that the typical negotiation discount is not “itemized” 7 or “verifiable” as required by Section 391(4)(b), which supports their breach of contract claims. 8 9 Lundquist is instructive on this point. In that case, the plaintiff alleged that the insurer violated Section 391(4)(b) by reducing comparable vehicle prices through an unverifiable 10 “condition” reduction without “regard to an of the individual characteristics of those comparable 11 vehicles (and without any explanation).” Lundquist, Order at 4. The Court found sufficient the 12 allegations that the insurer violated Section 391(4)(b) by failing to provide any information to 13 allow the insured to determine whether the reduction was accurate. Id. This was so despite the 14 insurer having listed the factors it considered in reaching the reduction amount. Id. State Farm 15 attempts to distinguish Lundquist by suggesting that the court found a Section 391(4)(b) 16 violation only because the condition reductions were the same dollar amount for three different 17 comparable vehicles and therefore arbitrary. But the Court in Lundquist made not such finding. 18 Even if it had, it would not obviate the conclusion that “[t]he term “verifiable” would be 19 rendered meaningless if it was not intended to allow the claimant an opportunity to establish 20 whether the dollar amount was accurate by disclosure of the amount.” Id. at 8. That is precisely 21 what Plaintiffs allege here, and these allegations support their breach of contract claims. 22 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 14 State Farm’s alleged condition adjustment is impermissible 1 5. 2 As to Plaintiff Jama, State Farm argues that it did not violate Section 391(4)(b) by 3 making an adjustment for the damaged car’s condition. Plaintiff Jama’s points out that without 4 inspecting his and the comparable cars, the condition adjustment is not “appropriate”—as 5 required by Section 391(4)(b)—because it “lacks sufficient empirical foundation, is arbitrary, 6 and falls far short” of Section 391. As alleged, State Farm provided no basis on which to verify 7 whether the perceived condition deduction was “appropriate.” The Court finds Plaintiff Jama’s 8 allegations sufficient to show a violation of Section 391(4)(b) and to sustain his breach of 9 contract claim. 10 * * * 11 State Farm has not demonstrated any pleading deficiencies related to the alleged 12 violations of Section 391. Accordingly, the Court DENIES State Farm’s motion as to the breach 13 of contract claims. 14 C. 15 CPA Claim State Farm’s attack to Plaintiffs’ CPA claims turns entirely on its argument that Plaintiffs 16 have not adequately alleged any violations of Section 391. As set forth in Section B, above, the 17 Court disagrees and finds the alleged violations of Section 391 adequately pleaded. The alleged 18 violations of Section 391 constitute per se CPA violations, satisfying the first two elements of the 19 claim. See Van Noy, 98 Wn. App. at 496; Hangman Ridge Training Stables, Inc. v. Safeco Title 20 Ins. Co., 105 Wash. 2d 778, 785-92 (1986) (holding that in a private CPA action must contain 21 allegations of: (1) an unfair or deceptive act, (2) that occurred in the conduct of trade or 22 commerce, (3) affecting the public interest, (4) injuring the plaintiff in her business or property, 23 (5) which defendant caused.). State Farm does not challenge the remaining three elements of 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 15 1 Plaintiffs’ claims. Given the sufficiently-pleaded allegations that State Farm variously violated 2 Section 391, the Court DENIES State Farm’s motions to dismiss the CPA claims. 3 D. 4 Plaintiff Jama’s Claims Brought Directly Under Section 391 State Farm correctly asserts that Plaintiff Jama may not pursue claims directly under 5 Section 391 because the regulation provides no private right of action. The Court GRANTS State 6 Farm’s Motion on this issue. But as set forth above, Plaintiff Jama is entitled to pursue his other 7 claims premised on the alleged violations of Section 391. 8 E. Declaratory Relief 9 State Farm seeks dismissal of all Plaintiffs’ request for declaratory relief, arguing that the 10 claim is “duplicative” of the breach of contract and CPA claims. (Ngethpharat, Dkt. No. 16 at 11; 11 Jama, Dkt. No. 13 at 11.) State Farm’s argument misses the mark. As the Plaintiffs correctly 12 point out, they may pursue declaratory relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a) “whether or not further 13 relief is or could be sought.” See 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). And Fed. R. Civ. P. 57 expressly states 14 that “[t]he existence of another adequate remedy does not preclude a declaratory judgment that is 15 otherwise appropriate.” The Court DENIES State Farm’s Motions as to Plaintiffs’ declaratory 16 judgment claims. 17 F. 18 Injunctive Relief State Farm seeks dismissal of Plaintiffs’ separately-alleged claims for injunctive relief. 19 State Farm is correct that an injunction is a remedy for a CPA violation and not a separate cause 20 of action. The Court GRANTS the Motions and Court dismisses Plaintiffs’ injunctive relief 21 claims. But the Court notes that the Plaintiffs may still seek injunctive relief as a remedy for the 22 CPA claims. 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 16 1 G. As an alternative, State Farm asks the Court to stay Plaintiffs’ claims and compel 2 3 State Farm’s Request to Stay and Compel Appraisal appraisal. The Court finds no basis to grant this relief. 4 State Farm fails to demonstrate why an appraisal would resolve the underlying legal 5 dispute. The Plaintiffs all make clear that they do not challenge the amount of the deduction— 6 just its legality. (Jama Dkt. No. 15 at 22; Ngethpharat Dkt. No. 18 at 18.) Ordering an appraisal 7 to determine the correct “negotiation discount” would not resolve the underlying dispute as to 8 whether any such discount is permissible under Section 391. Rejection of State Farm’s request finds support in a decision from this District involving 9 10 similar issues. See Stanikzy v. Progressive Direct Ins. Co., C20-118 BJR, Order Denying 11 Defendant’s Motion to Compel Appraisal and to Stay Proceedings (Dkt. No. 30) (W.D. Wash. 12 May 29, 2020). In Stanikzy, the Court concluded that requiring an appraisal to determine the 13 amount of loss would be “an empty exercise” where the plaintiff did not challenge that amount 14 of a “projected sold adjustment,” but challenged whether the adjustment itself violated Section 15 391(4)(b). Id. at 2-4. The appraisal “would not obviate Stanizky’s [sic] claim that any projected 16 sold adjustment is illegal.” Id. at 4 (emphasis in original). This reasoning applies equally here 17 and supports denial of State Farm’s request. The Court DENIES State Farm’s Motions and will 18 not compel appraisal.4 19 H. 20 21 The Ngethpharat Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike The Ngethpharat Plaintiffs filed a surreply (Dkt. No. 27) asking the Court to strike: (1) two declarations submitted with the State Farm’s Reply (Dkt. Nos. 25 & 26); (2) new arguments 22 23 The Court does not reach the issue of whether Plaintiff Ngethpharat’s policy contains an applicable appraisal provision. 4 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 17 1 raised in the Reply as to standing; and (3) State Farm’s citation to nine cases in the Reply that 2 Plaintiffs claim were not addressed in the opening brief. The Court GRANTS in part and 3 DENIES in part the Motion 4 First, Plaintiffs are correct that the Court should not accept the declarations filed with the 5 Reply (Dkt. Nos. 25 and 26). Both raise facts that are far beyond the Amended Complaint and 6 are not the appropriate for judicial notice. And Plaintiffs correctly argue that the declarations 7 inappropriately raise new arguments for the first time on reply. See Docusign, Inc. v. Sertifi, Inc., 8 468 F. Supp. 2d 1305, 1307 (W.D. Wa. 2006). The Court strikes the two declarations and has not 9 considered them in reaching its decision. 10 Second, Plaintiffs are correct that State Farm inappropriately raises a new argument in the 11 reply regarding possible standing issues. The Court strikes this argument and has not considered 12 it in reaching its decision. 13 Third, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated a valid basis for the Court to strike State Farm’s 14 reliance on the nine cases mentioned in the Reply. The cases cited relate to the same arguments 15 raised in the opening brief. The Court has considered these cases in reaching its decision. 16 Conclusion 17 The Plaintiffs in these two cases have adequately alleged that State Farm’s use of a 18 “typical negotiation discount” violates Section 391. These violations form the basis for their 19 breach of contract, CPA, and declaratory relief claims. State Farm is correct that stand-alone for 20 injunctive relief claims and claims brought directly under Section 391 must be dismissed. But the 21 Court finds no merit in State Farm’s request to stay and compel appraisal, and denies the request. 22 As set forth above, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part both Motions to Dismiss as 23 well as the Ngethpharat Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike. 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 18 1 The clerk is ordered to provide copies of this order to all counsel. 2 Dated November 9, 2020. 3 A 4 Marsha J. Pechman United States District Judge 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ORDER ON MOTIONS TO DISMISS - 19
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