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November 30, 2005; as amended December 12, 2005
THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO.v.KATHLEEN L. BABAYAN D.C. CIVIL ACTION NO. 03-CV-00717KATHLEEN BABAYANv.THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY; JOSEPH M. SAVINO, GENERAL AGENT NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL FINANCIAL NETWORK A/K/A AND D/B/A THE SAVINO FINANCIAL GROUP; THOMAS GALLINA D.C. CIVIL ACTION NO. 03-CV-01622 KATHLEEN L. BABAYAN, APPELLANT
On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. (D.C. Nos. 03-cv-00717 and 03-cv-01622) District Judge: Honorable Michael M. Baylson.
Argued October 26, 2005
Before: SLOVITER, FISHER, and GREENBERG, Circuit Judges.
For the third time in the past four years, we are asked to determine whether summary judgment was properly granted in favor of an insurer on the basis that an insurance applicant's material omissions on an application constituted bad faith as a matter of law and rendered the policy void ab initio. Compare Justofin v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 372 F.3d 517 (3d Cir. 2004), with Burkert v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc. of America, 287 F.3d 293 (3d Cir. 2002). Appellant Kathleen Babayan argues that our recent decision in Justofin created a "bright-line" rule that bad faith can never be inferred as a matter of law if the applicant provides some relevant medical information, but fails to provide complete information. We decline to adopt Babayan's proposed bright-line rule in this case. The record contains incontrovertible documentary evidence that Babayan omitted information in bad faith, and there is no relevant relationship between the information Babayan provided on her application and the specific information she omitted. Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court that Babayan's omissions on her insurance application constituted bad faith as a matter of law.
We also reject Babayan's remaining grounds for appeal. We conclude that the District Court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Appellee Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. ("Northwestern") with respect to Babayan's novel bad faith claim premised upon Northwestern's "post-claim underwriting" practices. In addition, we hold that the District Court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Babayan's insurance agent, Thomas Gallina, as to Babayan's negligence claim because Gallina's actions did not cause Northwestern to rescind Babayan's policy.
I. Background
A. The Application Process
After missing six days of work because of Bell's Palsy Disorder in late December 2000, Babayan decided to obtain disability income insurance. In January 2001, Babayan telephoned Gallina's insurance agency. Shortly thereafter, Gallina met with Babayan at her office in New Jersey. During this meeting, Babayan provided Gallina with general, personal information for Gallina to use in preparing a specific insurance proposal. Several weeks later, on February 11, 2001, Gallina presented his proposal to Babayan.
Babayan agreed to go forward with the application process and filled out a disability insurance application and a non-medical questionnaire. Each of the documents required Babayan to respond to a number of specific questions that required either a "yes" or "no" response. Gallina verbally asked Babayan each question, then recorded her response on the application and the non-medical questionnaire. Gallina testified at his deposition that he read the questions from the documents verbatim.
The crux of the dispute between the parties is the interaction between Gallina and Babayan at the February 2001 meeting, particularly Babayan's "responses" to two of the questions. Question 14.K.2 of the disability insurance application asked:
In the past 5 years, has the Insured been in a motor vehicle accident, has the Insured been charged with a moving violation of any motor vehicle law, or has the Insured's driver's license been restricted, suspended, or revoked?
Babayan does not dispute that Question 14.K.2 was answered "no" on the insurance application. Neither does Babayan dispute that the answer to Question 14.K.2 is false. According to Babayan, she informed Gallina that she had previously been involved in a motor vehicle accident and a slip-and-fall accident in 1995 or 1996.*fn1 Babayan claims that Gallina told her not to disclose the incidents because "that's far enough away." Gallina allegedly told her, "I don't think it will be a problem, but when you sign the medical waiver, they go get your records from your doctors and they'll find out that stuff." Thus, Babayan asserts that she acquiesced in Gallina's advice to mark "no" on the application.
In addition, Babayan answered "no" to Question 33.k of the non-medical questionnaire, which stated: "In the last 10 years, have you had, been told you had or been treated for: Arthritis, sciatica, gout, or any disorder of the muscles, bones, joints, spine, back or neck?"*fn2 There is no evidence in the record that Babayan asked Gallina any questions relating to Question 33.k, or that Gallina gave Babayan any advice on how to answer the question.
After Gallina finished filling out the questionnaire in response to Babayan's answers, Babayan signed both the insurance application and the non-medical questionnaire. Each of the documents contained certain representations above the signature line.*fn3 By signing the application and the non-medical questionnaire, Babayan represented that her answers on both forms were truthful and accurate.
The answers contained on the insurance application and the non-medical questionnaire set forth above, however, were false. Babayan was in an automobile accident on September 24, 1996, within five years of the date she submitted her insurance application. In addition, Babayan was treated by several physicians between 1996 and February 2001 for neck, back, hip, leg, and knee pain resulting from her automobile accident, as well as a separate slip-and-fall accident in July 1996. Babayan acknowledged in her deposition that the answer to Question 33.k was false; she stated, however, that she thought that the word "disorder" meant "disease." Babayan further testified that had she read Question 33.k at the February 11, 2001 meeting with Gallina, she would have asked Gallina to explain what the question meant to clear up any misunderstanding. She claims that if Gallina had told her that Question 33.k referred to "treatment for ongoing problems," she would have answered "yes" based upon her "new understanding."
Babayan asserts that written notes she took during her February 11, 2001 meeting with Gallina confirm her version of the events. Additionally, Babayan stated that Gallina told her she would have to sign a waiver authorizing Northwestern to obtain her medical records. Babayan signed the authorization for release of her medical records, and she informed Northwestern on the non-medical questionnaire that Dr. Joseph Kipp was her primary care physician.
B. Paramedical Examination
On February 13, 2001, a paramedical examiner took Babayan's blood pressure and asked her some further questions about her medical history. Several of the questions the examiner asked Babayan were identical to questions she had previously answered in her meeting with Gallina. Babayan testified at her deposition that she did not remember specific questions the examiner asked her, although she stated that the examiner "must have asked me obviously at least some of them." One of the questions the examiner asked Babayan was Question 33.k. As in her prior answer on the non-medical questionnaire, Babayan answered "no" to Question 33.k on the paramedical questionnaire.*fn4 Babayan testified at her deposition that she did not read the paramedical questionnaire before signing it. She further stated that if she had read the responses marked by the examiner, she would have realized the answers were incomplete and inaccurate. Despite not reading the answers marked by the examiner, Babayan signed the paramedical questionnaire, thereby representing that her answers and statements were "correctly recorded, complete, and true to the best of [her] knowledge and belief."
After receiving Babayan's application, non-medical questionnaire, and paramedical questionnaire, Northwestern underwriter Cynthia Guss approved Babayan's policy on March 3, 2001. Guss did not obtain any of Babayan's medical records at the time because she "didn't feel that the medical history provided warranted medical records being ordered." In addition, Guss testified at her deposition that the inconsistencies in Questions 36 and 37 did not merit ordering Babayan's medical records.*fn5 After the application was approved, Gallina delivered the policy to Babayan in March 2001. The effective date of the policy was February 13, 2001, the date Babayan underwent the paramedical examination.
C. Subsequent Illnesses and Rejection of Claim
Beginning in March or April 2001, Babayan started suffering from fatigue, pain, headaches, and an inability to concentrate. Dr. Kipp gave Babayan a preliminary diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Over the course of the next ten months, Babayan sought treatment from Dr. Kipp and a number of other physicians for her symptoms. In February 2002, Babayan applied for and received short-term disability income payments from the State of New Jersey.*fn6
On March 23, 2002, approximately one year after her symptoms began, Babayan applied for disability benefits under her insurance policy. Northwestern assigned disability benefit specialist Lisa Duller to review Babayan's claim. Duller testified in her deposition that she made the decision to institute a "constestability" review of Babayan's claim because company policy provides that such a review is automatically performed if a claim is filed within two years of the application date. Babayan's application caused Duller to request certain information from Babayan, including an "Attending Physician's Statement" from Dr. Kipp. Dr. Kipp completed the statement, indicating that he had diagnosed Babayan with fibromyalgia, depression, chronic pain, and cognitive dysfunction, and that he had set forth a treatment plan that included pain management and examination by specialists. Duller also requested medical records from all of the doctors identified in Dr. Kipp's records as providing treatment to Babayan.
Thereafter, Northwestern began a more extensive investigation of Babayan's claim. Duller authorized an outside private investigation service to obtain information about Babayan. Furthermore, on May 3, 2002, a Northwestern representative, Jim Porter, interviewed Babayan at her home. During the course of that interview, Porter informed Babayan that her full and complete medical history, including her motor vehicle accident and slip-and-fall accident, had not been reported to Northwestern by Gallina or the paramedical examiner.
In summer 2002, Babayan was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, and primary biliary cirrhosis. Babayan advised Northwestern of her new diagnosis, and informed the company that the original diagnosis of fibromyalgia might no longer be applicable.
On July 11, 2002, Duller referred Babayan's file to Steve Kien, an underwriter at Northwestern. Kien's job was to review all of the information in Babayan's file to come to a determination whether Northwestern would have issued the policy to Babayan based upon the information it received during the contestability review. In a memorandum to Duller dated July 19, 2002, Kien concluded: "Had we been aware of the chronic pain and arthralgias symptoms, extensive treatment history and MRI confirmed disc disease and degenerative changes in the right knee, policy D1408128 would have been declined." Duller made the decision to recommend rescission of the policy on July 26, 2002.
On that same date, Duller sent a memorandum to her supervisor, Sharon Raymond. Duller testified at her deposition that she made the recommendation to rescind the policy based upon Kien's conclusions. Duller further testified that she probably would have recommended that the policy be reformed by adding certain riders to the policy had that been Kien's recommendation. Raymond agreed with Duller's recommendation, and, on August 21, 2002, Duller sent a letter to Babayan rescinding her policy. Duller enclosed a check totaling Babayan's premium payments, plus interest, and informed Babayan that by cashing the check she would release Northwestern from all claims.*fn7 Babayan did not cash the check.
II. Procedural History
On February 4, 2003, Northwestern filed a two count complaint alleging misrepresentation and fraud and deceit. Northwestern sought to have Babayan's policy declared void ab initio, to have the policy returned, and to receive costs, fees and other relief. On March 17, 2003, Babayan filed a complaint against Northwestern and Joseph M. Savino. The parties stipulated to consolidate the actions for all purposes, and, pursuant to an additional stipulation, Savino was dismissed with prejudice.
Babayan filed an amended five count complaint on December 24, 2003, against Northwestern and Gallina seeking a declaratory judgment against Northwestern, alleging bad faith denial of insurance benefits and breach of contract against both defendants, and alleging breach of fiduciary duty and negligence against Gallina.*fn8 Northwestern and Gallina filed motions for summary judgment as to all counts in the complaint. On August 24, 2004, the District Court granted summary judgment to Northwestern and Gallina. The District Court first determined that Northwestern could rescind Babayan's policy because Babayan knowingly made false and material misrepresentations as a matter of law. Because this determination rendered the policy void ab initio, the District Court then held that Northwestern was entitled to summary judgment on Babayan's breach of contract claim. The District Court next concluded that summary judgment was appropriate in favor of Northwestern with respect to Babayan's bad faith claim. Finally, the District Court held that Gallina was entitled to summary judgment as to Babayan's negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims.*fn9 As to the negligence claim, the District Court held that Babayan failed to produce sufficient evidence establishing that Gallina owed her a duty of care. In addition (based upon its earlier finding that Babayan's conduct was fraudulent as a matter of law), the District Court held that Babayan could not obtain contribution for her own willful misconduct as an intentional tortfeasor. Alternatively, the District Court held that Babayan's claims against Gallina were barred by the applicable two-year statute of limitations.
Babayan filed a timely notice of appeal on August 26, 2004. The District Court had subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, because the parties are citizens of different states (Babyan: Pennsylvania; Northwestern: Wisconsin; Gallina: New Jersey) and the amount in controversy exceeds the sum of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs. We have jurisdiction over an appeal from a final order of the District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We exercise plenary review over the District Court's entry of summary judgment in favor of Northwestern and Gallina. Morton Int'l, Inc. v. A.E. Staley Mfg. Co., 343 F.3d 669, 679 (3d Cir. 2003). We therefore apply the summary judgment standard set forth under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c). Under that standard, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." FED.R.CIV.P. 56(c).
III. Discussion
A. Northwestern's Rescission Claim
The initial issue confronting the Court is whether Babayan's answers to Question 14.K.2 of the insurance application and Question 33.k of the non-medical and paramedical questionnaires were knowingly false or made in bad faith. After reviewing the applicable case law, we conclude that Babayan's answer to Question 14.K.2 did not constitute bad faith as a matter of law. If we were considering Babayan's answer to Question 14.K.2 alone, we would be required to reverse the judgment of the District Court. We are not, however, and we hold that Babayan's answer to Question 33.k constituted bad faith as a matter of law for the reasons set forth below.
Generally, in order to void an insurance policy under Pennsylvania law,*fn10 an insurer has the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, the following three factors: (1) the insured made a false representation;*fn11 (2) the insured knew the representation was false when it was made or the insured made the representation in bad faith; and (3) the representation was material to the risk being insured. Justofin, 372 F.2d at 521 (citing Coolspring Stone Supply, Inc., v. Am. States Life Ins. Co., 10 F.3d 144, 148 (3d Cir. 1993)). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court is required to take the heightened standard of proof into account. Id. at 521-22 ("Where the clear and convincing standard applies, the trial judge must inquire whether the evidence presented is such that a jury applying that evidentiary standard could find only for one side.").
The parties do not dispute that the general framework as set forth in Justofin governs Northwestern's rescission claim. Nor do they dispute that Northwestern proved the first (falsity) and third (materiality) factors as a matter of law. The dispute centers around the District Court's determination that there were no genuine issues of material fact as to whether Babayan's answers were knowingly false or made in bad faith.
Two recent decisions of this Court reached contrary conclusions as to whether, at the summary judgment stage, an insurer could obtain a judgment as a matter of law based upon the insured's false misrepresentations in an insurance application. Because of their importance to the pending appeal, we discuss each of the decisions in detail.
In the first decision, Burkert, we held that a life insurance policy was void ab initio because the applicant knowingly made materially false misrepresentations in his insurance application. In that case, the decedent, Seth Jamison, applied for a $1 million dollar life insurance policy through Equitable Life. In connection with his application, Jamison was required to state: (1) whether he used narcotics and other drugs within the last ten years; and (2) whether he received medical counseling or medical treatment regarding the use of alcohol or drugs. Jamison answered that he was treated for cocaine abuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but that he had "no problems since." Burkert, 287 F.3d at 297.*fn12 We granted summary judgment in favor of the insurer on its rescission claim because the irrefutable evidence revealed that Jamison was undergoing treatment for cocaine addiction with his clinical psychiatrist at the time he filled out the application. Id. We rejected the beneficiaries' argument that Jamison's answers were ambiguous, finding that Jamison's "incomplete" answers did not raise a question of fact because "fraud is presumed . . . from knowledge of the falsity." Id. (quoting Coolspring Stone Supply, Inc., 10 F.3d at 148). We further stated that an "inference of fraud is irresistible when, for example, unreported illness or disability of the insured was so serious and so recent that he could not have forgotten it." Id. (quoting Evans v. Penn. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 186 A. 133, 138 (Pa. 1936)). Accordingly, we held that the beneficiaries' argument that Jamison's answers were simply "incomplete" was "frivolous" in the face of substantial, incontrovertible evidence that Jamison was using drugs and undergoing treatment for drug and alcohol abuse at the time he completed his application. Thus, Jamison's misrepresentations constituted bad faith as a matter of law.
Two years after our decision in Burkert, we came to a different conclusion after considering a similar issue in Justofin regarding whether an insurance applicant's misstatements in her application constituted bad faith as a matter of law.
Loretta Justofin initially applied for a life insurance policy from MetLife in 1994. In that application, she stated that her son, Dr. Christopher Justofin ("Dr. Justofin") was her personal physician, and that he treated her for occasional arthritis of the hands and feet. Justofin, 372 F.3d at 519. MetLife subsequently issued Justofin a life insurance policy in the amount of $100,000. In 1999, Justofin applied to MetLife for additional coverage (up to $300,000). In connection with that process, Justofin was required to complete an additional application. Justofin answered "yes" to two questions on the application: (1) that she had been treated for, inter alia, arthritis; and (2) that she had been examined by a physician within the past five years. Id. at 519-20. Because Justofin answered "yes" to both questions, the application instructed her to provide further details, including: the name of each physician, the nature and severity of her condition, the frequency of attacks, specific diagnoses, and treatment. Id. at 520. Justofin listed the names of several doctors she had consulted for treatment, details of the treatment she undergone, and that she had foot surgery for her arthritis. Justofin, however, did not mention in the application that her son was her physician. In addition, Justofin stated in part B of the application that she had arthritis and that she took Prednisone for her arthritis back in 1969. In part C of the application, Justofin indicated that she had an "unknown" type of arthritis that caused her hands to swell.
After Justofin passed away, MetLife brought an action to rescind her policy on the basis that she knowingly failed to disclose that her son was her physician and that she was prescribed Prednisone. The insured relied upon deposition testimony from Dr. Justofin that he was his mother's personal physician from 1994 until 1998; that he visited his mother weekly during that period to examine her and pick up his mail; that his mother had arthritis (either rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, or both); and that he used to prescibe a six-month supply of Prednisone for his mother's arthritis. Id. at 520. We agreed that Justofin made false representations in the 1999 change application because the irrefutable evidence in the record showed that Justofin clearly failed to inform MetLife that she took Prednisone for her arthritis between 1994 and 1998. Id. at 522. We disagreed, however, that Justofin's misrepresentations constituted bad faith as a matter of law. We noted the general rule that "an insured's state of mind is an issue of fact for the jury" because "evaluating state of mind often requires the drawing of inferences from the conduct of parties about which reasonable persons might differ." Id. at 522-23. Applying this standard, we held that Justofin's answers in her change application did not incontrovertibly establish her bad faith. In so holding, we stated that there were at least two possible reasonable inferences from the evidence that precluded summary judgment. First, a jury could conclude that Justofin might not have thought that her son's casual visits were important enough to report in her new application because: (a) she had already disclosed in the initial application that her son was her physician; and (b) her son discontinued his weekly visits one year prior to her submitting the change application. Id. at 524.*fn13 Second, as to Justofin's failure to list the type of arthritis she suffered from, and to disclose that she was taking Prednisone to combat her arthritis, we stated that a jury could determine that further detail on the change application was unnecessary because she already listed on her change application that her arthritis was treated, inter alia, by surgery.*fn14 For these reasons, we held that a material issue of fact existed as to whether Justofin answered the application in bad faith.
The crux of the parties' competing arguments on the merits of Northwestern's rescission claim is the proper interpretation of our decision in Justofin. Babayan argues that "Justofin can be read as creating a bright line rule that where an insured provides some relevant medical information but fails to provide complete information, the question of the insured's intent can not be inferred as a matter of law." In opposition, Northwestern raises two arguments. First, Northwestern argues that "[f]ar from establishing a bright line rule, the Justofin court confined its holding to the facts[.]" Second, Northwestern argues that, assuming a bright line rule was created in Justofin, that rule is inapplicable under the facts of this case because Babayan's own testimony demonstrates that she provided knowingly false answers in the application and questionnaires.
We agree with Northwestern that Justofin did not create a bright-line rule; rather, the holding in Justofin confirms the importance of analyzing bad faith cases at the summary judgment stage under the particular factual background of each case. Justofin and Burkert applied the same three-part framework under Pennsylvania law. We decline to extend the specific holding in Justofin to a broad bright-line rule, particularly where numerous courts have applied the framework to diverse factual situations over the past sixty years. Compare Justofin, supra; Burton v. Pacific Mutual Life Ins. Co., 84 A.2d 310, 312 (Pa. 1951) (holding that judgment should not be entered in favor of the insurer because the insured was unaware at the time he applied for insurance that he suffered from incurable throat cancer); and Grimes v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 585 A.2d 29 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991) (finding that insured did not act in bad faith when she failed to disclose a liver disorder and hypertension on her application where there was testimony that: (a) the insured's doctor told her that her liver results were "elevated" but normal; and (b) her hypertension was an asymptomatic disorder); with Burkert, supra; Freedman v. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of New York, 21 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1941) (holding that judgment notwithstanding verdict should be entered in favor of insurer where insured answered in his application he had not visited any physicians over the past five years, yet the uncontradicted evidence revealed he had made twenty visits to five physician over the five-year period); Stopper v. Manhattan Life Ins. Co. of New York, 241 F.2d 465 (3d Cir. 1957) (relying upon Freedman, Court of Appeals found that applicant's withholding of medical information constituted bad faith as a matter of law); Walsh v. John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co., 63 A.2d 472 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1949) (holding that trial court properly entered judgment notwithstanding the verdict in favor of insurer on insured's bad faith where evidence revealed that plaintiff withheld from insurance application that he had been hospitalized for cardiac disorder twenty-two days prior to application date); American Franklin Life Ins. Co. v. Galati, 776 F. Supp. 1054 (E.D. Pa. 1991) (granting judgment on the pleadings in favor of insurer); and Monarch Life Ins. Co. v. Donahue, 708 F. Supp. 674 (E.D. Pa. 1989) (granting summary judgment in favor of insurer).
Against this backdrop, it is clear that the different results in Burkert and Justofin did not depend on the application of a bright-line legal rule; instead, we applied the same standard, examined the record evidence, and simply came to different conclusions as to whether there was incontrovertible evidence of bad faith. Our decision in Justofin did not foreclose the possibility of summary judgment being entered in the bad faith rescission context. In this respect, the current case does not require us to break any new ground. Therefore, we reaffirm that summary judgment may be entered on a rescission claim when, based upon the evidence produced in discovery, the only reasonable inference a fact finder could draw is that the applicant's answers were knowingly false, or made in bad faith.*fn15
Babayan's bright-line approach would create a number of practical problems. First, the approach ignores that we have to consider each response in the application separately. Certainly, a number of questions might be similar in an insurance application, generating similar responses. In that respect, a complete (or partially complete) answer to one question may raise an issue of fact as to bad faith if the applicant answered a similar question differently. See Justofin, supra. However, if a question in an application inquires about a specific health disorder, and the record reveals that the applicant's answer was incontrovertibly false, the applicant should not be permitted to rely upon the fact that she provided information about a wholly unrelated ailment in response to another question in order to create a genuine issue of material fact as to bad faith. As examined in Section III.A.4 below, this is a principal failure of Babayan's approach. Second (and related to the first concern), Babayan's approach would relieve the insurance applicant from ever having to answer insurance applications completely and truthfully. Rather, the applicant could create a smokescreen by providing some evidence of unrelated disorders in response to a specific question and then argue, if the insurer attempted to rescind the policy, that the information provided was not false, but "incomplete." We decline to adopt a broad standard that would encourage insurance applicants to be less than forthcoming in their applications. Finally, Babayan's standard contains too expansive a concept of "completeness." It is imprudent to adopt a rule that signing a waiver for the insurance company to retrieve medical information absolves the applicant of the obligation to provide truthful information.*fn16
In summary, we do not find that Justofin upset the framework applied by courts considering Pennsylvania law in this context over the past sixty years. Thus, we will consider Babayan's appeal under the existing framework and will not adopt a bright-line approach that would engender more confusion than clarification.
Applying the framework to the specific false answers Babayan gave to Northwestern, we agree with Babayan that her answer to Question 14.K.2 did not constitute bad faith as a matter of law. Question 14.K.2 stated:
Babayan answered "no" to Question 14.K.2. Babayan subsequently acknowledged in her deposition testimony that her answer to Question 14.K.2 was false.
The issue, however, is whether a fact finder could draw a reasonable inference from the record that Babayan knew at the time she answered Question 14.K.2 that her answer was false, and/or was made in bad faith. A review of the record demonstrates that there is a genuine issue of material fact on this point. For example, Babayan also testified in her deposition that she had the following exchange with Gallina:
I recall I did talk about the slip and fall and the car accident. I remember I was embarrassed that I had two incidents within three months. I felt like I was a klutz or something. And I told him and he said to me, when was it? I said I can't remember right now. I think it was '96, '95. He said, that's far enough away. I don't think it will be a problem, but when you sign the medical waiver, they go get your records from your doctors and they'll find out that stuff.
From this evidence, it would not be unreasonable for a fact finder to infer that Babayan was not sure of the date of her accident. Taking Babayan's testimony as true, an inference can be drawn that Babayan relied upon Gallina's representation that the accident was "far enough away" that it did not have to be listed in the application. A fact finder could ultimately decide to reject Babayan's answer as implausible, but, based upon evidence in the record, it was inappropriate for the court to reach that conclusion at the summary judgment stage.
In contrast, the District Court correctly determined that Babayan's false answer to Question 33.k constituted bad faith as a matter of law. Based upon the detailed nature of Question 33.k, Babayan's response, and Babayan's deposition testimony, the only reasonable inference a fact finder could draw would be that the answer to Question 33.k was made in bad faith or with knowledge of its falsity.
In support of her argument that she produced sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether her answers were made in bad faith, Babayan points out that she disclosed: the name of her family doctor; that she had once been hospitalized overnight; that she suffered from Bell's Palsy within the past year; and that she was treated for pain relief as a result of a virus. The problem with Babayan's argument is that the information she provided cannot be reconciled with the actual false representation she made in filling out her application. The information she points to as sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact is irrelevant to the specific question at issue.
Question 33 (set forth in the footnote below), contains fifteen detailed and distinct categories of queries regarding the applicant's medical treatment over the past ten years.*fn17 In this context, it is clear that Question 33.k requires a specific answer as to whether the applicant was diagnosed with or treated for any of the specific disorders that are listed (arthritis, sciatica, gout, or any disorder of the muscles, bones, joints, spine, back, or neck). During a lengthy colloquy with Northwestern's counsel during her deposition Babayan expressly admitted each of the following facts:
* she sought treatment and care from five (5) physicians regarding knee and back pain on numerous occasions during the relevant ten-year time period listed on the application;
* she underwent at least five (5) magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI") tests on her knees and/or back, and she had an electromyogram ("EMG") because of chronic back problems;
* she was aware that these diagnostic tests revealed abnormalities in her knees and back;
* she was aware that she was diagnosed with a bulging disc in her back; and
* she received a cortisone injection in her knee to reduce constant pain.
Furthermore, the record contains a verified complaint Babayan filed in state court following her slip-and-fall accident in which she alleged that, as a result of her accident, she "was caused to sustain serious personal injuries to her knee and hip and surrounding areas." See Whiting v. Krassner, 391 F.3d 540, 543-44 (3d Cir. 2004) ("Judicial estoppel prevents parties from taking different positions on matters in litigation to gain advantage.").*fn18 In spite of these concessions, Babayan answered "no" to Question 33.k. She testified in her deposition that the question was unclear,*fn19 but that with her "new understanding" she agreed that her previous answers were "inaccurate." In addition, although Babayan conceded that she did not read her responses on the final application, she admitted that she certified her answers were truthful and accurate.
The fact that Babayan was hospitalized for one night for blood tests, received a prescription for pain relief as a result of a virus in January 2001, and missed six days of work with Bell's Palsy within the six months prior to her application is irrelevant to the question of whether she was diagnosed with or treated for "arthritis, sciatica, gout, or any disorder of the muscles, bones, joints, spine, back, or neck."*fn20 Neither is it relevant that Gallina may have told Babayan not to list the automobile accident on the application because it occurred far enough in the past.*fn21 Information regarding the accident is not "incomplete" as to the issue of whether Babayan was treated for or diagnosed with any of the specific disorders listed in Question 33.k. Rather, like the answer at issue in Burkert, Babayan's answer can be characterized as "frivolous" in the face of substantial evidence that she visited five different physicians on a number of occasions relating to problems with her knees and back, and that diagnostic tests confirmed that she had knee and back problems. On this information, the only reasonable inference a fact finder could draw is that Babayan answered "no" in bad faith or knowing that her answer was false.
Babayan's concept of "incompleteness" seems to be that if an applicant provides evidence of a certain medical problem, the applicant does not have to provide any other information in answering a question regarding a totally different type of medical problem in order to survive a motion for summary judgment. That argument is a non sequitur. For example, suppose Babayan, who checked "no" to a question asking whether she had "high blood pressure," took a daily prescription to control her high blood pressure. Would the fact that she disclosed that she had Bell's Palsy for six days over the past year be sufficient to support an inference that her answer to the blood pressure question was merely "incomplete" rather than knowingly false? Sound public policy counsels against embracing Babayan's concept of "incompleteness." See Orr v. Union Fidelity Life Ins. Co., 198 A.2d 431, 432-33 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1964) (holding that an answer describing only one of numerous injuries to a question asking applicant to list "any" injuries was not a truthful answer to a question on an insurance application). In the face of incontrovertible documentary evidence that she was treated on numerous occasions for back and knee pain during the relevant time period, Babayan cannot defeat Northwestern's motion for summary judgment by pointing to her disclosure of unrelated ailments. In this respect, the District Court did not err in finding that Babayan's answer to Question 33.k was made in bad faith as a matter of law and in entering summary judgment in favor of Northwestern on counts one and two of Northwestern's complaint.
B. Babayan's Breach of Contract Claim
Because the District Court correctly concluded that the disability insurance contract was void ab initio, the District Court did not err in granting Northwestern's motion for summary judgment as to Babayan's breach of contract claim. It is axiomatic that a breach of contract claim may not be maintained in the absence of a valid contract. See Reformed Church of Ascension v. Theodore Hooven & Sons, Inc., 764 A.2d 1106, 1109 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2000) (holding that a claim for breach of contract requires the existence of a contract, including its essential terms). Thus, the District Court properly dismissed count four of Babayan's complaint.
C. Babayan's Bad Faith Claim
Babayan's bad faith claim against Northwestern is premised primarily on the argument that Northwestern's "post-claim underwriting practices" constituted bad faith. We conclude that the District Court correctly determined that Northwestern was entitled to summary judgment on Babayan's bad faith claim.
The Pennsylvania statute governing bad faith insurance actions provides:
In an action arising under an insurance policy, if the court finds that the insurer has acted in bad faith toward the insured, the court may take all of the following actions:
(1) Award interest on the amount of the claim from the date the claim was made by the insured in an amount equal to the prime rate of interest plus 3%.
(2) Award punitive damages against the insurer.
(3) Assess court costs and attorney fees against the insurer.
42 PA. CONS. STAT. ANN. § 8371. The statute does not define the term "bad faith." We have predicted that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would define the term according to the definition set forth by the Pennsylvania Superior Court in Terletsky v. Prudential Property and Casualty Ins. Co., 649 A.2d 680 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1984). See Keefe v. Prudential Property and Cas. Ins. Co., 203 F.3d 218, 225 (3d Cir. 2000). There, the court adopted the following definition of "bad faith":
"Bad faith" on part of insurer is any frivolous or unfounded refusal to pay proceeds of a policy; it is not necessary that such refusal be fraudulent. For purposes of an action against an insurer for failure to pay a claim, such conduct imports a dishonest purpose and means a breach of a known duty (i.e., good faith and fair dealing), through some motive of self-interest or ill will; mere negligence or bad judgment is not bad faith.
Terletsky, 649 A.2d at 688 (quoting BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY 139 (6th ed. 1990)) (citations omitted).
Ultimately, in order to recover on a bad faith claim, the insured must prove: (1) that the insurer did not have a reasonable basis for denying benefits under the policy; and (2) that the insurer knew of or recklessly disregarded its lack of a reasonable basis in denying the claim. Keefe, 203 F.3d at 225. Courts have extended the concept of "bad faith" beyond an insured's denial of a claim in several limited areas. See W.V. Realty, Inc. v. Northern Ins. Co., 334 F.3d 306, 317-18 (3d Cir. 2003) (insurer's failure to follow internal guidelines evidence of bad faith); Bonenberger v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 791 A.2d 378, 381 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2002) (insurer's claims practice manual is relevant evidence in bad faith claim against insurer); O'Donnell ex rel. Mitro v. Allstate Ins., 734 A.2d 901 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999) (bad faith may extend to the misconduct of an insured during the pendency of litigation); Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Marty's Exp., Inc., 910 F. Supp. 221 (E.D. Pa. 1996) (bad faith may extend to an insurer's conduct in retrospectively rating and collecting premiums). The insured is required to meet its burden of proving "bad faith" by clear and convincing evidence. Terletsky, 649 A.2d at 688. Although the insurer's conduct need not be fraudulent, "mere negligence or bad judgment is not bad faith." Brown v. Progressive Ins. Co., 860 A.2d 493, 501 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2004).*fn22
The insured must ultimately show that "the insurer breached its duty of good faith through some motive of self-interest or ill will." Id. At the summary judgment stage, the insured's burden in opposing a summary judgment motion brought by the insurer is "commensurately high because the court must view the evidence presented in light of the substantive evidentiary burden at trial." Kosierowski v. Allstate Ins. Co., 51 F. Supp. 2d 583, 588 (E.D. Pa. 1999) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986)).
Babayan argues that we should predict that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would conclude that "post-claim underwriting" may constitute bad faith. Babayan concedes in her brief that there are no decisions interpreting Pennsylvania law that have extended bad faith claims to post-claim underwriting practices. Babayan, however, urges us to consider "the law of bad faith generally." Specifically, she directs us to consider a decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court, Lewis v. Equity National Life Ins., 637 So.2d 183 (Miss. 1994), and a law review article condemning the practice. See Thomas C. Cady & Georgia Lee Gates, Post Claim Underwriting, 102 W.Va. L. Rev. 809, 810 (2000) (concluding that post-claim underwriting is per se evidence of bad faith).*fn23
We need not determine whether the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would hold that the practice utilized by the insurer in Lewis constitutes bad faith. We note that the concept of "post-claim underwriting" itself is nebulous, particularly because it is difficult to draw a distinction between post-claim eligibility investigation and post-claim underwriting. For example, Pennsylvania law provides that it is not bad faith to conduct a thorough investigation into a questionable claim. See O'Donnell, 734 A.2d at 907-08 (noting the existence of "red flags" that prompted the investigation). See also New York Life Ins. Co. v. Johnson, 923 F.2d 279, 280 (3d Cir. 1991) (referencing period of contestability based upon material misrepresentations).*fn24 Babayan's concept of "post-claim underwriting" would usurp this general principal and prevent insurers from engaging in post-claim investigations, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence that an insured made a clear misrepresentation.
Moreover, Babayan's bad faith claim would not succeed even under the more demanding Mississippi test set forth in Lewis. The evidence is clear that Guss approved Babayan's policy after reviewing the application, non-medical questionnaire, and the paramedical questionnaire. Based upon Babayan's responses in the documents, including the medical information that she provided, Guss did not seek to obtain Babayan's medical records. Thus, Northwestern utilized Babayan's responses as "one method for screening out applicants who presented unacceptable risks." Wesley, 919 F. Supp. at 235. When Babayan brought her claim within the two-year contestability period,*fn25 an investigation was triggered under company policy. The fact that someone with the title of "underwriter" was involved in the investigatory process does not transform a permissible post-claim investigation into impermissible post-claim underwriting.*fn26 For these reasons, we conclude that the particular practice undertaken by Northwestern in this case did not constitute bad faith.*fn27 Accordingly, the District Court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Northwestern as to count one of Babayan's complaint.
D. Babayan's Negligence Claim
A claim for negligence under Pennsylvania law contains four elements: (1) a duty or obligation recognized by the law, requiring the actor to conform to a certain standard of conduct for the protection of others against unreasonable risks; (2) a failure to conform to the standard required; (3) a causal connection between the conduct and the resulting injury; and (4) actual loss or damage resulting in harm to the interests of another. In re TMI, 67 F.3d 1103, 1117 (3d Cir. 1995) (citations omitted). Babayan's negligence claim is premised on the allegation that "Ms. Babayan followed Mr. Gallina's instructions and did not advise [Northwestern] of her motor vehicle accident and slip and fall accident." Accepting Babayan's allegation as true, her negligence claim fails based upon our holding that Northwestern is entitled to rescission because of Babayan's bad faith response to Question 33.k. As a result, even if Babayan could establish that Gallina breached a duty*fn28 to advise Babayan to provide an accurate response to Question 14.K.2, Babayan cannot prove that Gallina's purported breach was the cause of her damages -- Northwestern's rescission of the insurance agreement. That rescission was based upon Question 33.k.
Babayan's assertion that Gallina instructed her not to put information about her prior medical history on her insurance application is not supported by the record.*fn29 The fact that Gallina allegedly told Babayan not to worry about the date of her accident on a question that inquired about motor vehicle accidents within the past five years is irrelevant to Babayan's response to a question asking her to list specific medical ailments she suffered within the past ten years. Thus, because there is no evidence that Gallina's alleged negligence caused Northwestern to rescind Babayan's policy, we will affirm the District Court's entry of summary judgment in favor of Gallina on Babayan's negligence claim at count three of her complaint. See Industrial Valley Bank & Trust Co. v. Dilks Agency, 751 F.2d 637, 640 (3d Cir. 1985) (an insurance customer must prove that broker's failure to exercise due care is the "direct cause of loss to his customer").*fn30
IV. Conclusion
Based upon the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Northwestern and Gallina.
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LATHROP – There's hundreds of homes built by Richland Communities west of Interstate 5 before the housing bust that Lathrop never collected $3.2 million in mandated city fees on to cover the cost of providing services to accommodate growth.
RIPON – Ripon Unified Superintendent Louise (Nan) Johnson would like to pay homage to her predecessor.
LATHROP – A cultural exchange program and the recognition of young outstanding professional men and women are two of the projects that the United Bacarreneos of America plan to pursue in 2012 to mark its 80th anniversary.
Early Manteca Portuguese families who were in California when it belonged to Spain is the subject of a talk Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Manteca Historical Society and Museum, 600 W. Yosemite Ave.
The Manteca Senior Center Dinner and a Show Event takes place Saturday, Aug. 27, at the center, 295 Cherry Lane.
RIPON - Manteca-French Camp residents Denise and John Holbrook have a special place in their hearts for local law enforcement officers.
Can Great Wolf Resorts and Big League Dreams provide the synergy to turn Manteca into a family recreation destination?
Four-year-old Madison Ford had the playground at Library Park to herself during the noon hour on Friday.
Bulletin staff reports
RIPON – The Ripon Police Department will have one less motorcycle on the road.
Cassandra Waggy by all measures is a solid young person pursuing the American Dream.
His organizational techniques have both enthralled and frustrated established Republican groups.
Jamie Smith, who attended East Union High School and graduated from Calla High in 2000, has been living in Texas for the last 11 years.
In the spring, the field on the north side of the Highway 120 Bypass at McKinley Avenue was a palette of purple colors amid forest green foliage. The color purple came from the giant thistle-like blossoms of thousands of artichokes that carpeted the fields which were once almond orchards belonging to retired Lathrop-Manteca farmer Frank Mendes.
Coming next week: The Manteca version of Carmageddon.
Page 575 of 930
The first rain of fall forecast for Friday and Sunday is expected to drop between a half and three-quarters of an inch on various parts ...
Music was an important part of Georgiann Rose's relationship with her mother after Alzheimer's took her memory away.
Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Ripon City Council in the Nov. 8 election.
Sonny Dhalwial isn't afraid to stand by his decision to approve the Pilot/Flying J Truck Stop.
Ripon Unified - unlike Manteca Unified - charges for to and from school bus service.
The squealing sounds of kids at play filled the air at Library Park.
The first roundabout on a major Manteca street as well as the biggest subdivision ever built east of Highway 99 is moving closer to breaking ...
The Lathrop City Council already gave its blessing to use tax dollars to install a traffic light at Harlan Road and Stonebridge Lane and renovate ...
Carter's Pet Mart - voted Stockton's best pet store for the past 15 consecutive years - is expanding to Manteca.
St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Ripon will celebrate its big event of the year.
Dale Kuil knows most Manteca city residents don't give much thought to the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.
Stephanie Hobbs is keeping her fingers crossed that the bleachers at Stouffer Field will be completed in time for Rina's Run in May.
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Romans 4:16-18 (KJV) 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
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Recap: The Sole Academy Sneaker Carnival
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The Manila Auto Salon 2015
Since 2006, the Manila Auto Salon has gathered countless Filipino car enthusiasts. This year's show was held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia from November 12-15, 2015. Check out some of my picks during the display. With the number of spectators and no media-exclusive day shoots, taking photos of the
The Spirit-Rei Miyabi S13
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Nakai-San's lair, the RAUH-Welt Begriff headquarters
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THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Time Warner's Merger Payoff
Published: December 31, 1990
(Page 2 of 2)
The best examples of true cross-media ventures at Time Warner have been quite small. "The synergistic things happening between the two companies run from the monster level to the mundane, and the mundane things are the most cost-effective and efficient," said Sanford E. Reisenbach, the executive vice president of marketing and planning at Warner Brothers.
Warner Home Video included a subscription offer for Entertainment Weekly, Time's new magazine, in the videotape release of the film "Lethal Weapon 2," and the publishing division is enclosing promotions for Warner movies with its magazine subscription billings.
The greatest benefits from the merger have been realized through Time Warner Direct, which oversees the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Quality Paperback Book Club, as well as the television offers for parapsychology books and other ventures that sell by mail or telephone. Promotion for 'Memphis Belle'
Access to Time Warner's data base of 13 million direct-marketing customers enabled Warner Brothers to send tens of thousands of promotions for "Memphis Belle," a Warner film about the crew of a World War II bomber, to many of the 550,000 people who had bought war books or movies, Mr. Reisenbach said.
Warner has also been the source of numerous new products promoted by Time's direct-marketing operation, including a videotape series featuring such Warner Brothers properties as World War II movies, Clint Eastwood films and Looney Tunes cartoons, said Paul R. Stewart, the chairman of Time Life Entertainment.
The cartoon characters are also featured in a direct-mail book series for children, which another unit, Time Life for Children, started test-marketing two months ago.
"We'd never done cartoons in home video before, and it wouldn't have occurred to us if we hadn't gotten together with Warner and understood them," said Christopher T. Linen, the president and chief executive of Time Warner Direct. Some Disappointments
The effort to create cross-media ventures has not been without disappointments. One letdown has been "Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones," a biography of the musician-producer that was done as a film by Warner Brothers, a cassette tape and compact disk by Reprise Records and a book by Warner Books, all of which were produced by Courtney Sale Ross, the wife of Time Warner's co-chairman, Steven J. Ross. One analyst who insisted on anonymity estimated that the company spent $4.5 million producing the movie and $1 million advertising it, for a return of only $250,000 in film rentals.
Nonetheless, "the project has a value beyond the box office," said Aubrey Balkind, the president of Frankfurt, Gips, Balkind, the New York ad agency and design firm that created the book, did the film's titles and ads and produced a music video.
The benefit appears to have been only the opportunity to experiment, however expensively, at crossing corporate lines. The company's cable subsidiary offered time on several of its systems for advertising for "Listen Up." In turn, the cable companies were able to host premieres of the film on behalf of charities in Houston, Kansas City, Mo., and other cities. Executives said the events had public-relations value, particularly with local regulators who wield enormous control over cable franchises.
Time Warner executives say that they generally do not receive discounts when they buy products or advertising space and time from other divisions. Nonetheless, there are financial benefits from the internal deals. Because money is being spent inside the corporation, some divisions are authorized to spend more on promotions for other divisions' products, Mr. Linen said. 'The Jury Is Still Out'
Many media experts remain cautious about the eventual profitability of such projects. "To some extent, the jury is still out," said Steven Rattner, a general partner and head of the media department at Lazard Freres & Company, the investment firm. "This is still a relatively new concept that has yet to be fully tested. Thus far, the impact on the bottom line is difficult to quantify."
Beyond the Chrysler deal, Time Warner executives are refusing to comment on how much revenue the company has gained from synergies in its first year. They concede the amount is small, but maintain that money comes second, after the new methodology.
"This today is not a mammoth part of Time Warner's profit picture," Mr. Elliman of the Time Inc. Magazine Company said. "So maybe the critics are right. But we are blurring lines, and this company was never run that way before."
Photos: A videotape series featuring such Warner properties as Clint Eastwood films and Looney Tunes cartoons is being promoted by Time's direct-marketing unit. The Time Warner cross-media ventures "run from the monster level to the mundane," said Sanford E. Reisenbach, right, executive vice president at Warner Brothers. (Time Warner Inc.) (pg. 29); Donald M. Elliman Jr., executive vice president of the Time Inc. Magazine Company, says Warner's operations "have a little less applicability to advertising than do the old Time Inc. elements." (Time Warner Inc.); Time Warner has had some cross-media disappointments, including a book and compact disk on the musician Quincy Jones, which were produced by the wife of the company's co-chairman. (The New York Times) (pg. 34)


text: On vacation..came for some pasta before the Pensacola marathon...delicious!!! Green olive vinaigrette on house salad...mmmm!! Pasta yummo! Italian wine great ! Excellent service! And to top it off, had a table visit from Steve (owner/mgr?), who told us about their incredible bread pudding, which he then had a complimentary piece of, sent to our table! Nicely done!! Loved it all!!... More


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The TX-RZ710 and RZ810 home cinema amplifiers have been designed to be just as competent with movies as they are with music.Mon, 04 Apr 2016, 02:28pm
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We don't see many stereo receivers these days, but Onkyo has unveiled two new models, the £549 TX-8150 (above) and the £449 TX-8130. It has also launched a no-frills multichannel AV receiver, the £199 TX-SR252, with 4K compatibility.Wed, 02 Sep 2015, 12:39pm
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Someone tell me who this is please
vote for me
It just some great ass shots to Alissa Black's soon to come song.
nice ass
phat bbw butt
this our epic journey to our friends house
In The Ass
Right on street -he had no problems!!!
april ,fools ,day ,prank
funny video that we did
Dirty D gets your name, yes, your name tattooed on his ass with a homemade ...
The Gallstone Cleanse completed! Finished results, actual gallstones that w...
My buddy assin a random restaraunt


text:
Fuse Creativity System Project Guide: Fun Party Themes, Idea for Handmade Cards, And More Paper Crafts from Fiskars
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Latest Comments
"I saw this pattern and thought it would be great to go in my gift tins for my homemade spa sets for Christmas. I started the pattern but kept having trouble with the puff stitch. When I try to pull through the loop the hook gets stuck and pull a strand or two out making it look un-neat. Is there a way to prevent this? Could it be the yarn I am using?"
"I love this pattern for making dishcloths! It is so simple and it's so easy to remember. It makes a great,durable dishcloth. Does anyone tried this pattern with that new yarn that is made for making dishcloths? I think it might be a rayon blend. I'm going to try it next time I need dishcloths."
"This is a great beginner project, it was easy to follow and gave great instruction. I was able to work up several of these for co-workers who thought it was so cute. I am going to make several more for my home for company to use when they come over and have coffee."
"These spiral beaded trees are so pretty! For extra sparkle, I am going to place a battery tea light candle in the center of the spiral. Several of these trees would look great placed within a strand of twinkle or small rice lights on a mantle or table center piece!"
"That's a great idea!"
Picket Fence Holder
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Here's a project with multiple uses! This Picket Fence Holder from Terry Ricioli makes unique napkin rings and unique votive candle holders! This cute and versatile project is great for wedding favors or spring decor!
- Picket fence
- Craft wire
- Acrylic beads
- Glass votive candle holder and votive candle
- Wire cutters
- Pliers
- Paint color of your choice
- Paintbrush
- Cut the picket fence where it meets when wrapped around the votive.
- Press the wire ends against the pickets with the pliers.
- Paint the fence in your favorite spring color.
- Cut a piece of wire about 8" long and leaving a tail, wrap it around a picket on one end of the fence and then the other end to hold the fence in a circle. Add beads to the ends of the wire and curl the ends of the wire. Craft wire is easy to curl using a pencil or a dowel, or you can use round nose pliers. Cut another piece of wire and make another wrap in the same way to secure the ends together.
- Continue the process varying the lengths of the wire and placement on the fence until it's covered as much as you like, adding beads as you go. Slide it over the votive.
- Here's a set in green. You can also use this design as a napkin ring. Or, you could put it around a small vase or flower pot.
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Jan 06, 2012
I think they are adorable. I plan on making the candle wrap and making matching matching napkin rings. Plus a name card holder
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