United States Ninth Circuit

Insurer's bad faith interpretation of "unemployed" status in a disability income insurance policy, and inadequate investigation into the insured's claim, can give rise to a bad faith action; voluntary dismissal of a breach of contract claim does not preclude appeal of ruling on bad faith claim.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/18/2001
• Decided 05/22/2002
• Published 05/22/2002

Judges

• FISHER, Circuit Judge., Before: BROWNING, FERNANDEZ and FISHER, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Stanley K. Jacobs and Thomas F. Borcher, Jacobs, Jacobs & Rosenberg, Los Angeles, CA, for the plaintiff-appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Margaret Levy and Becky J. Belke, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for the defendant-appellee.