CACI No. 2335. Bad Faith - Advice of Counsel

Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions (2023 edition)

Download PDF
Bg5c3
2335.Bad Faith - Advice of Counsel
[Name of defendant] did not breach the obligation of good faith and fair
dealing if it reasonably relied on the advice of its lawyer. [Name of
defendant]’s reliance was reasonable if:
1. [Name of defendant] acted in reliance on the opinion and advice of
its lawyer;
2. The lawyer’s advice was based on full disclosure by [name of
defendant] of all relevant facts that it knew, or could have
discovered with reasonable effort;
3. [Name of defendant] reasonably believed the advice of the lawyer
was correct; [and]
4. In relying on its lawyer’s advice, [name of defendant] gave at least
as much consideration to [name of plaintiff]’s interest as it gave its
own interest; [and]
[5. [Name of defendant] was willing to reconsider and act accordingly
when it determined that the lawyer’s advice was incorrect.]
New September 2003
Directions for Use
The instructions in this series assume the plaintiff is the insured and the defendant is
the insurer. The party designations may be changed if appropriate to the facts of the
case.
The “advice of counsel defense” is not a true affirmative defense, but rather negates
an essential element of the insured’s cause of action for bad faith. (See State Farm
Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Superior Court (1991) 228 Cal.App.3d 721,
725-726 [279 Cal.Rptr. 116].)
Advice of counsel is irrelevant, however, when an insurer denies coverage and for
that reason refuses a reasonable settlement offer. (See, e.g., Johansen v. California
State Auto. Asso. Inter-Insurance Bureau (1975) 15 Cal.3d 9, 16 [123 Cal.Rptr. 288,
538 P.2d 744] [“an insurers ‘good faith,’ though erroneous, belief in noncoverage
affords no defense to liability flowing from the insurers refusal to accept a
reasonable settlement offer”].)
Sources and Authority
“An insurer may defend itself against allegations of bad faith and malice in
claims handling with evidence the insurer relied on the advice of competent
counsel. The defense of advice of counsel is offered to show the insurer had
‘proper cause’ for its actions even if the advice it received is ultimately unsound
1401
Bg5c4
or erroneous.” (State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., supra, 228
Cal.App.3d at p. 725, internal citations omitted.)
“If the insurer has exercised good faith in all of its dealings under its policy, and
if the settlement which it has rejected has been fully and fairly considered and
has been based upon an honest belief that the insurer could defeat the action or
keep any possible judgment within the limits of the policy, and its judgments are
based on a fair review of the evidence after reasonable diligence in ascertaining
the facts, and upon sound legal advice, a court should not subject the insurer to
further liability if it ultimately turns out that its judgment is a mistaken judgment
. . . .” (State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., supra, 228 Cal.App.3d at
p. 725, internal citation omitted.)
“[I]t is a complete defense to a claim of extreme and outrageous conduct when
the evidence shows (1) the defendant acted on the opinion and advice of
counsel; (2) counsel’s advice was based on full disclosure of all the facts by
defendant or the advice was initiated by counsel based on counsel’s familiarity
with the case; and (3) the defendant’s reliance on the advice of counsel was in
good faith.” (Melorich Builders, Inc. v. Superior Court (1984) 160 Cal.App.3d
931, 936-937 [207 Cal.Rptr. 47] [intentional infliction of emotional distress
action].)
“Good faith reliance on counsel’s advice simply negates allegations of bad faith
and malice as it tends to show the insurer had proper cause for its actions.
Because advice of counsel is directed to an essential element of a plaintiff’s
cause of action, it does not constitute new matter and need not be specifically
alleged.” (State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.,supra, 228 Cal.App.3d
at. pp. 725-726.)
“An insurers receipt of and reliance on [the written opinion of its legal counsel]
is a relevant circumstance to be considered on the issue of its alleged bad faith.”
(Mock v. Mich. Millers Mut. Ins. Co. (1992) 4 Cal.App.4th 306, 326, fn. 20 [5
Cal.Rptr.2d 594].)
“Exemplary damages are not recoverable against a defendant who acts in good
faith and under the advice of counsel.” (Fox v. Aced (1957) 49 Cal.2d 381, 385
[317 P.2d 608].)
“A good faith belief in noncoverage is not relevant to a determination of the
reasonableness of a settlement offer.” (Samson v. Transamerica Insurance Co.
(1981) 30 Cal.3d 220, 243 [178 Cal.Rptr. 343, 636 P.2d 32], internal citation
omitted.)
Secondary Sources
Croskey et al., California Practice Guide: Insurance Litigation, Ch. 12D-G, Insurers
Reliance on Advice of Counsel, ¶¶ 12:1248-12:1260 (The Rutter Group)
2 California Liability Insurance Practice: Claims & Litigation (Cont.Ed.Bar) General
Principles of Contract and Bad Faith Actions, §§ 24.52-24.55
2 California Uninsured Motorist Law, Ch. 21, Defending an Uninsured Motorist
CACI No. 2335 INSURANCE LITIGATION
1402
Bg5c5
Claim, §§ 21.20, 21.31 (Matthew Bender)
6 Levy et al., California Torts, Ch. 82, Claims and Disputes Under Insurance
Policies, § 82.55 (Matthew Bender)
INSURANCE LITIGATION CACI No. 2335
1403

© Judicial Council of California.