Andrews v. Allstate Ins. Co.

• Citation: 280 N.J.Super. 198,654 A.2d 1039
• Parties: Anne ANDREWS, Plaintiff, v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant. (Civil), Monmouth County
• Decision Date: 21 October 1994
• Court: Superior Court of New Jersey

Page 198

280 N.J.Super. 198

654 A.2d 1039

Anne ANDREWS, Plaintiff, v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant.

Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division,

(Civil), Monmouth County.

Decided Oct. 21, 1994.

Sidney I. Sawyer, for plaintiff (Sawyer, Gale & Laughlin, attorneys).

Stephen Foley, Jr., for defendant (Campbell, Foley, Lee, Murphy & Cernigliaro, attorneys).

ROBERT W. O'HAGAN, J.S.C.

Plaintiff, Anne Andrews (Andrews or plaintiff), filed a complaint and order to show cause seeking confirmation of an arbitrator's award pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:24-7, along with the payment of interest on the award and counsel fees relating to this action.

Defendant, Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate or defendant), opposes Andrews' claim for interest and counsel fees, arguing that when the plaintiff sought arbitration she failed to demand interest and consequently is barred from now making such claim.

A brief statement of the facts is set forth to crystalize the issues in dispute.

On December 12, 1991, Andrews was injured in a motor vehicle accident. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:6A-1 to -35, she subsequently made a claim for reimbursement of dental expenses. Allstate apparently paid some of such expenses but declined to pay others for reasons not here pertinent. As allowed by her insurance policy, Andrews filed for binding arbitration seeking payment of dental bills. N.J.S.A. 39:6A-5c. On September 23, 1993, the arbitrator initially resolved the issue in her favor, requiring Allstate to make payment of certain dental bills and counsel fees incurred by the plaintiff. Each side thereafter, in a timely fashion and pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association, sought clarification and correction of the arbitrator's award. Andrews, in that respect, maintained the arbitrator failed to consider bills for dental treatment beginning on December 12, 1991, through January 10, 1992. Allstate argued the arbitrator had erred in making an award for prospective bridgework that had not yet been performed. This aspect of the award constituted a major part of the arbitration award. Thereafter, on November 29, 1993, the arbitrator rendered a modified award reconfirming the award for the bridgework to be performed in the future and recalculating the award to include the bills incurred between the date of the accident and January 10, 1992. When Allstate did not pay the award, this complaint and order to show cause were filed on February 23, 1994. Thereafter, on March 3, 1994, defendant made payment in full of each item awarded by the arbitrator. Acceptance of this payment was understood by each side to be without prejudice to plaintiff's claim for interest on the award and counsel fees for this application. Plaintiff seeks interest on the entire award of dental fees (inclusive of the prospective charge for the bridgework), calculated from June 1, 1992. Plaintiff also made a claim for post award interest dating from the modified arbitration award.

It is well settled that a carrier may not delay in making payment and that the court which confirms an arbitration award shall include in its judgment of confirmation interest from the date of the award. Ukrainian Nat'l Urban Renewal Corp. v. Joseph L. Muscarelle, Inc., 151 N.J.Super. 386, 376 A.2d 1299 (App.Div.1977). In this case, the court determines post award interest is allowed but limited to the services which have heretofore been performed.

The remaining issue concerns pre-award interest. Resolution of this dispute requires analysis of two competing policies, each of which has substantial merit and is well established in the law.

The Legislature, when adopting the no-fault statute, mandated prompt payment of medical bills incurred as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile collision regardless of fault. Wilson v. Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund Board, 109 N.J. 271, 279, 536 A.2d 752 (1988). Indeed the statute requires payment of interest when the carrier fails to make payment within a prescribed time. N.J.S.A. 39:6A-5b and Kowaleski v. Allstate Ins. Co., 238 N.J.Super. 210, 214-15, 569 A.2d 815 (App.Div.1990). This policy requiring prompt payment is so compelling that even a good faith reason to question the bills does not obviate the payment of interest where the carrier is found responsible on the underlying claim. Brewster v. Keystone Ins., 238 N.J.Super. 580, 584, 570 A.2d 468 (App.Div.1990). Moreover, settlement by the carrier in certain circumstances does not affect the legal obligation to pay interest. Id. at 585, 570 A.2d 468. The legislative purpose in adopting the no-fault statute was to achieve a prompt and fair resolution without the need to subject the insured to a protracted legal battle. Fitzgerald v. Wright, 155 N.J.Super. 494, 497-98, 382 A.2d 1162 (App.Div.1978).

On the other hand, arbitration of disputes is favored in the law. County College of Morris Staff Ass'n v. County College of Morris, 100 N.J. 383, 390-391, 495 A.2d 865 (1985). Every doubt is to be resolved in favor of the validity of the award. Jefferson Township v. Toro Dev. Corp., 199 N.J.Super. 459, 464, 489 A.2d 1212 (App.Div.1955).

The court's role in reviewing arbitration awards is tightly circumscribed. N.J.S.A. 2A:24-8; Shahmoon Indus. Inc. v. United Steelworkers of America AFL-CIO, 263 F.Supp. 10, 13-14 (D.C.N.J.1966); Morris Staff Ass'n, supra, 100 N.J. at 390-91, 495 A.2d 865. The court does not have authority to overturn or modify an award merely because it would have decided the matter differently. Perini Corp. v. Greate Bay Hotel & Casino, Inc., 129 N.J. 479, 496-497, 610 A.2d 364 (1992). Nor may a court overturn the award because it offends the court's sense of what is right or proper under the circumstances. Rather, the court may overturn or modify the arbitrator's award only in circumstances where the arbitrator exceeded his authority, Zervos v. Freedman Prop. Ltd., 223 N.J.Super. 599, 603, 539 A.2d 336 (App.Div.1987), or where it is clear on the face of the award a mistake or miscalculation was made. Faherty v. Faherty, 97 N.J. 99, 112, 477 A.2d 1257 (1984); City of Atlantic City v. Atlantic City Firefighters Local 198, IAFF, 234 N.J.Super. 596, 561 A.2d 307 (Ch.Div.1989) . Certainly, where it is established that the award is the product of corruption fraud or partiality, the award may be overturned or modified. Perini, supra, 129 N.J. at 510, 610 A.2d 364. In circumstances where it is clear the arbitrator did not make a final, definite, and mutual award, the award may be modified. Id. at 515, 516, 610 A.2d 364.

The reviewing court must understand that submission to arbitration is contractual in nature. Local 462, Int'l Bros. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers of America v. Charles Schaefer & Sons, 223 N.J.Super. 520, 525-26, 539 A.2d 295 (App.Div.1988). It is not for the court to make a better contract for either of the parties. Id. at 526-27, 539 A.2d 295. Therefore, in only the most unusual of circumstances may the court overturn or modify an arbitrator's award. Morris Staff Ass'n., supra, 100 N.J. at 390, 495 A.2d 865. Once a fair result has been achieved consistent with the parties' contract, the law has an overriding interest in finality. Bocelli v. Hanover Metro Ins. Co., 219 N.J.Super. 6, 8, 529 A.2d 997 (App.Div.1987). Finally, our system of jurisprudence discourages the piecemeal litigation of controversies. State, by State Highway Comm'r v. Speare, 86 N.J.Super. 565, 584-85, 207 A.2d 552 (App.Div.), certif. denied, 45 N.J. 589, 214 A.2d 28 (1965). It is necessary to balance these competing policies to determine which controls. There is no question in this case but that plaintiff failed to request the payment of interest prior to the filing of this complaint and order to show cause. The arbitrator was, therefore, never requested to rule on the issue of interest.

The "New Jersey No Fault Automobile Arbitration Rules," Section 6, provides:

If any party wishes to make any new or different claim, such claim shall be made in writing and filed with the AAA and a copy thereof mailed to the other party. After the arbitrator is appointed, no new or different claim may be submitted except with the consent of the arbitrator.

[New Jersey No-Fault Automobile Arbitration Rules, American Arbitration Association, Rule 29, p. 3 (1992).]

On the other hand, there is no doubt the arbitrator in rendering his decision must consider the no-fault statute and its applicable policy provisions. New Jersey No-Fault Automobile Arbitration Rules, American Arbitration Association, Rule 29, pp. 9-10 (1992).

Clearly, therefore, had plaintiff demanded payment of interest, the arbitrator, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:6A-5, was obliged to award interest if plaintiff prevailed on the merits. Brewster v. Keystone Ins., supra, 238 N.J.Super. at 584-86, 570 A.2d 468. In that circumstance, if an arbitrator failed to award interest, a reviewing court would be required to modify the...