Cynthia Allocco v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co

MEMORANDUM

This case involves two consolidated appeals by plaintiff-appellant Cynthia Allocco stemming from her diversity suit against defendant-appellee Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“Met Life”). First, Al-locco appeals the district court’s decision granting summary judgment to Met Life on her bad faith tort claim. Second, she appeals the district court’s order granting Met Life $30,928.40 in attorneys’ fees under Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 12-341.01. Because the parties are familiar with the factual and procedural history of this case, we do not recount additional facts except as necessary to explain the decision.

We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Broussard v. Univ. of Cal., 192 F.3d 1252, 1255 (9th Cir.1999). We review the award of attorneys’ fees for abuse of discretion. Velarde v. PACE Membership Warehouse, Inc., 105 F.3d 1313, 1318 (9th Cir.1997). Jurisdiction is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment on the bad faith claim and reverse the award of attorneys’ fees.

1. The bad faith tort claim

We affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment to Met Life on Allocco’s bad faith…