{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:99-f-4th-882","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:99-f-4th-882)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-10-20","fingerprint":"ewai:us:49b4aa","proof":"sha256:69d347a6797c20f4bd7002e75c0d32d28ec4a3939e6475f2f5cbc4abf32cbab3","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","publisher":"NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal","terms":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","item":{"schema_version":"1.0.0","id":"us:99-f-4th-882","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","brand":{"product":"NovaCopilot","platform":"ExploreWorldAI","infrastructure":"ExploreWorld Legal","infrastructure_url":"legal.exploreworldai.com","legal_entity":"Valkiv Ventures AB","permanent_url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot","source":"Source: NovaCopilot","powered_by":"Powered by NovaCopilot","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor"},"sections":[{"title":"RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"File Name: 24a0096p.06","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"KAREN FROHN, Individually and on behalf of all others","paragraphs":["para_7","para_8","para_9","para_10","para_11","para_12","para_13","para_14","para_15","para_16","para_17","para_18","para_19","para_20","para_21"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530","paragraphs":["para_23","para_24"]},{"title":"Argued: February 1, 2024","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Decided and Filed: April 29, 2024","paragraphs":["para_27","para_28"]},{"title":"COUNSEL","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"ARGUED: Todd B. Naylor, GOLDENBERG SCHNEIDER L.P.A., Cincinnati, Ohio, for","paragraphs":["para_31","para_32","para_33","para_34","para_35","para_36","para_37"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 2","paragraphs":["para_39"]},{"title":"OPINION","paragraphs":["para_41"]},{"title":"MATHIS, Circuit Judge. Karen Frohn cared for her husband, Greg Frohn, during their","paragraphs":["para_43","para_44","para_45","para_46","para_47"]},{"title":"As Karen’s case progressed, the parties made several motions relevant here. First, Karen","paragraphs":["para_49","para_50","para_51","para_52","para_53","para_54","para_55","para_56","para_57"]},{"title":"From their marriage in 2002 until Greg’s death in September 2018, Karen drove and","paragraphs":["para_59","para_60"]},{"title":"Greg to his medical appointments so that she could “know what was going on with [her]","paragraphs":["para_62","para_63","para_64"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 3","paragraphs":["para_66","para_67","para_68","para_69","para_70","para_71","para_72"]},{"title":"Greg’s Liver Function Abnormality. As Greg’s primary care physician, Dr. Budke","paragraphs":["para_74","para_75","para_76","para_77","para_78"]},{"title":"In addition to routinely monitoring Greg’s liver function through tests like this, and","paragraphs":["para_80","para_81","para_82","para_83","para_84"]},{"title":"Take her June 2014 call to Dr. Budke’s office, for example, where she asked for more","paragraphs":["para_86","para_87","para_88"]},{"title":"PageID 1216–17. Karen testified that she did not remember having any discussions about her","paragraphs":["para_90","para_91","para_92"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 4","paragraphs":["para_94"]},{"title":"Greg’s Depression. As his primary care physician, Dr. Budke also treated Greg for","paragraphs":["para_96","para_97","para_98"]},{"title":"2015, 2017, and 2018 indicate he was taking Cymbalta. Karen testified that she remembered","paragraphs":["para_100"]},{"title":"By at least 2013, Greg suffered from chronic neck and back pain, causing his mental","paragraphs":["para_102","para_103","para_104","para_105","para_106"]},{"title":"Several records indicate that Greg became depressed after losing his job and due to the","paragraphs":["para_108","para_109"]},{"title":"R. 50-14, PageID 1225. In 2017, the Frohns appealed a denial of Greg’s social security","paragraphs":["para_111","para_112","para_113"]},{"title":"In January 2018, Karen applied to Globe for life insurance on Greg. The insurance","paragraphs":["para_115"]},{"title":"1. Is the Proposed Insured currently disabled due to illness . . . ?","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"2. In the past 3 years, has the Proposed Insured been diagnosed or","paragraphs":["para_118"]},{"title":"(a) Cancer, coronary artery disease, or any disease or disorder","paragraphs":["para_120"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 5","paragraphs":["para_122","para_123","para_124","para_125"]},{"title":"3. Does the Proposed Insured have any chronic illness or condition","paragraphs":["para_127","para_128","para_129"]},{"title":"After Karen submitted the application, a Globe underwriting representative contacted her","paragraphs":["para_131","para_132","para_133","para_134","para_135","para_136","para_137","para_138","para_139"]},{"title":"Under the heading “DEATH BENEFIT PAYABLE,” the Policy provides that Globe:","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Will pay the proceeds of this policy to the Beneficiary when We receive due proof","paragraphs":["para_142","para_143"]},{"title":"R. 53-14, PageID 2412. Under the heading “THE CONTRACT,” the Policy states:","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Read Your policy carefully. This policy is a legal contract. The entire contract is","paragraphs":["para_146","para_147","para_148"]},{"title":"Id. at 2414. And under the heading “INCONTESTABILITY,” the Policy reads:","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Unless You do not pay the premiums due, We cannot contest this policy after it","paragraphs":["para_151","para_152"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 6","paragraphs":["para_154","para_155","para_156","para_157"]},{"title":"Greg died on September 26, 2018, within the Policy’s contestability period. Around","paragraphs":["para_159","para_160"]},{"title":"Release of Health Information Pursuant to HIPAA,” a “Physician’s Statement,” and the","paragraphs":["para_162","para_163"]},{"title":"Dr. Budke completed Greg’s death certificate and the Physician’s Statement. On the","paragraphs":["para_165","para_166"]},{"title":"Karen also completed and signed the Authorization for Release. The Authorization","paragraphs":["para_168","para_169","para_170","para_171"]},{"title":"2018. This letter explained to Karen that because Greg’s “death occurred within the 2-year","paragraphs":["para_173","para_174","para_175"]},{"title":"But the record reflects that Karen, without any request from Globe, contacted TriHealth","paragraphs":["para_177","para_178","para_179","para_180"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 7","paragraphs":["para_182"]},{"title":"Globe and that TriHealth had complied “[t]wice now.” R. 61-1, PageID 3296–97. She also","paragraphs":["para_184"]},{"title":"Ultimately, Globe denied Karen’s claim. Globe explained that Greg’s medical records","paragraphs":["para_186","para_187","para_188","para_189"]},{"title":"In August 2019, Karen sued Globe, individually and on behalf of a putative class of","paragraphs":["para_191","para_192"]},{"title":"As the case progressed, Globe requested additional medical records from Karen. In","paragraphs":["para_194","para_195","para_196","para_197","para_198","para_199","para_200","para_201","para_202"]},{"title":"Thereafter, Globe moved for summary judgment, arguing that it was entitled to rescind","paragraphs":["para_204","para_205","para_206","para_207","para_208"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 8","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"With its order on Globe’s motion for summary judgment, the district court also “imposed","paragraphs":["para_211","para_212","para_213","para_214","para_215"]},{"title":"In the end, the district court published its order on Globe’s motion for summary judgment","paragraphs":["para_217","para_218","para_219","para_220","para_221","para_222","para_223","para_224","para_225"]},{"title":"This action is premised on diversity of jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2), and the","paragraphs":["para_227","para_228","para_229"]},{"title":"Did Karen voluntarily waive the physician-patient privilege? Ohio Revised Code","paragraphs":["para_231","para_232","para_233","para_234","para_235","para_236","para_237"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 9","paragraphs":["para_239","para_240","para_241","para_242","para_243","para_244","para_245","para_246","para_247","para_248","para_249"]},{"title":"A person acts voluntarily when “the decision is one’s own choice.” State v. Brunson, 218","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"N.E.3d 765, 776 (Ohio 2022) (citation omitted); see also Chadwick v. Barba Lou, Inc., 431","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"N.E.2d 660, 662 n.2 (Ohio 1982) (defining “voluntary” as “proceeding . . . from one’s own","paragraphs":["para_253","para_254","para_255","para_256"]},{"title":"The Ohio Supreme Court defines “waiver” as “a voluntary relinquishment of a known","paragraphs":["para_258","para_259","para_260","para_261"]},{"title":"Karen voluntarily waived Greg’s physician-patient privilege by signing the Authorization","paragraphs":["para_263","para_264","para_265","para_266"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 10","paragraphs":["para_268","para_269","para_270","para_271"]},{"title":"More to the point, the record demonstrates that Karen did not hesitate to disclose Greg’s","paragraphs":["para_273","para_274","para_275","para_276","para_277","para_278","para_279"]},{"title":"First, Karen argues that Globe had no right to request the medical-records release before","paragraphs":["para_281","para_282","para_283","para_284","para_285","para_286"]},{"title":"We must presume that Karen knew of her rights under the Policy. In Ohio, the “parties to","paragraphs":["para_288","para_289"]},{"title":"N.E.2d 741, 745 (Ohio 2007). When Globe asked Karen to sign the medical-records release","paragraphs":["para_291","para_292","para_293","para_294","para_295"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 11","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Karen “knew of [her] right to assert an argument or defense.” See Gembarski, 134 N.E.3d at","paragraphs":["para_298"]},{"title":"Karen thus waived her contractual rights. As mentioned above, “[a] waiver is a voluntary","paragraphs":["para_300","para_301","para_302","para_303","para_304","para_305"]},{"title":"Undisputed evidence shows Karen acted inconsistently with her right under the Policy to","paragraphs":["para_307","para_308","para_309","para_310","para_311","para_312","para_313","para_314"]},{"title":"Second, Karen argues that a finding that she waived her husband’s physician-patient","paragraphs":["para_316","para_317","para_318","para_319"]},{"title":"1999) (quoting MacDonald v. Clinger, 84 A.D.2d 482, 487 (N.Y. App. Div. 1982)). But within","paragraphs":["para_321","para_322","para_323","para_324"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 12","paragraphs":["para_326"]},{"title":"Did the district court err by denying, in part, Karen’s motion for a protective order?","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Karen sought a protective order to prevent Globe from obtaining information about Greg’s","paragraphs":["para_329"]},{"title":"The district court denied in part Karen’s motion. Frohn, 2020 WL 13832151, at *1. Finding","paragraphs":["para_331","para_332","para_333","para_334"]},{"title":"The district court reached this decision after considering whether Karen voluntarily","paragraphs":["para_336","para_337","para_338","para_339","para_340","para_341","para_342","para_343","para_344","para_345","para_346","para_347","para_348","para_349","para_350","para_351","para_352","para_353","para_354"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 13","paragraphs":["para_356","para_357","para_358","para_359"]},{"title":"45 C.F.R. § 164.508(b)(5). That provision states:","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"An individual may revoke an authorization provided under this section at any","paragraphs":["para_362"]},{"title":"(i) The covered entity has taken action in reliance thereon; or","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(ii) If the authorization was obtained as a condition of","paragraphs":["para_365","para_366","para_367"]},{"title":"The general rule of § 164.508 that requires authorization applies to “covered entit[ies].”","paragraphs":["para_369","para_370","para_371","para_372","para_373","para_374","para_375","para_376","para_377","para_378","para_379","para_380"]},{"title":"What is more, Karen has not identified what documents, if any, her revocation should","paragraphs":["para_382","para_383"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 14","paragraphs":["para_385"]},{"title":"Did Globe have a right to rescind the Policy? Karen waived Greg’s physician-patient","paragraphs":["para_387"]},{"title":"We now consider whether Globe could rescind the Policy based on what it learned from those","paragraphs":["para_389"]},{"title":"Globe rescinded the Policy under Ohio Revised Code § 3911.06. That statute provides:","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"No answer to any interrogatory made by an applicant in his application for a","paragraphs":["para_392","para_393","para_394","para_395","para_396","para_397","para_398","para_399","para_400","para_401","para_402","para_403","para_404","para_405","para_406","para_407"]},{"title":"Ramsey, 787 F.3d at 821 (citation omitted). The applicant can rebut the presumption by","paragraphs":["para_409","para_410"]},{"title":"Globe argues that Karen gave objectively false answers to questions 2(a) and 2(b) in the","paragraphs":["para_412","para_413","para_414"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 15","paragraphs":["para_416"]},{"title":"Question 2(a) asked Karen: “In the past 3 years, has [Greg] been diagnosed or treated by","paragraphs":["para_418","para_419","para_420","para_421","para_422","para_423","para_424"]},{"title":"This requires us to interpret question 2(a), which is a part of the Policy. The point of","paragraphs":["para_426","para_427","para_428","para_429","para_430","para_431","para_432","para_433","para_434","para_435","para_436"]},{"title":"Start with the definitions of “diagnosed” and “treated”—both actions that question 2(a)","paragraphs":["para_438","para_439"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 16","paragraphs":["para_441","para_442"]},{"title":"Next consider the definitions of “disease” and “disorder”—both ailments of the insured","paragraphs":["para_444","para_445","para_446","para_447","para_448","para_449"]},{"title":"Karen’s “no” answer to question 2(a) was objectively false. Dr. Budke, Greg’s","paragraphs":["para_451","para_452","para_453","para_454","para_455","para_456","para_457","para_458","para_459","para_460","para_461","para_462","para_463","para_464","para_465"]},{"title":"9U.S. DEP’T OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVS. ET AL., INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES 10TH","paragraphs":["para_467","para_468","para_469"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 17","paragraphs":["para_471","para_472","para_473","para_474","para_475","para_476","para_477"]},{"title":"Karen argues that liver function abnormality is not a liver “disease” or “disorder.” She","paragraphs":["para_479","para_480","para_481","para_482","para_483","para_484"]},{"title":"Karen makes two additional arguments on this point. First, she contends that Globe’s","paragraphs":["para_486","para_487","para_488","para_489","para_490"]},{"title":"Both arguments miss the mark. It is true that Karen cites a portion of Globe’s","paragraphs":["para_492","para_493","para_494","para_495","para_496","para_497","para_498","para_499"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 18","paragraphs":["para_501","para_502","para_503","para_504","para_505","para_506","para_507","para_508"]},{"title":"Nor does Globe’s initial determination about Karen’s answer to question 2(a) change the","paragraphs":["para_510","para_511","para_512","para_513","para_514","para_515","para_516","para_517","para_518","para_519","para_520"]},{"title":"Karen’s evidence does not show that she made an honest mistake about Greg’s liver","paragraphs":["para_522","para_523","para_524","para_525","para_526","para_527","para_528"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 19","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Karen also spoke with Dr. Budke’s office about Greg’s liver function abnormality on","paragraphs":["para_531","para_532","para_533","para_534"]},{"title":"PageID 1217. And in January 2017, an employee again spoke with Karen over the phone and","paragraphs":["para_536","para_537"]},{"title":"Despite this, Karen argues that “no evidence” exists that she was ever informed that her","paragraphs":["para_539","para_540","para_541","para_542","para_543","para_544","para_545","para_546","para_547","para_548"]},{"title":"Karen testified that she could not recall her conversations with Dr. Budke or his office","paragraphs":["para_550","para_551","para_552","para_553","para_554","para_555","para_556"]},{"title":"At bottom, Globe presented evidence that Karen’s “no” answer to question 2(a) was","paragraphs":["para_558"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 20","paragraphs":["para_560","para_561","para_562","para_563"]},{"title":"Question 2(b) asked Karen: “In the past 3 years, has [Greg] been diagnosed or treated by","paragraphs":["para_565","para_566","para_567","para_568","para_569","para_570","para_571"]},{"title":"Karen’s “no” answer to question 2(b) was objectively false with respect to Greg’s","paragraphs":["para_573","para_574","para_575","para_576","para_577","para_578","para_579"]},{"title":"The only argument Karen has in response is one we have already rejected. She points to","paragraphs":["para_581","para_582","para_583","para_584","para_585","para_586","para_587"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 21","paragraphs":["para_589"]},{"title":"Karen cannot show that she honestly believed depression was not a mental disorder. At","paragraphs":["para_591","para_592","para_593","para_594","para_595","para_596","para_597","para_598","para_599"]},{"title":"We must now consider whether Globe would have issued the Policy, but for Karen’s","paragraphs":["para_601","para_602","para_603","para_604"]},{"title":"Is it enough that Globe would have issued Greg a different policy rather than no policy at","paragraphs":["para_606","para_607","para_608"]},{"title":"Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3911.06 (emphasis added). Jenkins held that an insurer can prove its","paragraphs":["para_610","para_611","para_612","para_613","para_614","para_615","para_616"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 22","paragraphs":["para_618","para_619","para_620","para_621"]},{"title":"But for Karen’s false application answers, Globe would not have issued Greg the same","paragraphs":["para_623","para_624","para_625","para_626","para_627","para_628","para_629"]},{"title":"What is more, “premiums for policies assigned to Sub-Standard B are higher than policies","paragraphs":["para_631"]},{"title":"Karen points to evidence that Globe may have issued Greg the same Sub-Standard A","paragraphs":["para_633","para_634","para_635","para_636","para_637","para_638"]},{"title":"Globe did that here. According to Danner, if Karen had disclosed Greg’s liver function","paragraphs":["para_640"]},{"title":"Assuming Karen answered the follow-up questions truthfully, the record demonstrates what","paragraphs":["para_642","para_643","para_644","para_645","para_646"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 23","paragraphs":["para_648","para_649","para_650"]},{"title":"Karen next argues that the Policy and Ohio law prohibit Globe from using Karen’s","paragraphs":["para_652","para_653","para_654","para_655","para_656","para_657","para_658","para_659"]},{"title":"Did Globe have knowledge of Greg’s ailments when Karen completed the Policy","paragraphs":["para_661","para_662"]},{"title":"In sum, Globe has clearly demonstrated it is entitled to rescind the Policy under","paragraphs":["para_664","para_665","para_666","para_667"]},{"title":"Karen also challenges the district court’s order denying her request to redact Greg’s","paragraphs":["para_669","para_670","para_671","para_672","para_673","para_674"]},{"title":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 24","paragraphs":["para_676","para_677","para_678","para_679"]}],"paragraphs":[{"text":"RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"File Name: 24a0096p.06","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"KAREN FROHN, Individually and on behalf of all others","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"similarly situated,","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"Plaintiff-Appellant,","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"GLOBE LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY,","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"Defendant-Appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"┐","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"│","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"┘","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"No. 23-3530","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio at Cincinnati.","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"No. 1:19-cv-00713—Douglas Russell Cole, District Judge.","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"Argued: February 1, 2024","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"Decided and Filed: April 29, 2024","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"Before: SILER, NALBANDIAN, and MATHIS, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"_________________","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"COUNSEL","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"ARGUED: Todd B. Naylor, GOLDENBERG SCHNEIDER L.P.A., Cincinnati, Ohio, for","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"Appellant. Glennon P. Fogarty, HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, St. Louis, Missouri, for Appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"ON BRIEF: Todd B. Naylor, Jeffrey S. Goldenberg, GOLDENBERG SCHNEIDER L.P.A.,","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"Cincinnati, Ohio, Catharin R. Taylor, CLEMENTS, TAYLOR, BUTKOVICH & COHEN, LPA,","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellant. Glennon P. Fogarty, David W. Sobelman, Melissa Z. Baris,","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, St. Louis, Missouri, Jeffrey A. Lipps, Michael N. Beekhuizen,","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"CARPENTER LIPPS LLP, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":">","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 2","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"_________________","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"OPINION","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"_________________","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"MATHIS, Circuit Judge. Karen Frohn cared for her husband, Greg Frohn, during their","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"entire marriage.1 In January 2018, Karen applied for and received a life insurance policy on her","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"husband’s life from Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company. Greg died about nine months","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"after that, and Karen submitted a claim for death benefits that Globe later denied. Karen then","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"sued Globe individually and on behalf of a putative class of beneficiaries challenging the denial","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"of her claim.","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"As Karen’s case progressed, the parties made several motions relevant here. First, Karen","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"moved for a protective order to prevent Globe from seeking Greg’s medical records and medical","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"history during discovery. The district court denied that motion in part. After that, Globe moved","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"for summary judgment, arguing that it was entitled to rescind the life insurance policy because","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"Karen was not truthful in her application for insurance. The district court granted Globe’s","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"motion, barring Karen from recovery on her claims against Globe. Karen also asked the court to","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"redact certain portions of that order, but the district court published it without any redactions.","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"Karen challenges these three decisions on appeal. For the reasons below, we affirm.","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"I.","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"A.","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"From their marriage in 2002 until Greg’s death in September 2018, Karen drove and","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"accompanied her husband to almost all his medical appointments. Greg did not have a driver’s","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"license because of his multiple DUI convictions. At any rate, Karen wanted to accompany","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"Greg to his medical appointments so that she could “know what was going on with [her]","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"husband.” R. 50, PageID 846. And Greg apparently “felt more comfortable” with his wife there,","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"1We refer to Karen Frohn and Greg Frohn extensively throughout this opinion. For clarity, we refer to","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"these individuals by their first names.","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 3","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"too. Id. According to Karen, she and her husband “listen[ed] carefully” during these visits to","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"what Greg’s doctors relayed about his health and his future treatment. Id. at 984.","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"Greg’s medical history is extensive and spans several years. Pertinent to this appeal is his","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"history of liver function abnormality and depression.2 Greg saw at least two doctors: his primary","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"care physician, Dr. Kevin Budke, and his pain specialist, Dr. Christine Smith. Both doctors","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"worked for the Tri-Health healthcare system in Cincinnati, Ohio.","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"1.","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"Greg’s Liver Function Abnormality. As Greg’s primary care physician, Dr. Budke","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"diagnosed Greg with liver function abnormality every year from 2013 to 2017. Dr. Budke’s","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"diagnosis led to his periodic testing of Greg’s liver function. In January 2017, for example,","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"Greg’s blood work revealed an “AST” level of 214 and an “ALT” level of 101, both measures of","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"liver functionality. According to Dr. Budke, a healthy AST range is 10 to 40 while a healthy","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"ALT range is 10 to 60.","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"In addition to routinely monitoring Greg’s liver function through tests like this, and","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"because alcohol can impair that function, Dr. Budke also encouraged Greg to reduce his alcohol","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"consumption. Although the timeline is unclear, Greg consistently drank a lot of alcohol. At","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"times, he reported drinking as little as 6 drinks a day while at other times he reported drinking as","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"many as 24 drinks a day.","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"Karen sometimes involved herself in discussions about her husband’s liver function.","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"Take her June 2014 call to Dr. Budke’s office, for example, where she asked for more","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"information about Greg’s “platelet and liver function test results.” R. 50-9, PageID 1214. Dr.","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"Budke’s records also indicate that, about a year later, his staff “spoke to [Karen]” and gave her","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"Greg’s liver function test results, and she “verbalized understanding” those results. R. 50-10,","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"PageID 1216–17. Karen testified that she did not remember having any discussions about her","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"husband’s liver diagnoses, but she did not deny that these calls or discussions occurred.","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"2Doctors also diagnosed Greg with alcohol abuse, stiff-person syndrome, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"hypertension.","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 4","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"2.","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"Greg’s Depression. As his primary care physician, Dr. Budke also treated Greg for","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"depression. Medical records reflect that Greg was taking at least two medications to treat his","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"depression—a June 2014 record indicates he was taking Tofranil, which could have helped with","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"pain control but was “most likely” for his depression, R. 51, PageID 1429, and records from","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"2015, 2017, and 2018 indicate he was taking Cymbalta. Karen testified that she remembered","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"Greg taking Cymbalta to treat both his pain and depression.","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"By at least 2013, Greg suffered from chronic neck and back pain, causing his mental","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"health to worsen. The Frohns did not know the source of Greg’s pain, but it caused him to lose","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"mobility and struggle to complete everyday tasks. By around 2017, Greg struggled to raise his","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"hands above his head, put on socks, get out of bed, or walk without support. He lost his job","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"because of the pain. Dr. Smith diagnosed Greg with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"condition.","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"Several records indicate that Greg became depressed after losing his job and due to the","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"pain. Dr. Budke’s records indicate that “[Karen] feels [Greg] is depressed about the job loss”","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"and that Greg admitted he was still “grieiving [sic] over a job he had held for many years.”","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"R. 50-14, PageID 1225. In 2017, the Frohns appealed a denial of Greg’s social security","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"disability benefits. A handwritten statement prepared for that appeal provides that Greg was","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"“very depressed” because of “his debilitating disease.” R. 50-3, PageID 1200.","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"B.","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"In January 2018, Karen applied to Globe for life insurance on Greg. The insurance","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"application asked Karen to answer truthfully the following questions:","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"1. Is the Proposed Insured currently disabled due to illness . . . ?","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"2. In the past 3 years, has the Proposed Insured been diagnosed or","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"treated by a member of the medical profession for:","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"(a) Cancer, coronary artery disease, or any disease or disorder","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"of the heart, brain, or liver?","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 5","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"(b) Chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, muscular disease,","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"mental or nervous disorder, chronic obstructive lung","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"disease, drug or alcohol abuse, or hospitalized for diabetes?","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":". . . .","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"3. Does the Proposed Insured have any chronic illness or condition","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"which requires periodic medical care or may require future","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"surgery?","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"R. 53-13, PageID 2404. Karen answered “yes” to question 1, but “no” to every other question.","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"After Karen submitted the application, a Globe underwriting representative contacted her","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"to discuss the application further. Globe typically did this before issuing a policy. During that","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"call, Karen reiterated her “no” answers to questions 2(a) and 2(b). But Karen told Globe that","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"Greg suffered from neck and back pain, that he had applied for social security disability benefits,","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"and that he used medication for pain management. The underwriter then changed Karen’s","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"answer to question 3 from “no” to “yes,” and, based on Karen’s answers in the application and","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"during the underwriting call, Globe issued Greg a “Sub-Standard A” life insurance policy (the","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"“Policy”). Globe also sent Karen a copy of the corrected application along with other policy-","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"related materials.","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"The Policy, which became effective in February 2018, named Karen as the beneficiary.","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"Under the heading “DEATH BENEFIT PAYABLE,” the Policy provides that Globe:","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"Will pay the proceeds of this policy to the Beneficiary when We receive due proof","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"that the Insured’s death occurred while this policy was in force (or not later than","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"two months after receipt of such proof).","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"R. 53-14, PageID 2412. Under the heading “THE CONTRACT,” the Policy states:","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"Read Your policy carefully. This policy is a legal contract. The entire contract is","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"this policy and the attached application. . . . No statement can cancel this policy","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"or be used in Our defense if We refuse to pay a claim unless it is found in the","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"attached application.","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"Id. at 2414. And under the heading “INCONTESTABILITY,” the Policy reads:","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"Unless You do not pay the premiums due, We cannot contest this policy after it","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"has been in force during the Insured’s lifetime for 2 years from the Policy","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"Effective Date.","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 6","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"Id. at 2415. The Policy did “not require a beneficiary to submit the deceased’s medical records”","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"before Globe processed her claim. Frohn v. Globe Life & Accident Ins. Co., 667 F. Supp. 3d","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"715, 722 (S.D. Ohio 2023).","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"C.","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"Greg died on September 26, 2018, within the Policy’s contestability period. Around","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"October 1, 2018, Karen called Globe to report Greg’s death. On October 2, Globe sent Karen a","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"letter requesting several items, including a “Claimant’s Statement,” an “Authorization for","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"Release of Health Information Pursuant to HIPAA,” a “Physician’s Statement,” and the","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"“Certified Death Certificate.” Karen complied and submitted this paperwork about two weeks","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"later.","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"Dr. Budke completed Greg’s death certificate and the Physician’s Statement. On the","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"Physician’s Statement, Dr. Budke reported treating Greg since 2009 for hypertension, cervical","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"spinal stenosis, alcohol abuse, and depression.","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"Karen also completed and signed the Authorization for Release. The Authorization","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"allowed medical providers to release Greg’s medical records and other medical information to","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"Globe. It also allowed Karen to revoke the Authorization at any time unless Globe had “a legal","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"right to contest a claim.” R. 50-19, PageID 1248.","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"After receiving these documents from Karen, Globe sent her another letter on October 26,","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"2018. This letter explained to Karen that because Greg’s “death occurred within the 2-year","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"contestable period, it will be necessary for us to request some information from the medical","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"providers that provided treatment to the insured over the past few years.” R. 61-1, PageID 3293.","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"And it further informed Karen that “no further action is needed by you at this time.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"But the record reflects that Karen, without any request from Globe, contacted TriHealth","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"to expedite its production of medical records. As Globe points out, in November 2018,","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"“TriHealth sent Globe . . . [Greg’s] medical records under a fax cover stating: ‘Our Copy Service","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"is working on this request but as a courtesy to the patient’s wife, I am sending records directly","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"from the Office.’” D. 28 at pp.25–26. Speaking with a Globe customer service representative,","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 7","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"Karen explained that she called TriHealth to have them fax her husband’s medical records to","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"Globe and that TriHealth had complied “[t]wice now.” R. 61-1, PageID 3296–97. She also","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"called Globe multiple times to inquire what was taking so long to review her claim.","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"Ultimately, Globe denied Karen’s claim. Globe explained that Greg’s medical records","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"“indicate[d] prior medical conditions which include but may not be limited to a history of","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"alcohol abuse with abnormal liver function tests, hypertension, neurological stiff person","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"syndrome.” R. 67-1, PageID 4142. Globe reimbursed Karen for all premiums paid.","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"D.","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"In August 2019, Karen sued Globe, individually and on behalf of a putative class of","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"beneficiaries. She alleged that Globe breached the Policy and its duty of good faith and fair","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"dealing.","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"As the case progressed, Globe requested additional medical records from Karen. In","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"response, Karen moved for a protective order. She sought to prohibit Globe’s further discovery","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"of Greg’s medical records, arguing that the physician-patient privilege protected those records.","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"Karen also purported to revoke the medical release. The district court granted Karen’s request in","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"part. Frohn v. Globe Life & Accident Ins. Co., No. 1:19-cv-713, 2020 WL 13832151, at *1 (S.D.","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"Ohio Oct. 14, 2020). Finding Greg’s older medical records irrelevant to Globe’s defense, it held","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"that Globe could not seek Greg’s medical information from before January 10, 2013. Id. at *3.","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"But the district court also denied Karen’s motion in part, finding that (1) Karen’s attempted","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"revocation was “ineffective,” and (2) Globe could seek Greg’s medical information from January","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"10, 2013, and beyond. Id. at *3–5.","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"Thereafter, Globe moved for summary judgment, arguing that it was entitled to rescind","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"the Policy under Ohio Revised Code § 3911.06. The district court granted Globe’s motion for","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"summary judgment, holding that: (1) Karen voluntarily executed the Authorization for Release","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"thereby waiving Greg’s physician-patient privilege, and (2) Globe was entitled to rescind","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"under § 3911.06, barring Karen from recovery on either of her claims. Frohn, 667 F. Supp. 3d at","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"718–19, 734.","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 8","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"With its order on Globe’s motion for summary judgment, the district court also “imposed","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"a temporary seal” on that decision because it “had allowed the parties to file certain exhibits and","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"information relating to [Globe’s] motion under seal.” R. 87, PageID 6391. The district court","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"then asked Karen and Globe “whether they believed portions of [that order] warranted","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"redaction.” Id. Karen wanted the court to redact references to Greg’s various ailments and the","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"activities that contributed to those ailments, while Globe argued no redactions were necessary.","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"In the end, the district court published its order on Globe’s motion for summary judgment","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"without any redactions. But it delayed doing so for two weeks to allow Karen “an opportunity","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"before publication to seek relief from the Sixth Circuit” on that issue. Id. at 6397. She did not","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"seek relief from this court during that two-week period. Instead, this appeal followed.","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"II.","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"On appeal, Karen argues that the district court erred by: (1) finding that Karen waived the","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"physician-patient privilege as to Greg’s medical records and information; (2) denying in part","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"Karen’s motion for a protective order; (3) granting Globe’s motion for summary judgment upon","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"determining that Globe properly rescinded the Policy3; and (4) refusing to redact or seal its order","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"granting summary judgment to Globe. We address each argument in turn.","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"This action is premised on diversity of jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2), and the","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"parties agree that Ohio substantive law applies, Baker Hughes Inc. v. S&S Chem., LLC, 836 F.3d","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"554, 560 (6th Cir. 2016).","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"A.","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"Did Karen voluntarily waive the physician-patient privilege? Ohio Revised Code","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"§ 2317.02(B) governs the physician-patient privilege. The privilege protects","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"“communication[s]” between a physician and his or her patient that are meant to “diagnose, treat,","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"prescribe, or act for a patient.” Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2317.02(B)(1), (B)(5)(a). This includes","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"medical records. Med. Mut. of Ohio v. Schlotterer, 909 N.E.2d 1237, 1240 (Ohio 2009). Ohio","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"courts strictly construe the physician-patient privilege “against the party seeking to assert it and","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"3We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Cooper v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 93 F.4th","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"360, 368 (6th Cir. 2024).","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 9","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"[it] may be applied only to those circumstances specifically named in the statute.” Ward","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"v. Summa Health Sys., 943 N.E.2d 514, 518 (Ohio 2010).","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"The physician-patient privilege is not absolute—it “contains a number of exceptions.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"at 519. Relevant here, the spouse of a deceased patient may waive the physician-patient","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"privilege by giving her “express consent.” Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2317.02(B)(1)(a)(ii). Such","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"consent “to the release of medical information is valid, and waives the physician-patient","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"privilege, if it is voluntary, express, and reasonably specific in identifying to whom the","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"information is to be delivered.” Schlotterer, 909 N.E.2d at 1241. By executing the","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"Authorization for Release, Karen gave express consent for Greg’s medical providers to disclose","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"his privileged medical information to Globe. Thus, the only dispute is whether she did so","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"voluntarily.","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"A person acts voluntarily when “the decision is one’s own choice.” State v. Brunson, 218","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"N.E.3d 765, 776 (Ohio 2022) (citation omitted); see also Chadwick v. Barba Lou, Inc., 431","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"N.E.2d 660, 662 n.2 (Ohio 1982) (defining “voluntary” as “proceeding . . . from one’s own","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"choice or consent” (citation omitted)). Because “ignorance is easily seen as a form of","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"compulsion[,] it could hardly be said that one had ‘voluntarily’ disclosed something if one was","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"not aware that the disclosure was taking place.” 25 Charles Alan Wright et al., Fed. Prac.","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"& Proc. § 5552 (1st ed. 2023 update).","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"The Ohio Supreme Court defines “waiver” as “a voluntary relinquishment of a known","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"right . . . , whether contractual, statutory, or constitutional.” Glidden Co. v. Lumbermens Mut.","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"Cas. Co., 861 N.E.2d 109, 118 (Ohio 2006). Courts can find a waiver in many circumstances,","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"but it typically involves waiving a right “by express words or conduct that is inconsistent with","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"that right.” Gembarski v. PartSource, Inc., 134 N.E.3d 1175, 1180 (Ohio 2019).","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"Karen voluntarily waived Greg’s physician-patient privilege by signing the Authorization","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"for Release. That document notified Karen that the information disclosed would include Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"“entire medical record and any other protected health information concerning [him].” R. 73-12,","paragraph_id":"para_264"},{"text":"PageID 5210. Karen argues that the waiver was not voluntary because she had no choice but to","paragraph_id":"para_265"},{"text":"sign it if she wanted her claim processed. But she did have another option—she could have sued","paragraph_id":"para_266"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 10","paragraph_id":"para_267"},{"text":"to enforce her rights under the Policy. At a minimum, she could have made some effort to","paragraph_id":"para_268"},{"text":"contest Globe’s request for the medical records. But she did not. And the fact that Karen had to","paragraph_id":"para_269"},{"text":"“decide between . . . unattractive choices does not invalidate the waiver.” Cf. State v. Benton,","paragraph_id":"para_270"},{"text":"695 N.E.2d 757, 762 (Ohio 1998).","paragraph_id":"para_271"},{"text":"More to the point, the record demonstrates that Karen did not hesitate to disclose Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_272"},{"text":"medical records. After executing the Authorization for Release and sending it to Globe, Karen","paragraph_id":"para_273"},{"text":"directed Greg’s medical provider to send Greg’s medical records to Globe. Considering this, the","paragraph_id":"para_274"},{"text":"undisputed evidence demonstrates that Karen voluntarily waived Greg’s physician-patient","paragraph_id":"para_275"},{"text":"privilege. Karen does not point to any coercion or duress that would invalidate her waiver of the","paragraph_id":"para_276"},{"text":"privilege.","paragraph_id":"para_277"},{"text":"Karen’s arguments in response do not change this conclusion.","paragraph_id":"para_278"},{"text":"1.","paragraph_id":"para_279"},{"text":"First, Karen argues that Globe had no right to request the medical-records release before","paragraph_id":"para_280"},{"text":"processing her claim without an express right to do so under the Policy. In the Policy, Globe","paragraph_id":"para_281"},{"text":"agreed to “pay the proceeds of this policy to the Beneficiary when We receive due proof that the","paragraph_id":"para_282"},{"text":"insured’s death occurred while this policy was in force (or not later than two months after receipt","paragraph_id":"para_283"},{"text":"of such proof).” Based on this provision, it seems that Karen was not required to execute the","paragraph_id":"para_284"},{"text":"medical-records release for Globe to process her claim. But she did. By doing so, she waived","paragraph_id":"para_285"},{"text":"any right to require Globe to pay her claim without reviewing Greg’s medical records.","paragraph_id":"para_286"},{"text":"We must presume that Karen knew of her rights under the Policy. In Ohio, the “parties to","paragraph_id":"para_287"},{"text":"contracts are presumed to have read and understood them and that a signatory is bound by a","paragraph_id":"para_288"},{"text":"contract that he or she willingly signed.” Preferred Cap., Inc. v. Power Eng’g Grp., Inc., 860","paragraph_id":"para_289"},{"text":"N.E.2d 741, 745 (Ohio 2007). When Globe asked Karen to sign the medical-records release","paragraph_id":"para_290"},{"text":"before it processed her claim, we presume she understood that Globe had no entitlement to the","paragraph_id":"para_291"},{"text":"records. Karen argues that Globe deceived her. But by stating that Karen “must” sign a medical","paragraph_id":"para_292"},{"text":"release for Globe “to evaluate this claim,” Globe may have been truthfully describing its internal","paragraph_id":"para_293"},{"text":"practices, even if they ran afoul of the contract. Karen does not argue that she misunderstood her","paragraph_id":"para_294"},{"text":"contractual rights, nor does she argue that she did not willingly sign the Policy. Accordingly,","paragraph_id":"para_295"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 11","paragraph_id":"para_296"},{"text":"Karen “knew of [her] right to assert an argument or defense.” See Gembarski, 134 N.E.3d at","paragraph_id":"para_297"},{"text":"1181.","paragraph_id":"para_298"},{"text":"Karen thus waived her contractual rights. As mentioned above, “[a] waiver is a voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_299"},{"text":"relinquishment of a known right.” White Co. v. Canton Transp. Co., 2 N.E.2d 501, 505 (Ohio","paragraph_id":"para_300"},{"text":"1936) (quotation omitted). A waiver of a contractual right generally requires consideration","paragraph_id":"para_301"},{"text":"“unless the actions of the party making the waiver are such that [she] must be estopped from","paragraph_id":"para_302"},{"text":"insisting upon the right claimed to have been relinquished.” Mark-It Place Foods, Inc. v. New","paragraph_id":"para_303"},{"text":"Plan Excel Realty Tr., 804 N.E.2d 979, 1000 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004) (citation omitted). Karen’s","paragraph_id":"para_304"},{"text":"actions show that her contractual waiver did not require consideration.","paragraph_id":"para_305"},{"text":"Undisputed evidence shows Karen acted inconsistently with her right under the Policy to","paragraph_id":"para_306"},{"text":"have her claim processed without the release of Greg’s medical records. She sent Globe the","paragraph_id":"para_307"},{"text":"medical-records release, a claimant’s statement, Greg’s certified death certificate, and a","paragraph_id":"para_308"},{"text":"statement of physician (each containing Greg’s medical information) only two weeks after Globe","paragraph_id":"para_309"},{"text":"requested those documents. Karen then contacted TriHealth more than once to expedite the","paragraph_id":"para_310"},{"text":"production of Greg’s medical records. And she called Globe to ensure that it received the","paragraph_id":"para_311"},{"text":"medical records. Karen acted in such a way that she must be estopped from insisting on her right","paragraph_id":"para_312"},{"text":"to processing of her claim without Greg’s medical records.","paragraph_id":"para_313"},{"text":"2.","paragraph_id":"para_314"},{"text":"Second, Karen argues that a finding that she waived her husband’s physician-patient","paragraph_id":"para_315"},{"text":"privilege violates Ohio public policy. Karen points to Ohio authority condemning the practice of","paragraph_id":"para_316"},{"text":"offering low awards and forcing the insured to sue for full recovery—a practice that did not take","paragraph_id":"para_317"},{"text":"place here. She also points to the Ohio Supreme Court’s statement that “public policy favors”","paragraph_id":"para_318"},{"text":"physician-patient confidentiality. Biddle v. Warren Gen. Hosp., 715 N.E.2d 518, 524 (Ohio","paragraph_id":"para_319"},{"text":"1999) (quoting MacDonald v. Clinger, 84 A.D.2d 482, 487 (N.Y. App. Div. 1982)). But within","paragraph_id":"para_320"},{"text":"the same sentence, the Ohio Supreme Court said that “there is a countervailing public interest to","paragraph_id":"para_321"},{"text":"which [confidentiality] must yield in appropriate circumstances.” Id. Karen does not cite a","paragraph_id":"para_322"},{"text":"statement of Ohio public policy that addresses her circumstances, so her arguments on this point","paragraph_id":"para_323"},{"text":"fail.","paragraph_id":"para_324"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 12","paragraph_id":"para_325"},{"text":"B.","paragraph_id":"para_326"},{"text":"Did the district court err by denying, in part, Karen’s motion for a protective order?","paragraph_id":"para_327"},{"text":"Karen sought a protective order to prevent Globe from obtaining information about Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_328"},{"text":"medical history from Karen or any third party after she purported to revoke the medical release.","paragraph_id":"para_329"},{"text":"The district court denied in part Karen’s motion. Frohn, 2020 WL 13832151, at *1. Finding","paragraph_id":"para_330"},{"text":"Greg’s older medical records were not relevant to Globe’s defense, it held that Globe could not","paragraph_id":"para_331"},{"text":"seek Greg’s medical information from before January 10, 2013. Id. at *3. But the court also","paragraph_id":"para_332"},{"text":"held that Karen’s attempted revocation was “ineffective,” and that Globe could seek Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_333"},{"text":"medical information “from January 10, 2013, onward.”4 Id. at *4–5.","paragraph_id":"para_334"},{"text":"The district court reached this decision after considering whether Karen voluntarily","paragraph_id":"para_335"},{"text":"waived Greg’s physician-patient privilege. Id. at *4. In the end, the court decided not to resolve","paragraph_id":"para_336"},{"text":"the physician-patient privilege issue in deciding a “discovery dispute.” Id. Karen argues on","paragraph_id":"para_337"},{"text":"appeal that the district court erred in denying her motion in part without first deciding whether","paragraph_id":"para_338"},{"text":"her waiver was voluntary. Even so, any such error would be harmless. In its order granting","paragraph_id":"para_339"},{"text":"summary judgment, the district court ultimately concluded that Karen “executed the waiver","paragraph_id":"para_340"},{"text":"voluntarily.” Frohn, 667 F. Supp. 3d at 726. For the reasons we explained in Part II.A. above,","paragraph_id":"para_341"},{"text":"we agree.","paragraph_id":"para_342"},{"text":"Karen also argues that the district court erred by finding that her attempted revocation of","paragraph_id":"para_343"},{"text":"the medical release was ineffective. She attempted to revoke her medical release waiver via","paragraph_id":"para_344"},{"text":"email, about one and a half years after executing it in the fall of 2018. And so, she argues that","paragraph_id":"para_345"},{"text":"even if she signed that document voluntarily, she withdrew her consent when her attorney","paragraph_id":"para_346"},{"text":"emailed Globe’s counsel to that effect in April 2020.","paragraph_id":"para_347"},{"text":"The district court “easily disposed of” this argument. Frohn, 2020 WL 13832151, at *4.","paragraph_id":"para_348"},{"text":"Globe’s Authorization for Release form states that although Karen could withdraw her waiver,","paragraph_id":"para_349"},{"text":"“any such ‘revocation is not effective to the extent that . . . [Globe] has a legal right to contest a","paragraph_id":"para_350"},{"text":"4We review the district court’s decision for an abuse of discretion. In re Ohio Execution Protocol Litig.,","paragraph_id":"para_351"},{"text":"845 F.3d 231, 235 (6th Cir. 2016). We will reverse a district court’s decision on a discovery matter “only if we are","paragraph_id":"para_352"},{"text":"firmly convinced of a mistake that affects substantial rights and amounts to more than harmless error.” Himes","paragraph_id":"para_353"},{"text":"v. United States, 645 F.3d 771, 782 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting Dortch v. Fowler, 588 F.3d 396, 400 (6th Cir. 2009)).","paragraph_id":"para_354"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 13","paragraph_id":"para_355"},{"text":"claim under an insurance policy or to contest the policy itself.’” Id. The district court found that","paragraph_id":"para_356"},{"text":"this “condition [was] met,” so it concluded that Karen’s “attempted withdrawal [was]","paragraph_id":"para_357"},{"text":"ineffective.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_358"},{"text":"Karen argues this right-to-contest condition does not apply because it is inconsistent with","paragraph_id":"para_359"},{"text":"45 C.F.R. § 164.508(b)(5). That provision states:","paragraph_id":"para_360"},{"text":"An individual may revoke an authorization provided under this section at any","paragraph_id":"para_361"},{"text":"time, provided that the revocation is in writing, except to the extent that:","paragraph_id":"para_362"},{"text":"(i) The covered entity has taken action in reliance thereon; or","paragraph_id":"para_363"},{"text":"(ii) If the authorization was obtained as a condition of","paragraph_id":"para_364"},{"text":"obtaining insurance coverage, other law provides the","paragraph_id":"para_365"},{"text":"insurer with the right to contest a claim under the policy or","paragraph_id":"para_366"},{"text":"the policy itself.","paragraph_id":"para_367"},{"text":"The general rule of § 164.508 that requires authorization applies to “covered entit[ies].”","paragraph_id":"para_368"},{"text":"Id. § 164.508(a)(1). A covered entity is a health plan, a health care clearinghouse, or “[a] health","paragraph_id":"para_369"},{"text":"care provider who transmits any health information in electronic form in connection with a","paragraph_id":"para_370"},{"text":"transaction covered by this subchapter.” Id. § 160.103. So the authorization requirement and its","paragraph_id":"para_371"},{"text":"exceptions apply (if at all) to the medical providers that treated Greg, not to Globe. When the","paragraph_id":"para_372"},{"text":"medical providers relied on Karen’s waiver to disclose medical records before her revocation, the","paragraph_id":"para_373"},{"text":"reliance safe harbor in § 164.508(b)(5)(i) applied. And when medical providers disclosed","paragraph_id":"para_374"},{"text":"medical records after the revocation, § 164.508 posed no obstacle. That is because a different","paragraph_id":"para_375"},{"text":"regulation, § 164.512(e)(1)(ii), permits healthcare providers to respond to a discovery request","paragraph_id":"para_376"},{"text":"without any authorization, so long as the subject of the health information receives notice. That","paragraph_id":"para_377"},{"text":"regulation also permits disclosure without authorization in response to a court order. Id.","paragraph_id":"para_378"},{"text":"§ 164.512(e)(1)(i). Therefore, any error in construing the purported revocation was harmless","paragraph_id":"para_379"},{"text":"because Globe did not need Karen’s authorization under the regulations.","paragraph_id":"para_380"},{"text":"What is more, Karen has not identified what documents, if any, her revocation should","paragraph_id":"para_381"},{"text":"have prevented the district court from considering. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse","paragraph_id":"para_382"},{"text":"its discretion in denying in part Karen’s motion for protective order.","paragraph_id":"para_383"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 14","paragraph_id":"para_384"},{"text":"C.","paragraph_id":"para_385"},{"text":"Did Globe have a right to rescind the Policy? Karen waived Greg’s physician-patient","paragraph_id":"para_386"},{"text":"privilege by signing the Authorization for Release, entitling Globe to Greg’s medical records.","paragraph_id":"para_387"},{"text":"We now consider whether Globe could rescind the Policy based on what it learned from those","paragraph_id":"para_388"},{"text":"records.","paragraph_id":"para_389"},{"text":"Globe rescinded the Policy under Ohio Revised Code § 3911.06. That statute provides:","paragraph_id":"para_390"},{"text":"No answer to any interrogatory made by an applicant in his application for a","paragraph_id":"para_391"},{"text":"policy shall bar the right to recover upon any policy issued thereon, or be used in","paragraph_id":"para_392"},{"text":"evidence at any trial to recover upon such policy, unless it is clearly proved that","paragraph_id":"para_393"},{"text":"such answer is willfully false, that it was fraudulently made, that it is material,","paragraph_id":"para_394"},{"text":"and that it induced the company to issue the policy, that but for such answer the","paragraph_id":"para_395"},{"text":"policy would not have been issued, and that the agent or company had no","paragraph_id":"para_396"},{"text":"knowledge of the falsity or fraud of such answer.","paragraph_id":"para_397"},{"text":"It allows an insurer to void a policy if an applicant has made material misrepresentations in the","paragraph_id":"para_398"},{"text":"insurance application. Ramsey v. Penn Mut. Life Ins. Co., 787 F.3d 813, 821 (6th Cir. 2015). To","paragraph_id":"para_399"},{"text":"that end, the insurer must “clearly prove”: (1) the applicant gave a willfully false answer in the","paragraph_id":"para_400"},{"text":"insurance application, (2) the applicant made such answer fraudulently, (3) but for the false","paragraph_id":"para_401"},{"text":"answer, the insurer would not have issued the policy, and (4) the insurer did not know that the","paragraph_id":"para_402"},{"text":"answer was false. Jenkins v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 173 N.E.2d 122, 125 (Ohio 1961).","paragraph_id":"para_403"},{"text":"Assuming an insurer can prove an applicant gave a material and objectively false answer,","paragraph_id":"para_404"},{"text":"the law presumes she did so willfully and fraudulently. See Lyttle v. Pac. Mut. Life Ins. Co. of","paragraph_id":"para_405"},{"text":"Cal., 72 F.2d 140, 142 (6th Cir. 1934) (interpreting the predecessor statute to § 3911.06). This","paragraph_id":"para_406"},{"text":"means an insurer seeking relief under § 3911.06 is not required to prove fraudulent intent.","paragraph_id":"para_407"},{"text":"Ramsey, 787 F.3d at 821 (citation omitted). The applicant can rebut the presumption by","paragraph_id":"para_408"},{"text":"providing some evidence “to indicate that [she] made an honest mistake.” Jenkins, 173 N.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_409"},{"text":"at 126.","paragraph_id":"para_410"},{"text":"Globe argues that Karen gave objectively false answers to questions 2(a) and 2(b) in the","paragraph_id":"para_411"},{"text":"Policy’s application by failing to disclose Greg’s history of liver function abnormality and","paragraph_id":"para_412"},{"text":"depression. We consider Karen’s “no” answers to the interrogatories at issue in turn. Because","paragraph_id":"para_413"},{"text":"we decide these issues in Globe’s favor, we need not consider Globe’s other arguments.","paragraph_id":"para_414"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 15","paragraph_id":"para_415"},{"text":"1.","paragraph_id":"para_416"},{"text":"Question 2(a) asked Karen: “In the past 3 years, has [Greg] been diagnosed or treated by","paragraph_id":"para_417"},{"text":"a member of the medical profession for . . . [c]ancer, coronary artery disease, or any disease or","paragraph_id":"para_418"},{"text":"disorder of the heart, brain, or liver?” Karen answered “no.” She also signed the application on","paragraph_id":"para_419"},{"text":"January 10, 2018, so the relevant three-year period dates to January 10, 2015. This means Globe","paragraph_id":"para_420"},{"text":"must show that a medical professional “diagnosed or treated” Greg for an enumerated “disease”","paragraph_id":"para_421"},{"text":"or “disorder” during that timeframe. Globe argues that Karen’s answer to question 2(a) was","paragraph_id":"para_422"},{"text":"objectively false because Greg had, during the relevant period, been diagnosed with and treated","paragraph_id":"para_423"},{"text":"for liver function abnormality.","paragraph_id":"para_424"},{"text":"This requires us to interpret question 2(a), which is a part of the Policy. The point of","paragraph_id":"para_425"},{"text":"contract interpretation “is to discover and effectuate the intent of the parties.” Graham","paragraph_id":"para_426"},{"text":"v. Drydock Coal Co., 667 N.E.2d 949, 952 (Ohio 1996). And courts presume that the intent of","paragraph_id":"para_427"},{"text":"the parties resides “in the language they chose to use in their agreement.” Id. Courts should,","paragraph_id":"para_428"},{"text":"moreover, “honor the plain meaning of the policy’s language unless another meaning is clearly","paragraph_id":"para_429"},{"text":"apparent from the contents of the policy.” Ohio N. Univ. v. Charles Constr. Servs., Inc.,","paragraph_id":"para_430"},{"text":"120 N.E.3d 762, 766 (Ohio 2018) (internal quotation marks omitted). “It is common practice to","paragraph_id":"para_431"},{"text":"resort to dictionaries as the best source for establishing the ordinary meaning of contractual","paragraph_id":"para_432"},{"text":"terms.” Rite Aid of Ohio, Inc. v. Marc’s Variety Store, Inc., 638 N.E.2d 1056, 1061 (Ohio Ct.","paragraph_id":"para_433"},{"text":"App. 1994). Ultimately, the goal is to determine “not what the insurer intended by his words, but","paragraph_id":"para_434"},{"text":"what the ordinary reader and purchaser would have understood them to mean.” Andersen","paragraph_id":"para_435"},{"text":"v. Highland House Co., 757 N.E.2d 329, 334 (Ohio 2001) (emphasis and quotation omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_436"},{"text":"Start with the definitions of “diagnosed” and “treated”—both actions that question 2(a)","paragraph_id":"para_437"},{"text":"says must be done by a medical professional. Oxford English Dictionary defines “diagnose” as","paragraph_id":"para_438"},{"text":"“[t]o make a diagnosis of (a disease), to distinguish and determine its nature from its symptoms;","paragraph_id":"para_439"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 16","paragraph_id":"para_440"},{"text":"to recognize and identify by careful observation.”5 It defines “treat” as “[t]o deal with or operate","paragraph_id":"para_441"},{"text":"upon (a disease or affection, a part of the body, or a person) in order to relieve or cure.”6","paragraph_id":"para_442"},{"text":"Next consider the definitions of “disease” and “disorder”—both ailments of the insured","paragraph_id":"para_443"},{"text":"that, if diagnosed or treated in the past three years, an applicant must report. Oxford defines","paragraph_id":"para_444"},{"text":"“disease” as a “[s]ickness (in a person, animal, or plant).”7 Oxford defines “disorder” as a","paragraph_id":"para_445"},{"text":"“[d]isturbance of the function, and sometimes the structure, of the body, a part or system of the","paragraph_id":"para_446"},{"text":"body, or the mind[,]” or “an illness or condition that disrupts normal physical or mental","paragraph_id":"para_447"},{"text":"functions.”8","paragraph_id":"para_448"},{"text":"a.","paragraph_id":"para_449"},{"text":"Karen’s “no” answer to question 2(a) was objectively false. Dr. Budke, Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_450"},{"text":"physician, testified that he diagnosed Greg with liver function abnormality in 2015, 2016, and","paragraph_id":"para_451"},{"text":"2017. And Dr. Budke used an International Classification of Diseases (“ICD”) code in Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_452"},{"text":"2015 medical records under the heading “Visit Diagnoses.” “The ICD is a classification system","paragraph_id":"para_453"},{"text":"developed collaboratively between the World Health Organization (WHO) and 10 international","paragraph_id":"para_454"},{"text":"centers so that the medical terms reported by physicians . . . can be grouped together for","paragraph_id":"para_455"},{"text":"statistical purposes.”9 And medical providers use ICD codes to get reimbursed by insurance","paragraph_id":"para_456"},{"text":"companies for the care they provide their patients.10 In Greg’s 2015 medical records,","paragraph_id":"para_457"},{"text":"5Diagnose, OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY (online ed.) https://www.oed.com/dictionary/diagnose_v?tab","paragraph_id":"para_458"},{"text":"=meaning_and_use#6915039 (last visited March 5, 2024).","paragraph_id":"para_459"},{"text":"6Treat, OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY (online ed.) https://www.oed.com/dictionarytreat_v?tab=meaning","paragraph_id":"para_460"},{"text":"_and_use#17737795 (last visited March 5, 2024).","paragraph_id":"para_461"},{"text":"7Disease, OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY (online ed.) https://www.oed.com/dictionary/disease_n?tab=mea","paragraph_id":"para_462"},{"text":"ning_and_use#6535961 (last visited March 5, 2024).","paragraph_id":"para_463"},{"text":"8Disorder, OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY (online ed.) https://www.oed.com/dictionary/disorder_n?tab=m","paragraph_id":"para_464"},{"text":"eaning_and_use#6602841 (last visited March 5, 2024).","paragraph_id":"para_465"},{"text":"9U.S. DEP’T OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVS. ET AL., INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES 10TH","paragraph_id":"para_466"},{"text":"REVISION (ICD-10) 1 (2001), https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/icd10fct.pdf.","paragraph_id":"para_467"},{"text":"10Natalie Ficek, The Consequences for Private Practice Physicians After Transitioning from ICD-9 to","paragraph_id":"para_468"},{"text":"ICD-10, 19 DEPAUL J. HEALTH CARE L. 1, 2 (2017).","paragraph_id":"para_469"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 17","paragraph_id":"para_470"},{"text":"Dr. Budke listed ICD code 573.9—the “medical code for the disorder of the liver.”11 R. 51,","paragraph_id":"para_471"},{"text":"PageID 1388–89. Dr. Budke also treated Greg for his liver function abnormality, as he cared for","paragraph_id":"para_472"},{"text":"this condition medically through periodic liver function tests and by directing Greg to reduce his","paragraph_id":"para_473"},{"text":"alcohol consumption. At a minimum, liver function abnormality is a “disorder” of the liver. Dr.","paragraph_id":"para_474"},{"text":"Budke classified it as such, medical records from the relevant timeframe show that Greg had","paragraph_id":"para_475"},{"text":"elevated liver enzymes, and information that Globe’s underwriters consult explains that injury to","paragraph_id":"para_476"},{"text":"the liver causes such abnormalities.","paragraph_id":"para_477"},{"text":"Karen argues that liver function abnormality is not a liver “disease” or “disorder.” She","paragraph_id":"para_478"},{"text":"points to a 2013 assessment by Dr. Budke12 that she argues “demonstrates that ‘liver function","paragraph_id":"para_479"},{"text":"abnormality’ is merely shorthand for abnormal liver function test results, which are not","paragraph_id":"para_480"},{"text":"themselves a ‘disease or disorder’ of the liver but rather a possible symptom of a liver disease or","paragraph_id":"para_481"},{"text":"disorder.” D. 23 at p.42. Although liver function abnormality might be a symptom of another","paragraph_id":"para_482"},{"text":"disease, as Dr. Budke acknowledges, it is also a condition, according to ICD 573.9, recognized","paragraph_id":"para_483"},{"text":"as a disorder of the liver.","paragraph_id":"para_484"},{"text":"Karen makes two additional arguments on this point. First, she contends that Globe’s","paragraph_id":"para_485"},{"text":"“Uninsurable List” does not mention liver function abnormality as a “disease” or “disorder.”","paragraph_id":"para_486"},{"text":"And this is evidence, according to Karen, that courts routinely look to when determining whether","paragraph_id":"para_487"},{"text":"a life insurance applicant made a false statement. Second, she points to the initial review of her","paragraph_id":"para_488"},{"text":"claim by Globe’s claims department. Because it did not at first believe that Karen should have","paragraph_id":"para_489"},{"text":"answered “yes” to question 2(a), she argues her “no” answer was not objectively false.","paragraph_id":"para_490"},{"text":"Both arguments miss the mark. It is true that Karen cites a portion of Globe’s","paragraph_id":"para_491"},{"text":"underwriting guidelines that does not list liver function abnormality as a “disease” or “disorder”","paragraph_id":"para_492"},{"text":"of the liver. But Nicholas Danner, Globe’s vice president of underwriting and new business,","paragraph_id":"para_493"},{"text":"testified that Globe’s Uninsurable List is not exhaustive. Elsewhere, guidelines that Globe’s","paragraph_id":"para_494"},{"text":"11See also U.S. DEP’T OF HEALTH & HUM. SERVS., ICD-9-CM TABULAR LIST OF DISEASES (FY12) 399","paragraph_id":"para_495"},{"text":"(2011), https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Publications/ICD9-CM/2011/Dtab12.zip (listing 573.9 as","paragraph_id":"para_496"},{"text":"“[u]nspecified disorder of liver”).","paragraph_id":"para_497"},{"text":"12Under the heading “Assessment” Dr. Budke wrote “Elevated [Liver Function Tests]-no [symptoms] of","paragraph_id":"para_498"},{"text":"liver disease.”","paragraph_id":"para_499"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 18","paragraph_id":"para_500"},{"text":"underwriters use to assess risk discuss “elevated” liver enzymes—including ALT and AST—and","paragraph_id":"para_501"},{"text":"explain that “[t]he likelihood of significant liver disease increases with the number and","paragraph_id":"para_502"},{"text":"magnitude of liver enzyme abnormalities.” R. 67-3, PageID 4585. This information provides","paragraph_id":"para_503"},{"text":"further that “injury to the liver” and “cell death” can cause the liver to “release enzymes” into a","paragraph_id":"para_504"},{"text":"person’s blood, and “[w]hen the liver is injured, abnormal blood serum concentrations of some","paragraph_id":"para_505"},{"text":"but not necessarily all of the liver enzymes may occur.” Id. Even more to the point, Danner","paragraph_id":"para_506"},{"text":"testified that under these guidelines, “liver function abnormality” is a “disorder of the liver.”","paragraph_id":"para_507"},{"text":"R. 73, PageID 5072–74.","paragraph_id":"para_508"},{"text":"Nor does Globe’s initial determination about Karen’s answer to question 2(a) change the","paragraph_id":"para_509"},{"text":"calculus. Globe’s denial letter referred only to Karen’s “no” answer to questions 2(b) and 3; it","paragraph_id":"para_510"},{"text":"said nothing about her answer to question 2(a). But the letter also informed Karen that Globe","paragraph_id":"para_511"},{"text":"was not “waiving [its] right to obtain additional medical records or to raise additional grounds","paragraph_id":"para_512"},{"text":"for recission at a later date and to use any information contained in these records to defend [its]","paragraph_id":"para_513"},{"text":"position.” R. 67-3, PageID 4540.","paragraph_id":"para_514"},{"text":"b.","paragraph_id":"para_515"},{"text":"Because Globe has shown Karen’s “no” answer to question 2(a) was objectively false,","paragraph_id":"para_516"},{"text":"given Greg’s liver function abnormality, the law presumes Karen answered that question","paragraph_id":"para_517"},{"text":"willfully and fraudulently. See Lyttle, 72 F.2d at 142. Karen can rebut this presumption by","paragraph_id":"para_518"},{"text":"providing some evidence “to indicate that [she] made an honest mistake.” Jenkins, 173 N.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_519"},{"text":"at 126.","paragraph_id":"para_520"},{"text":"Karen’s evidence does not show that she made an honest mistake about Greg’s liver","paragraph_id":"para_521"},{"text":"disorder. Ample record evidence demonstrates that Karen knew Greg had been diagnosed with","paragraph_id":"para_522"},{"text":"or treated for liver function abnormality. Karen went to “virtually every one of [Greg’s] medical","paragraph_id":"para_523"},{"text":"appointments.” R. 50, PageID 846. Although we do not know what was discussed at these","paragraph_id":"para_524"},{"text":"visits, we do know that many of the records documenting these visits include Dr. Budke’s","paragraph_id":"para_525"},{"text":"diagnosis of Greg’s liver function abnormality. And Karen testified that she checked her","paragraph_id":"para_526"},{"text":"husband’s online lab results anytime “he had lab work” done. Id. at 815. These lab results","paragraph_id":"para_527"},{"text":"would include the results of Greg’s elevated liver enzymes.","paragraph_id":"para_528"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 19","paragraph_id":"para_529"},{"text":"Karen also spoke with Dr. Budke’s office about Greg’s liver function abnormality on","paragraph_id":"para_530"},{"text":"multiple occasions. Greg’s records indicate that Dr. Budke’s office spoke with Karen over the","paragraph_id":"para_531"},{"text":"phone in July 2015 and gave her the results of Greg’s latest tests. Dr. Budke’s notes about those","paragraph_id":"para_532"},{"text":"results indicate that Greg’s “[l]abs show some improvement in liver function","paragraph_id":"para_533"},{"text":"elevation. Otherwise look OK. Need to continue to work on reducing alcohol intake.” R. 50-10,","paragraph_id":"para_534"},{"text":"PageID 1217. And in January 2017, an employee again spoke with Karen over the phone and","paragraph_id":"para_535"},{"text":"gave her Greg’s liver function test results. Dr. Budke’s notes say that Greg’s “[l]abs show that","paragraph_id":"para_536"},{"text":"his liver tests are elevated again. Other labs look OK.” R. 51-8, PageID 1679.","paragraph_id":"para_537"},{"text":"Despite this, Karen argues that “no evidence” exists that she was ever informed that her","paragraph_id":"para_538"},{"text":"husband had been diagnosed or treated for a liver disease or disorder. We disagree. Diagnosis","paragraph_id":"para_539"},{"text":"aside, Dr. Budke’s periodic liver function tests and advice to drink less fit the plain meaning of","paragraph_id":"para_540"},{"text":"“treat” as the tests and advice dealt with Greg’s liver to “relieve or cure.” And this is a meaning","paragraph_id":"para_541"},{"text":"that an “ordinary reader” of question 2(a) “would have understood.” See Andersen, 757 N.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_542"},{"text":"at 334 (emphasis omitted). An ordinary reader would also understand that “disorder” means “an","paragraph_id":"para_543"},{"text":"illness or condition that disrupts normal physical or mental functions.” All in all, Karen knew","paragraph_id":"para_544"},{"text":"that Dr. Budke was treating Greg for a liver disease or disorder. Cf. Sambles v. Metro. Life Ins.","paragraph_id":"para_545"},{"text":"Co., 108 N.E.2d 321, 324 (Ohio 1952) (finding it unreasonable to infer that an insured patient","paragraph_id":"para_546"},{"text":"did not know he was being treated for a serious ailment where evidence showed he visited his","paragraph_id":"para_547"},{"text":"physician before and after applying for life insurance).","paragraph_id":"para_548"},{"text":"Karen testified that she could not recall her conversations with Dr. Budke or his office","paragraph_id":"para_549"},{"text":"about Greg’s elevated liver function tests. Still, when presented with records of one of those","paragraph_id":"para_550"},{"text":"conversations, she conceded that the records said it happened. Karen has failed to create a triable","paragraph_id":"para_551"},{"text":"issue about whether she spoke with Dr. Budke’s office. Karen’s testimony that she could","paragraph_id":"para_552"},{"text":"not remember these conversations does not directly refute Globe’s evidence that they occurred.","paragraph_id":"para_553"},{"text":"Cf. Wysong v. City of Heath, 260 F. App’x 848, 857 (6th Cir. 2008) (finding summary judgment","paragraph_id":"para_554"},{"text":"appropriate when plaintiff “admitted in his deposition that he [did] not deny” fighting with","paragraph_id":"para_555"},{"text":"officers, but only claimed that “he [did] not remember what happened”).","paragraph_id":"para_556"},{"text":"At bottom, Globe presented evidence that Karen’s “no” answer to question 2(a) was","paragraph_id":"para_557"},{"text":"objectively false considering Greg’s liver disorder. And Karen has not provided any independent","paragraph_id":"para_558"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 20","paragraph_id":"para_559"},{"text":"facts to support her arguments that she made an honest mistake and really believed her husband","paragraph_id":"para_560"},{"text":"was not treated for this condition. Globe therefore has clearly established that Karen willfully","paragraph_id":"para_561"},{"text":"and fraudulently answered question 2(a).","paragraph_id":"para_562"},{"text":"2.","paragraph_id":"para_563"},{"text":"Question 2(b) asked Karen: “In the past 3 years, has [Greg] been diagnosed or treated by","paragraph_id":"para_564"},{"text":"a member of the medical profession for . . . [a] mental or nervous disorder . . . .” Again, Karen","paragraph_id":"para_565"},{"text":"answered “no.” Globe argues that Karen’s answer to question 2(b) was objectively false because","paragraph_id":"para_566"},{"text":"Greg had, during the relevant three years, been diagnosed with and treated for depression. Karen","paragraph_id":"para_567"},{"text":"disagrees. And she argues that even if her answer to question 2(b) was objectively false given","paragraph_id":"para_568"},{"text":"Greg’s depression, she made an honest mistake when she told Globe her husband did not have a","paragraph_id":"para_569"},{"text":"mental or nervous disorder.","paragraph_id":"para_570"},{"text":"a.","paragraph_id":"para_571"},{"text":"Karen’s “no” answer to question 2(b) was objectively false with respect to Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_572"},{"text":"depression. Around 2016, Karen “had conversations with Dr. Budke about” the medication Greg","paragraph_id":"para_573"},{"text":"took for his depression. And Greg’s medical records demonstrate that doctors diagnosed him","paragraph_id":"para_574"},{"text":"with depressive disorder and prescribed Cymbalta. We have opined that depression is a “mental","paragraph_id":"para_575"},{"text":"disorder.” Buxton v. Halter, 246 F.3d 762, 763 n.1 (6th Cir. 2001) (citing the Social Security","paragraph_id":"para_576"},{"text":"Administration’s “Listing of Impairments” at 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, App. 1 (12.04)). So","paragraph_id":"para_577"},{"text":"has the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.13 And Globe’s underwriting guidelines","paragraph_id":"para_578"},{"text":"classify depression as a “Mental/Nervous Disorder.” R. 67-3, PageID 4542.","paragraph_id":"para_579"},{"text":"The only argument Karen has in response is one we have already rejected. She points to","paragraph_id":"para_580"},{"text":"Globe’s denial letter that did not include depression as a reason it believed Karen falsely","paragraph_id":"para_581"},{"text":"answered question 2(b). Even so, Globe expressly informed Karen that it was not waiving its","paragraph_id":"para_582"},{"text":"right to raise additional reasons for denying her claim.","paragraph_id":"para_583"},{"text":"13Mental Health and Mental Disorders, U.S. DEP’T HEALTH & HUM. SERVS.","paragraph_id":"para_584"},{"text":"https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/mental-health-and-mental-disorders (last","paragraph_id":"para_585"},{"text":"accessed Jan. 6, 2024) (“Mental disorders like depression and anxiety can affect people’s ability to take part in","paragraph_id":"para_586"},{"text":"healthy behaviors.”).","paragraph_id":"para_587"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 21","paragraph_id":"para_588"},{"text":"b.","paragraph_id":"para_589"},{"text":"Karen cannot show that she honestly believed depression was not a mental disorder. At","paragraph_id":"para_590"},{"text":"one point, Karen testified that she did not know whether depression was a mental disorder. But","paragraph_id":"para_591"},{"text":"when asked if she remembered discussions about her “husband’s mental condition, whether he","paragraph_id":"para_592"},{"text":"was depressed,” she responded “[y]es.” R. 50, PageID 837. She argues that this is not proof","paragraph_id":"para_593"},{"text":"that she understood depression to be a mental disorder when she submitted the Policy","paragraph_id":"para_594"},{"text":"application. Yet the law expects Karen to understand the Policy as the “ordinary reader” would.","paragraph_id":"para_595"},{"text":"See Andersen, 757 N.E.2d at 334 (quotation omitted). With no other evidence that she did not","paragraph_id":"para_596"},{"text":"honestly believe depression was a mental disorder, Karen has failed to rebut the presumption that","paragraph_id":"para_597"},{"text":"she answered question 2(b) willfully and fraudulently. See Jenkins, 173 N.E.2d at 126.","paragraph_id":"para_598"},{"text":"3.","paragraph_id":"para_599"},{"text":"We must now consider whether Globe would have issued the Policy, but for Karen’s","paragraph_id":"para_600"},{"text":"“no” answers to questions 2(a) and 2(b). Globe issued Greg its “Sub-Standard A” policy based","paragraph_id":"para_601"},{"text":"on Karen’s application and the underwriting call. Danner declared that had Karen answered","paragraph_id":"para_602"},{"text":"questions 2(a) and 2(b) honestly, Globe would have issued Greg a different policy or no policy at","paragraph_id":"para_603"},{"text":"all.","paragraph_id":"para_604"},{"text":"Is it enough that Globe would have issued Greg a different policy rather than no policy at","paragraph_id":"para_605"},{"text":"all? Ohio law seems to answer this question in the affirmative. An insurer cannot refuse a claim","paragraph_id":"para_606"},{"text":"under a policy based on an applicant’s answer to an interrogatory unless the answer “induced the","paragraph_id":"para_607"},{"text":"company to issue the policy” and “but for such answer the policy would not have been issued.”","paragraph_id":"para_608"},{"text":"Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3911.06 (emphasis added). Jenkins held that an insurer can prove its","paragraph_id":"para_609"},{"text":"defense under § 3911.06 by clearly showing that, but for an applicant’s answers, “the policy","paragraph_id":"para_610"},{"text":"would not have been issued.” 173 N.E.2d at 125 (emphasis added). Ohio’s lower courts agree.","paragraph_id":"para_611"},{"text":"Nationwide Ins. Enter. v. Progressive Specialty Ins. Co., No. 01AP-1223, 2002 WL 1338791, at","paragraph_id":"para_612"},{"text":"*5 (Ohio Ct. App. June 20, 2002) (finding that a party could not “demonstrate that Progressive","paragraph_id":"para_613"},{"text":"would have issued the same policy with the same terms and conditions if it had known of the","paragraph_id":"para_614"},{"text":"allegedly fraudulent answer prior to issuing the policy”); Martin v. Atlanta Life Ins. Co., No.","paragraph_id":"para_615"},{"text":"75AP-163, 1975 WL 181648, at *3 (Ohio Ct. App. Aug. 7, 1975) (describing the test in Jenkins","paragraph_id":"para_616"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 22","paragraph_id":"para_617"},{"text":"as “whether a reasonably prudent underwriter would have, had the fact misrepresented been","paragraph_id":"para_618"},{"text":"communicated at the time of effecting the insurance, rejected the risk or charged an increased","paragraph_id":"para_619"},{"text":"premium”). Therefore, we conclude that Globe need demonstrate only that it would not have","paragraph_id":"para_620"},{"text":"issued Greg the same Sub-Standard A policy had Karen provided honest answers.","paragraph_id":"para_621"},{"text":"But for Karen’s false application answers, Globe would not have issued Greg the same","paragraph_id":"para_622"},{"text":"policy. As a reminder, Karen answered “yes” to question 3—that Greg had a “chronic illness or","paragraph_id":"para_623"},{"text":"condition which requires periodic medical care.” Danner stated that this answer required Globe","paragraph_id":"para_624"},{"text":"to apply “100 debits” to Greg’s application and issue him a “Sub-Standard A policy in lieu of the","paragraph_id":"para_625"},{"text":"Standard Policy.” R. 67-1, PageID 4153–54. He said further that even if Globe ignored Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_626"},{"text":"other ailments, had Karen disclosed Greg’s “depression, the starting point would have been a","paragraph_id":"para_627"},{"text":"Sub-Standard A policy, with the disclosure of the disability moving the classification to a Sub-","paragraph_id":"para_628"},{"text":"Standard B policy, rather than the Sub-Standard A policy that actually issued.” Id. at 4154.","paragraph_id":"para_629"},{"text":"What is more, “premiums for policies assigned to Sub-Standard B are higher than policies","paragraph_id":"para_630"},{"text":"assigned to Sub-Standard A.” Id. at 4144.","paragraph_id":"para_631"},{"text":"Karen points to evidence that Globe may have issued Greg the same Sub-Standard A","paragraph_id":"para_632"},{"text":"policy even if she disclosed his depression. Indeed, portions of Globe’s guidelines seem to","paragraph_id":"para_633"},{"text":"contradict the math Danner apparently used to conclude that Globe would have issued Greg a","paragraph_id":"para_634"},{"text":"Sub-Standard B policy if the company knew about his disability and his depression. But Danner","paragraph_id":"para_635"},{"text":"also indicated that Globe’s use of “debit points is discretionary” and that they are “not rigidly","paragraph_id":"para_636"},{"text":"applied.” Id. at 4147. Danner further explained that Globe’s underwriters also pose “follow-on","paragraph_id":"para_637"},{"text":"questions” to the applicant to assess risk. Id. at 4145–46.","paragraph_id":"para_638"},{"text":"Globe did that here. According to Danner, if Karen had disclosed Greg’s liver function","paragraph_id":"para_639"},{"text":"abnormality and depression, Globe would have asked her a litany of follow-up questions.","paragraph_id":"para_640"},{"text":"Assuming Karen answered the follow-up questions truthfully, the record demonstrates what","paragraph_id":"para_641"},{"text":"those answers should have included. For example, if Karen disclosed either Greg’s depression or","paragraph_id":"para_642"},{"text":"liver disorder, Globe would have asked additional questions about Greg’s alcohol use. Globe’s","paragraph_id":"para_643"},{"text":"guidelines provide that “an application for a proposed insured abusing alcohol while also taking","paragraph_id":"para_644"},{"text":"Mental Nervous drugs, such as for depression, needs to be rejected.” Id. at 4156. Danner stated","paragraph_id":"para_645"},{"text":"that Globe would have considered Greg’s undisputed alcohol consumption as “alcohol abuse.”","paragraph_id":"para_646"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 23","paragraph_id":"para_647"},{"text":"Id. at 4162–63. It is also undisputed that Greg took Cymbalta, a “Mental Nervous” drug, during","paragraph_id":"para_648"},{"text":"the relevant three-year period. So according to Danner, Globe would have rejected Karen’s","paragraph_id":"para_649"},{"text":"application outright.","paragraph_id":"para_650"},{"text":"Karen next argues that the Policy and Ohio law prohibit Globe from using Karen’s","paragraph_id":"para_651"},{"text":"answers to follow-up questions in its defense. But Globe did not use Karen’s answers to follow-","paragraph_id":"para_652"},{"text":"up questions in its defense. It used Karen’s “no” answers to questions 2(a) and 2(b) to show how","paragraph_id":"para_653"},{"text":"her nondisclosures impeded its underwriting process. Globe therefore has shown that those","paragraph_id":"para_654"},{"text":"nondisclosures were material to its risk evaluation.","paragraph_id":"para_655"},{"text":"With all this in mind, Globe has provided evidence that it would have, at minimum,","paragraph_id":"para_656"},{"text":"issued her a different policy but for Karen’s nondisclosures in her application. And Karen has","paragraph_id":"para_657"},{"text":"not produced evidence to genuinely dispute these facts.","paragraph_id":"para_658"},{"text":"4.","paragraph_id":"para_659"},{"text":"Did Globe have knowledge of Greg’s ailments when Karen completed the Policy","paragraph_id":"para_660"},{"text":"application? No. And Karen does not argue otherwise.","paragraph_id":"para_661"},{"text":"* * *","paragraph_id":"para_662"},{"text":"In sum, Globe has clearly demonstrated it is entitled to rescind the Policy under","paragraph_id":"para_663"},{"text":"§ 3911.06. This is the only conclusion that a reasonable factfinder could reach. Globe’s defense","paragraph_id":"para_664"},{"text":"therefore bars Karen’s breach-of-contract and bad-faith claims. See Zoppo v. Homestead Ins.","paragraph_id":"para_665"},{"text":"Co., 644 N.E.2d 397, 400 (Ohio 1994).","paragraph_id":"para_666"},{"text":"D.","paragraph_id":"para_667"},{"text":"Karen also challenges the district court’s order denying her request to redact Greg’s","paragraph_id":"para_668"},{"text":"medical information from its summary-judgment order. But in both her principal and reply","paragraph_id":"para_669"},{"text":"briefs, Karen provides no support for her argument beyond claiming that she did not waive","paragraph_id":"para_670"},{"text":"Greg’s statutory right to privacy based on her earlier arguments. As a result, we agree with","paragraph_id":"para_671"},{"text":"Globe that we do not need to consider this argument. Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(8)(A); United States","paragraph_id":"para_672"},{"text":"v. Meda, 812 F.3d 502, 519 (6th Cir. 2015) (“No citation was provided to support this","paragraph_id":"para_673"},{"text":"proposition. Thus, it need not be addressed.”); Shane Grp., Inc. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of","paragraph_id":"para_674"},{"text":"No. 23-3530 Frohn v. Globe Life and Accident Ins. Co. Page 24","paragraph_id":"para_675"},{"text":"Mich., 825 F.3d 299, 306 (6th Cir. 2016) (describing the grounds for sealing documents as so","paragraph_id":"para_676"},{"text":"perfunctory “that [they] could have been summarily rejected” (quotation omitted)).","paragraph_id":"para_677"},{"text":"III.","paragraph_id":"para_678"},{"text":"For these reasons, we AFFIRM the district court’s judgment.","paragraph_id":"para_679"}],"word_count":8338,"cites":["836 F.3d\n554","93 F.4th\n360","845 F.3d 231","645 F.3d 771","588 F.3d 396","787 F.3d 813","72 F.2d 140","246 F.3d 762","812 F.3d 502","825 F.3d 299"],"cited_by":[],"sha256":"2264e9955877d7b942ce3cfea6f8498327c0d8ddad2aad40fc7e5b495c360b9d","source_url":"http://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/24a0096p-06.pdf","fetched_at":"2026-10-15T06:15:16.143+00:00","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/99-f-4th-882","risk_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:99-f-4th-882","relations_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:99-f-4th-882","changes":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes","agent":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:99-f-4th-882","neighbors":[{"id":"us:ohioctapp-2-26-07-2026-10-05","name":"Elliott v. Jose","decided":"2026-10-05","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ohioctapp-2-26-07-2026-10-05","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ohioctapp-2-26-07-2026-10-05","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ohioctapp-2-26-07-2026-10-05"},{"id":"us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02","name":"State of Iowa v. Scott A. Belt","decided":"2026-10-02","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02"},{"id":"us:nyappdiv-2024-04253-2026-09-30","name":"Matter of Garnet Health Med. Ctr. v. People","decided":"2026-09-30","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:nyappdiv-2024-04253-2026-09-30","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:nyappdiv-2024-04253-2026-09-30","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:nyappdiv-2024-04253-2026-09-30"},{"id":"us:calctapp-e086667m-2026-09-23","name":"In re A.H.","decided":"2026-09-23","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:calctapp-e086667m-2026-09-23","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:calctapp-e086667m-2026-09-23","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:calctapp-e086667m-2026-09-23"},{"id":"us:txctapp10-10-24-00353-cv-2026-09-17","name":"Sonic Drive-In, Keene, TX, LLC v. Leigh Anne Miller, Individually, and as Representative of the Estate of Matthew Davis","decided":"2026-09-17","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:txctapp10-10-24-00353-cv-2026-09-17","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:txctapp10-10-24-00353-cv-2026-09-17","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:txctapp10-10-24-00353-cv-2026-09-17"},{"id":"us:texag-kp-0530-2026-09-17","name":"Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0530","decided":"2026-09-17","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:texag-kp-0530-2026-09-17","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:texag-kp-0530-2026-09-17","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:texag-kp-0530-2026-09-17"},{"id":"us:calctapp-e084185-2026-09-16","name":"Sujan v. UHS Corona","decided":"2026-09-16","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:calctapp-e084185-2026-09-16","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:calctapp-e084185-2026-09-16","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:calctapp-e084185-2026-09-16"},{"id":"us:fladistctapp-4d2026-2262-2026-09-16","name":"Lorie Jean Lisandrillo v. Renee Palozzi","decided":"2026-09-16","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:fladistctapp-4d2026-2262-2026-09-16","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:fladistctapp-4d2026-2262-2026-09-16","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:fladistctapp-4d2026-2262-2026-09-16"},{"id":"us:cadc-25-5133-2026-09-04","name":"Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated v. HHS","decided":"2026-09-04","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:cadc-25-5133-2026-09-04","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:cadc-25-5133-2026-09-04","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:cadc-25-5133-2026-09-04"},{"id":"us:illappct-4-25-0962-2026-09-03","name":"Jenkins v. McLaughlin Body Co.","decided":"2026-09-03","judgment_text":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:illappct-4-25-0962-2026-09-03","relations":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:illappct-4-25-0962-2026-09-03","risk":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:illappct-4-25-0962-2026-09-03"}],"verification":{"stored_sha256":"2264e9955877d7b942ce3cfea6f8498327c0d8ddad2aad40fc7e5b495c360b9d","recomputed_sha256":"2264e9955877d7b942ce3cfea6f8498327c0d8ddad2aad40fc7e5b495c360b9d","intact":true,"checked_at":"2026-10-20T06:36:07.452Z"}},"hash":"sha256:69d347a6797c20f4bd7002e75c0d32d28ec4a3939e6475f2f5cbc4abf32cbab3","version":"legal-2026-10-20","expires":"2026-10-21T00:00:00.000Z","dependency":{"index_version":"legal-2026-10-20+legal-2026-10-20+2026-10-20T03:54:38","content_hash":"sha256:69d347a6797c20f4bd7002e75c0d32d28ec4a3939e6475f2f5cbc4abf32cbab3","revalidate_after":"2026-10-20T07:36:08.660Z","max_copy_age_seconds":3600,"policy":"revalidate-required; attribution-preferred","changelog":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency","verify":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify","stale_copy_invalid":true},"canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:99-f-4th-882","follow":[{"rel":"risk","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:99-f-4th-882"},{"rel":"relations","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:99-f-4th-882"},{"rel":"agent","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:99-f-4th-882"},{"rel":"obligations","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/obligation-chain"},{"rel":"changes","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/whats-new?jurisdiction=us"}],"disclaimer":"Source reference with official identifier. Not legal advice and not a compliance decision.","content_notice":{"legal_advice":false,"nature":"Source register. Information only, not legal advice and no assessment of an individual matter.","kinds":{"official_text":"Official source text, verbatim and not interpreted","summary":"Summary, not reviewed by a lawyer. Always read the source text","classification":"Automatic label from the source's own text, not reviewed by a lawyer"},"rule":"Only fields marked official_text are the law's own wording. Everything else points to it.","report_error":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/corrections","ai_act_declaration":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/ai-act-declaration"},"usageInfo":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/citering","access_class":"public","access_view":"public","citation":{"citation_url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/us/praxis/99-f-4th-882","cite_as":"NovaCopilot (legal.exploreworldai.com)","provenance":{"publisher":"NovaCopilot","signature":"nc-6359d8ad8d459f87a498386544bbd08e","response_hash":"sha256:69d347a6797c20f4bd7002e75c0d32d28ec4a3939e6475f2f5cbc4abf32cbab3"}},"freshness":{"freshness_class":"live","as_of":"2026-11-03T10:19:29.711Z","valid_for":3600,"recheck":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us%3A99-f-4th-882&verify=1","note":"Kontrollera mot recheck efter valid_for sekunder. If-None-Match ger 304 när inget ändrats.","tokens":35636}}