We’ve all seen it before. The insured files a claim, the insurance company sends out an adjuster to adjust the loss, the loss is more complex, or a situation arises that the adjuster cannot handle so the insurance company forwards the claim to their legal department. At that point, an attorney becomes involved and the … Continue Reading
Since the New York Department of Insurance was abolished in October 2011, the New York State Department of Financial Services has supervised and regulated all insurance companies that do business in New York. The Department of Financial Services attempts to ensure fair and equitable dealings between insurers, agents, and policyholders regarding all insurance transactions. The … Continue Reading
The statute of limitations period applicable to a breach of contract cause of action in New York is ordinarily six years. However, parties to a contract may agree, in writing, that any lawsuit must be commenced within a shorter period of time. Moreover, while the statute of limitations on a breach of insurance contract generally … Continue Reading
The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department “unanimously reversed, on the law, with costs, the motion denied and the claims reinstated,” the New York County Supreme Court trial judge’s order dated April 2, 2018, to the extent appealed from, which granted dismissal of Plaintiff D.K. Property, Inc.’s (“D.K.”) consequential damages (other than attorney’s … Continue Reading
Tiffany Tower Condominium LLC sustained damages during Superstorm Sandy. In November 2012, the insured filed a claim with their insurer, Insurance Company of Greater New York, for damages sustained during the storm. Greater New York paid the claim out in December 2012. In September 2014, Tiffany Tower submitted a supplemental claim to Greater New York … Continue Reading
Last month, a New York Supreme Court affirmed that insurance companies are subject to that state’s consumer protection law, General Business Law § 349. In 37 West 24th Street, LLC v. Seneca Insurance Company, Inc., the trial court denied Seneca Insurance Company’s motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s claim under that statute.1… Continue Reading
Bad faith and consequential damages has long been a thorn in the New York plaintiff attorney’s side as they are virtually impossible to recover in most breach of contract actions. Recently, one plaintiff was able to recover attorney’s fees and costs by meeting the stringent standard set forth by New York case law.… Continue Reading
A New York policyholder submits to multiple examinations under oath during the investigation of a fire claim before retaining counsel. The question then becomes whether his examination under oath (EUO) testimony is admissible at trial and under what circumstances. A brief survey of my research is summarized below.… Continue Reading
This weekend, I was binging on the Netflix show “The Defenders.” In one of the first episodes, an earthquake hits New York City and a character comments: “Not a lot of people have earthquake insurance up here.” This got me thinking about endorsements to policies, and how likely is it that an earthquake large enough … Continue Reading
I recently received a call from a public adjuster who told me that his client’s property was flooded when a municipal water main broke which caused damage to his property when it flooded.… Continue Reading
Never meet the enemy on their own terms. This memorable line from Rudolph Mate’s classic western, The Violent Men, motivates the hero, an embattled ranch owner, as he matches wits and brute force against a ruthless, greedy land baron. The hero’s struggle reminded me of the coverage showdown in National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. TransCanada,1 … Continue Reading
In the New York class action suit, Mazzocki v. State Farm, 1 A.D.3d 9 (N.Y. 3rd Dept. 2003), the Appellate Court for the Third Department finally clarified the question regarding overhead and profit in actual cash value and replacement cost value claims.… Continue Reading
On July 5, 2017, the Second Department gave a very meaningful win for insureds. In McBride v. New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association,1 Nor’easter Nemo struck the insured’s home causing a failure of the electrical system. The failure of the electrical system caused water pipes in the home to burst, causing water damage. New York … Continue Reading
As discussed in my previous blog post regarding the tropical storm watch issued for parts of Long Island because of Hurricane Jose, as soon as damage is discovered, it should be reported to the insurance company, even if you think it is minor and not something that the insurance company will bother with.… Continue Reading
In advance of Hurricane Jose, a tropical storm watch was issued for parts of the Long Island and Connecticut. Although the storm is expected to stay out to sea, the area is expecting rain, rough surf, and wind and beach erosion.… Continue Reading
If an insurance broker fails to obtain the insurance coverage requested or misrepresents the scope or extent of coverage, does an insured have a claim against the broker when the insurance they expected to cover their loss does not as a result of the broker’s negligence?… Continue Reading
To paraphrase the film noir classic Asphalt Jungle, cyber-crime is a left-handed form of human endeavor. The District Court for the Southern District of New York has ruled in Medidata v. Federal Insurance Company,1 that a company duped via e-mail into wiring sums of money overseas by an unknown actor was covered under the company’s … Continue Reading
Recently we received a request from a reader inquiring as to who has the responsibility to determine whether a sustained covered loss to a dwelling can be repaired or must be replaced? We always urge a thorough reading of the policy first, to determine what coverages exist, but not all policies are clear. Here’s a … Continue Reading
More and more requests are coming in from our readers, and this in this post we are looking at Assignments of Benefits (“AOBs”) in New York.… Continue Reading
In 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that permits insurers that provide homeowners and renters insurance for residential real property to offer discounts. Discounts will be offered to consumers who complete approved courses and/or install home improvements that mitigate damage to insured property caused by natural disaster and/or any other insurable event.… Continue Reading
Insurance policies are complicated enough without getting into what law from what state will apply. Some policies have a special “choice of law” or “governing law” provision that allows the parties to agree that a particular state’s laws will be used to interpret the agreement even if the insured lives in a different state.… Continue Reading
The “water damage” exclusion, which applies to a loss caused by “water which backs up through sewers or drains” plagued New Yorkers for decades, until Pichel v. Dryden Mutual Insurance Company, 117 A.D.3d 1267 (3rd Dept. 2014). In Pichel, the insured was an owner of an apartment building and brought an action against its property … Continue Reading
In part one of this series I reviewed broker negligence in New Jersey, in part two, I will discuss broker negligence cases in New York. Contrary to New Jersey where the claim is based in tort, New York allows an agent or broker to be sued under theories of either breach of contract or negligence. … Continue Reading
Former director of Hi-Rise Engineering, Matthew Pappalardo was indicted on a 50-count indictment stemming from Hi-Rise’s role in altering their engineering reports to defraud policyholders from monies owed due to Superstorm Sandy damage. Contained within the indictment were 25 counts of Forgery in the second degree, in violation of Penal Law Sect. 170.10(1) and 25 … Continue Reading
