When 5 + 3 = 1

COMMERCIAL PACKAGE POLICY  – EMPLOYEE DISHONESTY COVERAGE  – NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES   – ANTI-STACKING PROVISION   Dan Tait, Inc. v. Farm Fam...

Words Matter -- a Notice of Storage Lien That Lacks the Word "Lien" Is Invalid

AUTO  – TOWING/STORAGE CHARGES  – STORAGE  LIEN  – LIEN LAW § 184(5)   Matter of Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. v All County Towing (3rd Dep...

Injured Party/Judgment Creditor Who Obtains Assignment of Insureds' Bad Faith Claim After Conclusion of Direct Action May Bring Second Action Against Liability Insurer

HOMEOWNERS  – LIABILITY – EXCESS JUDGMENT  – STANDING  –  BAD FAITH  – INSURANCE LAW 3420(A)(2) & (B)(1)   Corle v. Allstate Ins. Co. (4...

May a New York Property Insurer Communicate Directly with Its Insured Who Is Represented by a Public Adjuster?

This was yesterday's question of the day, one I'm asked from time to time.  Each time I get this question I check New York's ins...

That's Incredible! (as a Matter of Law)

HOMEOWNERS – PROOF OF LOSS CONDITION – SUMMARY JUDGMENT  Finley v. Erie and Niagara Ins. Assn. (4th Dept., 6/15/2018) Russell Finley's h...

How to Abandon Your Complaint in New York (and Kiss Your $22,000 Subro Claim Goodbye)

SUBROGATION  – CPLR § 3215(C) – DEFAULT PROCEEDINGS NOT TAKEN WITHIN ONE YEAR  Selective Auto. Ins. Co. of NJ a/s/o Pine v. Nesbitt (1st Dep...

Summary Judgment to Homeowners Insurer on Insured's Failure to Reasonable Care to Maintain Heat Affirmed By Third Department

HOMEOWNERS   – FREEZING EXCLUSION  – REASONABLE CARE TO MAINTAIN HEAT  Stephenson v. Allstate Indem. Co. (3rd Dept., 4/19/2018) The insured ...

Burden of Proving Exception to Exclusion Falls on Insured

COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY  – BURDEN OF PROOF – EXCEPTION TO EXCLUSION  Corbel Constr. Co. v Arch Specialty Ins. Co. (2nd Dept., 4/11/2018...

Did You File Your Certification of Compliance with New York State Department of Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulations?

Last Thursday, March 1, 2018, marked the one-year anniversary of the New York State Department of Financial Service's (NYSDFS') prom...

Passing References Do Not a Covered Claim Make

"WRONGFUL ACT"  – ANTITRUST LAWSUIT  – DUTY TO DEFEND  Carfax, Inc. v. Illinois National Ins. Co. (1st Dept., 3/1/2018) Carfax...

Bodily Injuries from Large, White, Environmentally Mobile Cloud of Toxic Chlorine Gas Excluded by Absolute Pollution Exclusion

COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY  – COMMERCIAL UMBRELLA LIABILITY  –  ABSOLUTE POLLUTION EXCLUSION  – CHOICE OF LAW  –  BODILY INJURY CLAIMS  Be...

There Are No Such Things -- First Department Affirms Dismissal of CGL Insurer's "Equitable Indemnity" and "Equitable Reapportionment" Causes of Action

COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY  – COMMERCIAL UMBRELLA LIABILITY  – COINSURANCE RECOVERY ACTION  United Natl. Ins. Co. v. Travelers Prop. Cas. ...

Mental Injury Not Resulting from Bodily Injury, Sickness or Disease Is Not Covered

GENERAL LIABILITY  – "BODILY INJURY" – MENTAL INJURY  Incorporated Village of Old Westbury v. American Alternative Ins. Co. (2nd C...

Use or Operation of Bus Found to Be Proximate Cause of Passenger's Injury for New York No-Fault Purposes

NO-FAULT  – USE OR OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE   – COURT REVIEW OF ARBITRATION RULINGS Matter of New York City Tr. Auth. v Physical Medicin...

Jury Verdict Finding Named Insured Was Residing in Insured Premises Affirmed

PROPERTY  –  HOMEOWNERS – RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT  – POLLUTION EXCLUSION  – ASBESTOS CONTROL COSTS  – LOSS OF RENTS Cotillis v. New York Cent....

Go Fish. New York Court of Appeals Rejects Factual Predicate Threshold Requirement for Discovery of Non-Public Facebook Content

SOCIAL MEDIA DISCOVERY  – DEFENSE OF PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM  – FACEBOOK CONTENT   Forman v. Henkin (Ct. Apps., 2/13/2018) Since 2011, I have ...

Court Upholds Insurer's Refusal to Produce in Discovery Information Regarding Claims of Other Insureds

PROPERTY  – QUESTIONS OF FACT PRECLUDING SUMMARY JUDGMENT  – SCOPE OF DISCOVERY   Gray v. Tri-State Consumer Ins. Co. (2nd Dept., 1/31/2018)...