Opinion
04-07-2015
In re LIQUIDATION OF the INSURANCE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. First Financial Insurance Company, Claimant–Appellant, v. Insurance Corporation of New York, Defendant–Respondent.
Ford Marrin Esposito Witmeyer & Gleser, LLP, New York (John A. Mattoon of counsel), for appellant. Melito & Adolfsen P.C., New York (Ignatius John Melito of counsel), for respondent.
Ford Marrin Esposito Witmeyer & Gleser, LLP, New York (John A. Mattoon of counsel), for appellant.
Melito & Adolfsen P.C., New York (Ignatius John Melito of counsel), for respondent.
Opinion
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Joan M. Kenney, J.), entered November 12, 2013, which denied claimant's motion to reject the referee's report, granted defendant's cross motion to confirm the referee's report, and dismissed the complaint, unanimously affirmed, with costs. Appeals from orders, same court and Justice, entered February 27, 2014, and March 11, 2014, which denied claimant's motions to renew or reargue its prior motion, unanimously dismissed, without costs.
Claimant, First Financial, a judgment creditor of defendant Insurance Corporation of New York's (Inscorp) insured, a now defunct contractor, cannot avoid the requirements of the insurance policy simply because it is filing a claim pursuant to Insurance Law § 3420(b). It has no greater rights than the insured under the policy (see Lang v. Hanover Ins. Co., 3 N.Y.3d 350, 787 N.Y.S.2d 211, 820 N.E.2d 855 [2004] ), and Inscorp's 2005 disclaimer of liability for coverage was proper based on the fact that First Financial's insureds were not named as additional insureds under the Inscorp policy and also on the ground that its notice of claim was untimely (see Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 251 A.D.2d 216, 674 N.Y.S.2d 685 [1st Dept.1998] ).
FRIEDMAN, J.P., ACOSTA, MOSKOWITZ, RICHTER, KAPNICK, JJ., concur.