From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Hindi v. New York Property Ins. Underwriting

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
May 12, 1986
120 A.D.2d 566 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986)

Opinion

May 12, 1986

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Mirabile, J.).


Order affirmed, with costs.

The plaintiff sues under a standard fire insurance policy to recover $36,421 for damages to his grocery store. By letter dated August 3, 1981, the defendant demanded proofs of loss from the plaintiff and provided two blank forms for that purpose. Subsequent thereto, the defendant, by notice of motion dated May 21, 1984, moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint upon the ground that the plaintiff failed to render the requisite proofs of loss within 60 days of the written demand therefor in compliance with the terms of the policy and the Insurance Law. Special Term granted the defendant's motion and denied the plaintiff's motion for consolidation of this action with his pending action against the public adjusters retained by him. We agree.

It is well settled that the failure to file sworn proofs of loss within 60 days of the demand therefor constitutes an absolute defense to an action on a standard fire insurance policy (see, Igbara Realty Corp. v New York Prop. Ins. Underwriting Assn., 63 N.Y.2d 201; Insurance Law former §§ 168, 172 [now §§ 3404, 3407, respectively]). It is conceded that the plaintiff received the written demand for the proofs of loss and that no such proofs were timely rendered to the defendant. Contrary to the plaintiff's argument, we do not find that the actions of the defendant's representatives rise to such a level as to warrant the application of equitable estoppel against the defendant. In any event, the plaintiff executed a nonwaiver agreement after the expiration of the 60-day period and cannot now contend that estoppel is warranted (see, C.F.C. Realty Corp. v Empire Fire Mar. Ins. Co., 110 A.D.2d 508). Lawrence, J.P., Eiber, Kunzeman and Kooper, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Hindi v. New York Property Ins. Underwriting

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
May 12, 1986
120 A.D.2d 566 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986)
Case details for

Hindi v. New York Property Ins. Underwriting

Case Details

Full title:RAYEK HINDI, Appellant, v. NEW YORK PROPERTY INSURANCE UNDERWRITING…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: May 12, 1986

Citations

120 A.D.2d 566 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986)

Citing Cases

Guadagno v. Colonial Cooperative Ins. Co.

Initially, we reject the argument that the 60-day time limitation of Insurance Law former § 172 applies to…

Goldman v. Allstate Insurance Companies

after the demand therefor constitutes an absolute defense to an action to recover damages under an insurance…