X

Legal Memorandum: Establishing Lack of Insurance Coverage

Issue: Under New York law, in order to establish a lack of coverage, what is an insurer’s burden?

Area of Law: Insurance Law
Keywords: Lack of coverage; Insurer's burden
Jurisdiction: New York
Cited Cases: 46 N.Y.2d 351; 385 N.E.2d 1280; 230 N.Y.S.2d 13; 183 N.E.2d 899
Cited Statutes: None
Date: 02/01/2001

In order to prove that an insured’s loss is excluded from coverage under the policy, an insurer must show that its construction of the exclusionary clauses is the only reasonable one, that the exclusions are stated in clear and unmistakable language, and that the clauses apply in this case.  Sincoff v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 11 N.Y.2d 386, 390-91, 183 N.E.2d 899, 230 N.Y.S.2d 13, 15-16 (1962); Breed v. Insurance Co. of N. America, 46 N.Y.2d 351, 353-54, 385 N.E.2d 1280, 413 N.Y.S.2d. 352, 354-55 (1978).        

[…]

Subscribe to Litigation Pathfinder

To get the full-text of this Legal Memorandum ... and more!

(Month-to-month and annual subscriptions available)