Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2011

Tower Insurance v. R&R Dental Modeling Inc.

Tower Insurance v. R&R Dental Modeling Inc.
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York · Decided March 24, 2011
82 A.D.3d 607; 920 N.Y.2d 42
Tower Insurance v. R&R Dental Modeling Inc.

Opinion of the Court

Defendant’s principal heard the plaintiff in the underlying personal injury action stumble on the steps, heard her complain *608of pain, and saw her walking with a limp. A week later, defendant’s principal saw that the injured woman’s leg was in a new cast. Nevertheless, defendant failed to notify plaintiff of the possibility of a claim until 17 months later, after it had been served with, the summons and complaint in the personal injury action. Defendant’s failure, despite the observations of its principal, to make any inquiry into the incident belies its claim to a good faith belief that the injured person would not seek to hold it liable for her injuries and renders its delay in notifying plaintiff inexcusable (see e.g. Tower Ins. Co. of N.Y. v Miles, 74 AD3d 410 [2010]; Tower Ins. Co. of N.Y. v Red Rose Rest., Inc., 77 AD3d 453 [2010]). Concur — Mazzarelli, J.P., Andrias, Catterson, Moskowitz and Román, JJ.

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