New York Court of Appeals, 1981

Willets Point Contracting Corp. v. Hartford Insurance Group

Willets Point Contracting Corp. v. Hartford Insurance Group
New York Court of Appeals · Decided May 7, 1981
53 N.Y.2d 879; 423 N.E.2d 42; 440 N.Y.S.2d 619; 1981 N.Y. LEXIS 2456

Willets Point Contracting Corp. v. Hartford Insurance Group

Opinion of the Court

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum:.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.

While the comprehensive general liability policy’s broad definition of property damage provides coverage for loss of use of tangible personal property without physical damage thereto, exclusion “(m)” explicitly disclaims coverage where the injury results from a breach of contract, as in this case. As to the umbrella policy, its narrower definition of property damage does not encompass the nonphysical injury suffered by the plaintiff. Thus even though the alleged “ultimate net loss” was in excess of this policy’s $10,000 “retained limit”, the insurer’s obligation to indemnify was not triggered.

Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Meyer concur.

Order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.

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