Cohen v. Tri-State Consumer Ins. Co.

2018–02526 Index No. 601039/17

09-11-2019

Craig COHEN, et al., Respondents, v. TRI–STATE CONSUMER INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant.

Kaufman, Dolowich & Voluck, LLP (Thomas Torto, New York, NY, of counsel), for appellant. Greenblatt & Agulnick, P.C., Great Neck, N.Y. (Scott E. Agulnick of counsel), for respondents.

Kaufman, Dolowich & Voluck, LLP (Thomas Torto, New York, NY, of counsel), for appellant.

Greenblatt & Agulnick, P.C., Great Neck, N.Y. (Scott E. Agulnick of counsel), for respondents.

WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., MARK C. DILLON, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER In an action to recover damages for breach of a homeowner's insurance policy, the defendant appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Anna R. Anzalone, J.), entered January 16, 2018. The order granted the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

After the plaintiffs' home sustained water damage as a result of overflow from a clogged toilet, the plaintiffs filed a claim with the defendant under a homeowner's insurance policy. The defendant disclaimed coverage based on an exclusion in the subject insurance policy for "water which backs up through sewers or drains." The plaintiffs commenced this action alleging breach of the insurance policy. After issue was joined, the plaintiffs moved for summary judgment on the issue of liability.  The Supreme Court granted the motion, and the defendant appeals.

The plaintiffs demonstrated their prima facie entitlement to summary judgment on the issue of liability by establishing "that there was a valid policy of insurance covering the subject property, a loss occurred, a timely claim was made, and the loss fell within the terms of the policy" ( Anghel v. Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 127 A.D.3d 897, 899, 7 N.Y.S.3d 390 ). In opposition, the defendant failed to raise an issue of fact as to whether any policy exclusions applied (see Pichel v. Dryden Mut. Ins. Co., 117 A.D.3d 1267, 986 N.Y.S.2d 268 ).

Accordingly, we agree with the Supreme Court's determination to grant the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability.

MASTRO, J.P., DILLON, BRATHWAITE NELSON and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.