Pratz v. Wayne Cooperative Insurance

187 Misc. 2d 894, 724 N.Y.S.2d 293, 2001 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 109
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedApril 18, 2001
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 187 Misc. 2d 894 (Pratz v. Wayne Cooperative Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pratz v. Wayne Cooperative Insurance, 187 Misc. 2d 894, 724 N.Y.S.2d 293, 2001 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 109 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2001).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Dennis F. Bender, J.

The plaintiff in these actions sued the defendant for breach and reformation of an insurance contract. He now moves for [895]*895partial summary judgment pursuant to CPLR 3212 on the issue of liability. The defendant cross-moves for summary judgment, asking this Court to rule as a matter of law that the insurance company has no liability towards plaintiff, either in his capacity as executor of the estate of Doris Pratz, or in his capacity as administrator of the estate of Charles Pratz. Plaintiff James Pratz was the brother of Charles Pratz, who is the decedent named in the first captioned action. Doris V. Pratz, the decedent named in the second captioned action, was their mother. Oral argument was presented on January 23, 2001.

In July of 1994, Mrs. Pratz took out a renewable homeowner’s policy of coverage on premises located at 2708 Route 96 South, Town of Fayette. She renewed the policy in 1995 and in 1996. Mrs. Pratz was the named insured in the policy but Charles, who resided on a full-time basis in her home, was also considered an insured under the policy.

On December 12, 1996, Mrs. Pratz died. By her will she bequeathed and devised her entire estate to her two sons.

On February 4, 1997, James was appointed executor of Mrs. Pratz’ estate. According to his affidavit, he and Charles discussed division of their mother’s real estate, and it was agreed that Charles would receive title to the subject premises. Because of this understanding, when the insurance renewal notice was received in July 1997, Charles paid the premium due from his own personal funds. Neither he nor James informed the insurance company of Mrs. Pratz’ death.

On September 22, 1997, James, as executor of Mrs. Pratz’ estate, deeded the subject premises to Charles.

On January 5, 1998, there was a total loss of the premises due to fire. Charles also died in the blaze. By letter dated April 24, 1998 to James, as the fiduciary for both Charles’ and Mrs. Pratz’ estates, the defendant advised that coverage was denied. After the date of transfer to Charles, Mrs. Pratz’ estate had no insurable interest, it said, and their records showed no policy being issued to Charles Pratz, thus affording coverage.

In its complaint, the plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant as follows:

A. For the estate of Charles R. Pratz, contract damages in the sum of $130,000 plus interest at 9% from January 5, 1998.

B. In the alternative, for the estate of Charles R. Pratz, granting reformation of defendant’s policy to reflect and state that Charles R. Pratz was the insured with reference to the premises in question on January 5, 1998.

[896]*896C. For the estate of Doris V. Pratz, contract damages in the sum of $40,000 plus interest at 9% for the personal contents coverage in the house.

D. In the alternative, for the estate of Doris V. Pratz, granting reformation of defendant’s policy to reflect and state that the estate of Doris V. Pratz was the insured with reference to the contents in question on January 5, 1998.

The plaintiff first requests that the subject policy be reformed as to the loss of the house itself and the premises (excluding the personal contents) to name Charles, deceased, as the named insured in lieu of Mrs. Pratz.

He does not dispute that Charles and James Pratz failed to notify the insurance company that their mother had died, and that the property had been transferred by James Pratz as executor of Mrs. Pratz’ estate to Charles. There is also no dispute that the insurance policy in question was still in the name of Mrs. Pratz at the time of the fire in January of 1998.

It is settled law that “Reformation is not granted for the purpose of alleviating a hard or oppressive bargain, but rather to restate the intended terms of an agreement when the writing that memorializes that agreement is at variance with the intent of both parties * * * It follows that a petitioning party has to show in no uncertain terms, not only that mistake or fraud exist, but exactly what was really agreed upon between the parties.” (Backer Mgt. Corp. v Acme Quilting Co., 46 NY2d 211, 219 [1978].)

Fraud is not an issue here. Is there a question regarding mistake and what exactly was agreed upon?

In Union Sta. Rest. v North Am. Co. for Prop. & Cas. Ins. (59 AD2d 270, 275-276 [4th Dept 1977]), the Appellate Division stated:

“Prima facie, when it is established that, through innocent mistake of an applicant for insurance, the nature of the ownership of the property to be insured, whether individual or corporate, is misdescribed, the error is mutual for purposes of reformation, even though the insurer is not aware of the error * * * Without proof of concealment by plaintiff or its broker with the intent to deceive defendants, or proof that defendants, for good and sufficient reason, would not have accepted the risk, plaintiff would be entitled to reformation on the showing of mistake by both parties in the description of the owner in the policies * * * There was [897]*897lacking in this record sufficient proof that defendants would not have issued the policies if they had known of the corporate ownership” (quoting Court Tobacco Stores v Great E. Ins. Co., 43 AD2d 561).

Further,

“[t]he name of the insured in the policy is not always important if the intent to cover the risk is clear. [Citations omitted.] Moreover, since defendants did not assert any reason for opposing the reformation of the insurance contract to include the additional insureds, they have no reason to deny plaintiffs coverage as coinsured. [Citation omitted.] Having accepted plaintiffs’ premium payment, having intended to insure the very property it insured, and having asserted no reason for denying the assumption of risk in question, there is no justification for denying plaintiffs the equitable remedy of reformation.” (Crivella v Transit Cas. Co., 116 AD2d 1007, 1008 [4th Dept 1986].)

In this case, mistake has been established on the part of Messrs. Pratz, which remains unrefuted by the defendant.

There has further been no showing to this Court of intentional concealment by the plaintiff, and it is equally evident that coverage of the subject property was intended.

The defendant does argue that had they known of the transfer of the property to Charles Pratz, they would have refused to insure him. By affidavit by Wayne V. Rice, former president of the defendant company, the defendant states,

“From my employment, I also knew of Charles who was known as an alcoholic who smoked and was only sporadically employed. I knew he had been charged with driving while intoxicated. I simply would not have accepted this risk based upon my personal knowledge of Charles Pratz had I been given an opportunity to review an application by Charles Pratz. This is especially so since this policy did not merely insure the residence against fire, but also provided personal liability coverage up to [898]*898$500,000.00.”
Mr. Rice’s affidavit is at best, disingenuous.

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Bluebook (online)
187 Misc. 2d 894, 724 N.Y.S.2d 293, 2001 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 109, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pratz-v-wayne-cooperative-insurance-nysupct-2001.