Opinion
2012-12-13
CASTLEPOINT INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. MIKE'S PIPE YARD AND BUILDING SUPPLY CORP., Defendant, Damon Haindl, Defendant–Appellant.
Avanzino & Moreno, P.C., Brooklyn (Oliver R. Tobias of counsel), for appellant. Law Office of Steven G. Fauth, LLC, New York (Suma Samuel Thomas of counsel), for respondent.
Avanzino & Moreno, P.C., Brooklyn (Oliver R. Tobias of counsel), for appellant. Law Office of Steven G. Fauth, LLC, New York (Suma Samuel Thomas of counsel), for respondent.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Carol R. Edmead, J.), entered November 16, 2011, which, upon renewal and reargument, granted plaintiff Castlepoint Insurance Company's motion for summary judgment to declare that Castlepoint did not have an obligation to indemnify or defend defendant Mike's Pipe Yard and Building Supply Corp. (Mike's) in an underlying personal injury action brought by defendant Damon Haindl, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The motion court providently exercised its discretion in granting Castlepoint's motion to renew and reargue its prior motion ( see e.g. Mejia v. Nanni, 307 A.D.2d 870, 763 N.Y.S.2d 611 [1st Dept. 2003] ). Castlepoint correctly argued that Mike's could not demonstrate the reasonableness of its delay in reporting the accident leading to Haindl's injury ( Paramount Ins. Co. v. Rosedale Gardens, 293 A.D.2d 235, 240, 743 N.Y.S.2d 59 [1st Dept. 2002] ). Mike's principal knew of the accident the day it occurred and of the potential for litigation almost immediately thereafter. In addition, the arguments it made in opposition to the initial motion for summary judgment had been previously rejected in a similar action ( Tower Ins. Co. of N.Y. v. Mike's Pipe Yard & Bldg. Supply Corp., 35 A.D.3d 275, 827 N.Y.S.2d 36 [1st Dept. 2006] ), making it unreasonable for Mike's to think they would suffice to excuse late notice to its insurer in the instant action.
We have considered the remaining arguments and find them unavailing.