Smith v. Allstate Insurance Company

Decision Date06 March 2007
Docket Number2006-03596.
Citation2007 NY Slip Op 01855,38 A.D.3d 522,832 N.Y.S.2d 587
PartiesKENNETH SMITH, Appellant, v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY et al., Respondents.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

Contrary to the plaintiff's contention, the Supreme Court properly limited the amount of his recovery from the defendant insurance companies to $25,000. Insurance Law § 3420 (a) (2) permits a plaintiff who holds an unsatisfied judgment against an insured individual to maintain an action against the insured's carrier to collect the judgment. An action pursuant to § 3420 (a) (2) can be commenced following a 30-day waiting period after service upon the insurance company of notice of entry of the judgment. However, the statute does not permit the plaintiff's recovery to exceed "the amount of the applicable limit of coverage" under the subject insurance policy (Insurance Law § 3420 [a] [2]; see Kleynshvag v GAN Ins. Co., 21 AD3d 999 [2005]; Bennion v Allstate Ins. Co., 284 AD2d 924 [2001]; Burgos v Allcity Ins. Co., 272 AD2d 195 [2000]).

Here, the plaintiff alleged in his amended complaint that the subject automobile liability policy had a limit of $25,000, and the certified copy of the policy and declarations page produced by the defendants in opposition to the motion for summary judgment confirmed that the coverage limit for bodily injury was $25,000 per person, and $50,000 per occurrence. Although the certification statement annexed to the policy, which was signed outside of New York State, was not accompanied by a certificate authenticating the authority of the notary who administered the oath (see CPLR 2309 [c]), this omission was not a fatal defect (see CPLR 2001; Sparaco v Sparaco, 309 AD2d 1029 [2003]; Nandy v Albany Med. Ctr. Hosp., 155 AD2d 833 [1989]; see also Siegel, Practice Commentaries, McKinney's Cons Laws of NY, Book 7B, CPLR C2309:3, at 348).

The plaintiff's remaining contentions are without merit.

Mastro, J.P., Rivera, Dillon and Carni, JJ., concur.

To continue reading

Request your trial
22 cases
  • Midfirst Bank v. Agho
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • August 13, 2014
    ...Cos., Inc., 41 A.D.3d 638, 838 N.Y.S.2d 639), motions in actions brought pursuant to Insurance Law § 3420(a) ( see Smith v. Allstate Ins. Co., 38 A.D.3d 522, 832 N.Y.S.2d 587), motions in motor vehicle negligence actions reliant upon out-of-state experts ( see Matos v. Salem Truck Leasing, ......
  • Walker v. Erie Ins. Co.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • November 10, 2022
    ...letter as required by CPLR 2309 (c) constitutes a defect that may be disregarded (see CPLR 2001 ; Smith v. Allstate Ins. Co. , 38 A.D.3d 522, 523, 832 N.Y.S.2d 587 [2d Dept. 2007] ; Sparaco v. Sparaco , 309 A.D.2d 1029, 1031, 765 N.Y.S.2d 683 [3d Dept. 2003], lv denied 2 N.Y.3d 702, 778 N.Y......
  • Sussman v. MK LCP Rye LLC, Index No.: 156066/2014
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court
    • July 24, 2017
    ...v. Compania Andina de Comercio Ltda, 68 A.D.3d 672, 673, 891 N.Y.S.2d 394, 395 [1st Dept 2009], citing Smith v. Allstate Ins. Co., 38 A.D.3d 522, 523, 832 N.Y.S.2d 587, 589 [2d Dept 2007]. Moreover, courts may disregard such defects unless an objecting party demonstrates that a substantial ......
  • Fredette v. Town of Southampton
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • May 8, 2012
    ...held that the absence of a certificate of conformity for an out-of-state affidavit is not a fatal defect ( see Smith v. Allstate Ins. Co., 38 A.D.3d 522, 523, 832 N.Y.S.2d 587), a view shared by the Appellate Division, First and Third Departments as well ( see Matapos Tech. Ltd. v. Compania......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • Chapter 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
    • United States
    • New York State Bar Association Contract Doctrine and Marital Agreements in New York
    • Invalid date
    ...Acknowledgments and proofs without the state, but within the United States or any territory, possession, or dependency thereof).[1730] 38 A.D.3d 522, 832 N.Y.S.2d 587 (2d Dep't 2007); see also Gonzalez v. Perkan Concrete Corp., 110 A.D.3d 955, 975 N.Y.S.2d 65 (2d Dep't 2013); Matos v. Salem......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT