AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges

IN THE MATTER OF LUMBERMENS MUTUAL CASUALTY COMPANY, ET AL., respondents, v. ROBERTO QUINTERO, ET AL., appellants; WCC, ET AL., additional respondents.

DECISION ORDER

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

In a proceeding to stay arbitration of a claim for uninsured motorist benefits, the claimants' insurer has the initial burden of proving that the offending vehicle was insured at the time of the accident, and thereafter the burden is on the party opposing the stay to rebut that prima facie showing (see Matter of Eagle Ins. Co. v. Tichman, 185 A.D.2d 884, 886). In this case, at the hearing, the appellants' insurer made a prima facie showing that the offending tractor was insured on the date of the subject accident. In response to such showing, neither the appellants nor the additional respondents offered any probative evidence to rebut that prima facie case. Thus, the Supreme Court properly granted a stay of arbitration of the claim for uninsured motorist benefits on the ground that the offending tractor was insured on the day of the accident (see Matter of Wausau Ins. Co. v. Predestin, 114 A.D.2d 900).

We reject the appellants' contention that their insurer should be estopped from denying coverage of their uninsured motorist claims for failure to timely disclaim. An insurer has no obligation to timely disclaim in those situations in which coverage does not exist (see Matter of State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. v. Vasquez, 249 A.D.2d 312). Therefore, the appellants' insurer was not required to timely disclaim, as the uninsured motorist coverage of the policy would not attach unless and until it was established that the offending vehicle was uninsured on the date of the accident (see Matter of Nationwide Ins. Co. v. Sillman, 266 A.D.2d 551, 552).

RITTER, J.P., SMITH, GOLDSTEIN and H. MILLER, JJ., concur.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

IN RE LUMBERMENS MUTUAL CAS. v. QUINTERO
(May 27, 2003)