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HANOVER INSURANCE COMPANY, as Subrogee of PHILIP L. HOTTOT, Appellant, v. SUSAN M. FINNERTY, Respondent.

Order unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed without costs in accordance with the following Memorandum: Supreme Court erred in dismissing this subrogation action upon the ground that, in executing a general release, plaintiff's insured failed to reserve plaintiff's subrogation rights against defendant. The unambiguous reservation of the insured's claim for underinsurance benefits from the insurer encompassed a reservation of the insurer's right to subrogation ( see, Connecticut Fire Ins. Co. v Erie Ry. Co., 73 N.Y. 399; Matter of State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. v Trapanotto, 166 A.D.2d 537). Moreover, defendant's post-answer motion to dismiss based upon the defenses of waiver, release and Statute of Limitations was untimely ( see, CPLR 3211 [e]; Burns v Binghamton Hous. Auth., 36 A.D.2d 1004).

The court properly denied plaintiff's cross motion to amend the complaint to assert a cause of action for implied indemnification. A motion to amend the complaint should be denied where, as here, the proposed amendment lacks merit ( see, Goldstein v Barco of Cal., 109 A.D.2d 817, 818); plaintiff's remedy is subrogation, not indemnification ( see, State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Regional Tr. Serv., 79 A.D.2d 858, 859). Thus, we modify the order on appeal by denying defendant's motion and reinstating the complaint.

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HANOVER INSURANCE COMPANY v. FINNERTY
(Mar 8, 1996)