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Willets Point Contracting Corp. v. Hartford Ins. Group

Court of Appeals of the State of New York
May 7, 1981
53 N.Y.2d 879 (N.Y. 1981)

Opinion

Argued March 27, 1981

Decided May 7, 1981

Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department, ALEXANDER BERMAN, J.

Harvey Weinig and Stephen A. Ressa for appellant.

James M. O'Brien and Michael F. Sheehan for Hartford Insurance Group, respondent. Edward G. McCabe, County Attorney (Robert O. Boyhan of counsel), for Nassau County, respondent.


MEMORANDUM.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.

While the comprehensive general liability policy's broad definition of property damage provides coverage for loss of use of tangible personal property without physical damage thereto, exclusion "(m)" explicitly disclaims coverage where the injury results from a breach of contract, as in this case. As to the umbrella policy, its narrower definition of property damage does not encompass the nonphysical injury suffered by the plaintiff. Thus even though the alleged "ultimate net loss" was in excess of this policy's $10,000 "retained limit", the insurer's obligation to indemnify was not triggered.

Chief Judge COOKE and Judges JASEN, GABRIELLI, JONES, WACHTLER, FUCHSBERG and MEYER concur.

Order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.


Summaries of

Willets Point Contracting Corp. v. Hartford Ins. Group

Court of Appeals of the State of New York
May 7, 1981
53 N.Y.2d 879 (N.Y. 1981)
Case details for

Willets Point Contracting Corp. v. Hartford Ins. Group

Case Details

Full title:WILLETS POINT CONTRACTING CORPORATION, Appellant, v. HARTFORD INSURANCE…

Court:Court of Appeals of the State of New York

Date published: May 7, 1981

Citations

53 N.Y.2d 879 (N.Y. 1981)
440 N.Y.S.2d 619
423 N.E.2d 42

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