Joseph v. NYPIUA

Joseph v. New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association, Index. No. 21862/2015 (NY Sup. Ct. Suffolk Co. 2019)

The court granted New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association'sw summary judgment on an alleged vandalism claim filed by a homeowner. The court found, after NYPIUA presented affidavits from its independent adjuster and its claims representative, that plaintiff's water damage was not proven to be the result of vandalism. The homeowner returned from a winter holiday hiatus and found water damage. He claimed, despite his alarm system, that someone had gained entry to his home such that, when he went to investigate plaster that had fallen from his first floor ceiling and water gushed out, vandalism was the cause of his damage. The police found no forced entry. The court found that plaintiff, in response to the motion, presented no evidence that proved an issue of fact remained to be tried and granted summary judgment to NYPIUA. The court found: