HNRK Coverage Corner

On June 29, 2018, Justice Grossman of the Putnam County Supreme Court issued a decision in Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Oster, 2018 NY Slip Op 51018(U), awarding attorneys' fees to an insured in a declaratory judgment action commenced by the insurance company, explaining:

New York has followed the rule that an insured may not recover in an affirmative action to determine its rights, but may do so, where, as here, the insured has been "cast in a defensive posture by the legal steps an insurer takes in an effort to free itself from its policy obligations (see Johnson v. General Mutual Ins. Co., 24 NY2d 42; Glens Falls Ins. Co. v. United States Fire Ins. Co., 41 AD2d 869 [3rd Dept. 1973] aff'd. on opn, 34 NY2d 778 [1974])." Mighty Midgets v. Centennial Ins. Co., 47 NY2d 12 (1979). This holding is in contrast with the so-called American Rule — that absent a contractual provision or statutory basis for recovery, each party is responsible for their own attorneys' fees. In Johnson, supra, the insured was permitted to recover costs of defending the action, but could not recover the costs of a cross-claim against the insurer, nor could the injured party recovery its costs. The exception is one of policy, and it is not lightly expanded. However, some courts have recognized the recovery also includes not only the costs and expenses of a defense to the insurer's actions, but also the costs and defenses of the counterclaim to assert the right to coverage. Admiral Ins. Co. v. Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., 2002 WL 31409450 (SDNY October 24, 2002); Lancer Ins. Co. v. Saravia, 40 Misc 3d 171, 177 (Sup.Ct. [Kings] 2013). The Second Department has made its position clear:

"[A]n insured who is 'cast in a defensive posture by the legal steps an insurer takes in an effort to free itself from its policy obligations,' and who prevails on the merits, may recover an attorney's fee incurred in defending against the insurer's action" (Insurance Co. of Greater NY v. Clermont Armory, LLC, 84 AD3d 1168, 1171, 923 N.Y.S.2d 661, quoting U.S. Underwriters Ins. Co. v. City Club Hotel, LLC, 3 NY3d 592, 598, 789 N.Y.S.2d 470, 822 N.E.2d 777 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Mighty Midgets v. Centennial Ins. Co., 47 NY2d 12, 21, 416 N.Y.S.2d 559, 389 N.E.2d 1080; Johnson v. General Mut. Ins. Co., 24 NY2d 42, 298 N.Y.S.2d 937, 246 N.E.2d 713). " 'It is well settled than an insurer's responsibility to defend reaches the defense of any actions arising out of the occurrence, and defense expenses are recoverable by the insured, including those incurred in defending against an insurer seeking to avoid coverage for a particular claim.'" (RLI Ins. Co. v. Smiedala, 77 AD3d 1293, 1294-1295, 909 N.Y.S.2d 263, quoting National Grange Mut. Ins. Co. v. T.C. Concrete Constr., Inc., 43 AD3d 1321, 1322, 843 N.Y.S.2d 877 [internal quotation marks omitted]). "Moreover, 'an insured who prevails in an action brought by an insurance company seeking a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend or indemnify the insured may recover attorneys' fees regardless of whether the insurer provided a defense to the insured'" (RLI Ins. Co. v., 77 AD3d at 295, 909 N.Y.S.2d 263, quoting U.S. Underwriters Ins. Co. v. City Club Hotel, LLC, 3 NY3d at 598, 789 N.Y.S.2d 470, 822 N.E.2d 777)."

Some state courts award attorneys' fees to a successful insured in a coverage action as a matter of course. See, e.g., New Jersey Court Rule 4:42-9(a)(6) (successful claimant may recover attorneys' fees “in an action upon a liability or indemnity policy of insurance").  However, under the New York Court of Appeals decision in Mighty Midgets v. Centennial Ins. Co., 47 N.Y.2d 12, 21 (1979), attorneys' fees are generally available only when the insurer commences the declaratory judgment action. Separately, there is long-standing authority permitting recovery of attorneys’ fees to a policyholder where the insurance company engages in “such bad faith in denying coverage that no reasonable carrier would, under the given facts, be expected to assert it.” Sukup v. State of New York, 19 N.Y.2d 519, 522 (1967). This standard is hard to satisfy, however: courts have held that if the insurer can demonstrate an “arguable basis” for disclaiming coverage, no fees should be awarded, even if the insured prevails in the lawsuit. See, e.g., Greenberg Eleven Union Free School Dist. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., 304 A.D.2d 334, 336-37 (1st Dep’t 2003).