Disclaimer of Coverage Unreasonably Untimely as a Matter of Law

The Second Department determined the defendant insurer’s disclaimer of coverage was unreasonably untimely as a matter of law:

An insurance company has an affirmative obligation to provide written notice of a disclaimer of coverage as soon as is reasonably possible, even where the policyholder’s own notice of the claim to the insurer is untimely … . Here, the defendant learned by January 6, 2012, at the latest, about the underlying personal injury action. The defendant was aware by that date of the grounds for disclaimer of coverage … . Nevertheless, it did not disclaim coverage until March 28, 2012, almost three months later, a delay that, under the circumstances of this case, is unreasonable as a matter of law … . Darling Ferreira v Global Liberty Ins Co of NY, 2014 NY Slip Op 05409, 2nd Dept 7-23-14