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THE SHORTER LIMITATIONS PERIOD IN THE FIRE INSURANCE POLICY WAS NOT FAIR AND REASONABLE; THE MOTION TO DISMISS IN THIS BREACH OF CONTRACT ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court in the fire-insurance breach of contract case, determined the contractual limitations period in the insurance policy was not fair and reasonable:

“Article 2 of the CPLR (‘Limitations of Time’), provides that ‘[a]n action . . . must be commenced within the time specified in this article unless . . . a shorter time is prescribed by written agreement'” … . “‘[A]n agreement which modifies the Statute of Limitations by specifying a shorter, but reasonable, period within which to commence an action is enforceable'” … . “‘[T]he period of time within which an action must be brought . . . should be fair and reasonable, in view of the circumstances of each particular case. . . . The circumstances, not the time, must be the determining factor'” … . “‘Absent proof that the contract is one of adhesion or the product of overreaching, or that [the] altered period is unreasonably short, the abbreviated period of limitation will be enforced'” … .

The Supreme Court should have denied that branch of the defendants’ motion which was pursuant to CPLR 3211(a) to dismiss the complaint. Contrary to the defendants’ contentions, the modified limitations period in the subject insurance policy was not fair and reasonable. The insurance policy provided that “[n]o action can be brought unless the policy provisions have been complied with and the action is started within one year after the date of loss” and that “[w]e will pay no more than the actual cash value of the damage until actual repair or replacement is complete. Once actual repair or replacement is complete, we will settle the loss.” Here, the one-year limitation was unreasonable since the condition precedent, completion of actual repair or replacement, was not within the plaintiffs’ control and could not be met within that period … . “‘A “limitation period” that expires before suit can be brought is not really a limitation period at all, but simply a nullification of the claim'” … . Filasky v Andover Cos., 2024 NY Slip Op 04545, Second Dept 9-25-25

Practice Point: Parties can agree on shorter limitations periods. Here the limitations period in the subject fire insurance policy expired before suit could be brought rendering it unfair, unreasonable and unenforceable.

 

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