Case ID: ad2d_284/html/0975-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

University Garden Apartments, L.P., et al., Appellants, v Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Respondent, et al., Defendant.
    [726 NYS2d 901]
   —Order unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed without costs in accordance with the following Memorandum: Plaintiffs commenced this action seeking judgment declaring that defendant Nationwide Insurance Company (Nationwide) is obligated to defend and indemnify Dickerson Construction, Inc. (Dickerson) in a personal injury action brought against plaintiffs and Dickerson by defendant Carey A. Michalak. Based upon an order in the underlying action granting them summary judgment on their indemnification claim against Dickerson, which was affirmed by this Court (Michalak v University Garden Apts., 277 AD2d 1064), plaintiffs now seek judgment declaring that Nationwide is obligated to indemnify them in the underlying action and to reimburse them for attorney’s fees and expenses incurred in defense of the underlying action.

Supreme Court properly granted the cross motion of Nationwide for summary judgment dismissing the amended complaint against it. Plaintiffs are strangers to the insurance policy issued to Dickerson, and they may not maintain a direct action against Nationwide to enforce Nationwide’s obligation under that policy unless a judgment against Dickerson is rendered and remains unsatisfied (see, Insurance Law § 3420 [a] [2]; [b] [2]; Abdalla v Yehia, 246 AD2d 373, 374; Hershberger v Schwartz, 198 AD2d 859, 860). We modify the order, however, by deleting the third ordering paragraph. (Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Niagara County, Fricano, J. — Summary Judgment.) Present — Green, J. P., Hayes, Hurlbutt, Scudder and Lawton, JJ.