Case Name: Ronald J. Smith, on Behalf of Himself and Certain Other Underwriting Members of Lloyd's of London and Other Companies, Appellant, v. Upali (USA) Inc., Defendant, and Gerard R. Lear, as Administrator of the Estate of Sittampalam M. Ratnam, Deceased, et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1996-01-16
Citations: 223 A.D.2d 407
Docket Number: 
Parties: Ronald J. Smith, on Behalf of Himself and Certain Other Underwriting Members of Lloyd’s of London and Other Companies, Appellant, v Upali (USA) Inc., Defendant, and Gerard R. Lear, as Administrator of the Estate of Sittampalam M. Ratnam, Deceased, et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 223
Pages: 407–408

Head Matter:
Ronald J. Smith, on Behalf of Himself and Certain Other Underwriting Members of Lloyd’s of London and Other Companies, Appellant, v Upali (USA) Inc., Defendant, and Gerard R. Lear, as Administrator of the Estate of Sittampalam M. Ratnam, Deceased, et al., Respondents.
[636 NYS2d 322]

Opinion:
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Karla Moskowitz, J.), entered on or about November 3, 1994, which, after a nonjury trial, inter alia, declared that a certain insurance policy issued to defendant Upali (USA) Inc. was valid and applicable to the subject accident and to the action commenced by the personal representative of defendant Ratnam Estate against Upali (USA) Inc. and defendant Gates Learjet Corp., unanimously affirmed, with costs.
The verdict was not against the weight of the evidence since there is ample factual support for the trial court's conclusion that plaintiffs failed to meet their burden of proving a lack of cooperation of the insured (see, Thrasher v United States Liab. Ins. Co., 19 NY2d 159, 168-169). The record reveals that the insurer failed to take timely steps to inspect the insured's records and failed to attempt to interview its principal or take diligent steps to take his deposition.
We have considered plaintiff's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Concur—Sullivan, J. P., Rosenberger, Wallach, Ross and Williams, JJ.