S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5624
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 14, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. WEINSTEIN, SEAWRIGHT, ABINANTI, TITUS, CUSICK,
COLTON, TAYLOR -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GLICK, PERRY -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to establishing a private
right of action for unfair claim settlement practices by an insurer
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 2601 of the insurance law is
amended and a new subsection (d) is added to read as follows:
(c) If it is found, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, that
an insurer has violated this section, each instance of noncompliance
with subsection (a) [hereof] OF THIS SECTION may be treated as a sepa-
rate violation of this section for purposes of ordering a monetary
penalty pursuant to subsection (b) of section one hundred nine of this
chapter. A violation of this section shall not be a misdemeanor.
(D) WHERE THE GOVERNOR HAS DECLARED A DISASTER EMERGENCY PURSUANT TO
SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT OF
ACTION GRANTED TO THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ANY PERSON
WHO HAS SUFFERED LOSS OR INJURY BY REASON OF ANY VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION RELATING TO AN INSURANCE CLAIM FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE IN AN
AFFECTED AREA ENCOMPASSED BY THE EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING THE DISASTER
EMERGENCY MAY BRING AN ACTION IN HIS OR HER OWN NAME AS A PLAINTIFF TO
ENJOIN SUCH UNLAWFUL ACT OR PRACTICE AND AN ACTION TO RECOVER HIS OR HER
ACTUAL DAMAGES. THE COURT MAY, IN ITS DISCRETION, AWARD PUNITIVE
DAMAGES, IF THE COURT FINDS THAT THE DEFENDANT INSURER WILLFULLY OR
KNOWINGLY VIOLATED THIS SECTION. THE COURT MAY AWARD REASONABLE ATTOR-
NEY'S FEES TO A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00890-01-9