Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2-1992
Abstract
Defendant-appellant Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company appeals from a judgment entered on January 15, 1992 after a jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Brieant, Ch. J.), awarding a total of $349,304.34 in damages and $174,652.17 in attorney's fees to plaintiffs-appellees John Riordan and Jane Fox (the "Riordans"). The Riordans, a married couple, commenced this action after their house and its contents suffered severe damage as a result of a fire. The Riordans initially made a claim under their homeowners insurance policy with Nationwide. After six months elapsed without settlement of their claim, the Riordans brought this action, alleging that Nationwide breached the insurance contract and committed deceptive acts and practices in violation of N.Y.Gen.Bus.Law § 349 (McKinney 1988) ("GBL § 349"). The Riordans sought compensatory, statutory and punitive damages as well as the attorney's fees permitted by GBL § 349(h). At the close of trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Riordans, awarding compensatory and punitive damages in addition to damages under GBL § 349. The district court then approved an attorney's fees award.
On appeal, Nationwide asserts a variety of errors. Its principal contentions relate to the applicability of GBL § 349 to the insurance industry, the availability of attorney's fees in this case, the availability of punitive damages in a first party action against an insurance company, and the sufficiency of the evidence adduced at trial supporting the GBL § 349 and punitive damages awards. Nationwide also seeks certification of certain questions to the New York Court of Appeals, contending that New York law on those issues is not settled and that therefore New York's highest court must resolve the issues before they can be litigated in this diversity suit. We hold GBL § 349 applicable to insurance companies' interactions with insureds and that sufficient evidence supported the damages awarded under that section. We also reject Nationwide's arguments that the Riordans' attorneys were required to submit contemporaneous time records and that the district court abused its discretion in awarding attorney's fees pursuant to GBL § 349. We certify questions regarding the availability of punitive damages in this case to resolve a split of authority between Appellate Division Departments on this issue.
Recommended Citation
Miner '56, Roger J., "Riordan v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 977 F. 2d 47 - Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 1992" (1992). Circuit Court Opinions. 381.
https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/circuit_opinions/381
Comments
977 F.2d 47 (1992)
John W. RIORDAN; Jane Fox, Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
NATIONWIDE MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 1793, Docket 92-7160. United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Argued August 10, 1992.
Decided October 2, 1992.
New York Law School location: File #1511, Box #130