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Danzig v. Dikman

53 N.Y.2d 926 Court N.Y. Decision date 1981-05-14 English

Contents

Majority

p. 926
Daniel Danzig et al., Respondents, v Michael Dikman, as President of the Queens County Bar Association, et al., Defendants, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Greater New York, Appellant.
Argued May 4,1981;
decided May 14, 1981
p. 927
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Jerrold I. Ehrlich and Ann-Marie Hartline for appellant.
Richard A. Danzig and Douglas J. Danzig for respondents.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs, for the reasons stated in the opinion of Justice Vincent A. Lupiano in that court ( 78 AD2d 303 ). In view of the recognition of the difference in determining when the liability of the insurer attaches under group medical insurance policies between the time of the occurrence of the event insured against and the time of the incurring of the expenses occasioned thereby — which determinations are generally resolved on the basis of the specific language used in the policies (e.g., Ann., 66 ALR3d 1205 , 1208-1218; 68 ALR2d 249 , 275-283) — the failure of the insurer to make unmistakably explicit provision in this policy as to which shall control creates an ambiguity which under familiar principles of construction is to be resolved against the insurer.

p. 928
Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Meyer concur.

Order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.

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