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136 Misc. 403

Conway v. Plank

New York Supreme Court

Decided March 15, 1930

New York Supreme Court · decided 1930-03-15

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently June 1965

4 state decisions

Relies on Cary v. . Koerner

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1930-03-15

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Staley, J.

¶1Defendant moves to dismiss the complaint herein on the ground that the action at the time of its ccmmencment was barred by the Statute of Limitations.

¶2The company was dissolved by order of June 28, 1923, wherein the rights and liabilities of policyholders, creditors and others were fixed as of July 12, 1923.

¶3The assessment for which the action is brought was made by the liquidator on May 29, 1924, thereafter presented to the court and confirmed by order of June 24, 1925. This action was commenced on December 7, 1929.

¶4A cause of action accrues when the plaintiff first becomes entitled to maintain the action in question. (Cary v. Koerner, 200 N. Y. 253.)

¶5No action for the assessment could be commenced until the amount of the assessment was ascertained and levied.

¶6The provision of section 63 of the Insurance Law (as amended) fixing the rights and liabilities of the corporation, its policyholders and all persons interested in its assets as of the date of the entry of the liquidation order was not intended to accelerate rights of action which had not fully accrued.

¶7The purpose of the provision is to supply a definite date of settlement of the affairs of the company. Unexpired policies of the insol*404vent company and liabilities thereunder to policyholders must come to an end as of some certain time and the provision in the liquidation order fixing July 12, 1923, as a date of termination of liabilities was probably intended to establish a definite termination and likewise to give policyholders an opportunity to obtain protection through other companies.

¶8A termination of liabilities and the establishment of amount of assets is a necessary procedure to enable the liquidator to ascertain the status of the company and the necessity for an assessment of the policyholders, and if assessment be necessary, the amount thereof.

¶9In my opinion the right of action for the assessment did not accrue until the assessment was determined and levied and the action herein was commenced within the time allowed by law after such determination.

¶10Motion denied, with ten dollars costs.

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