N.Y. New York City Civil Court Law § 1809

§ 1809. Procedures relating to corporations, associations, insurers\nand assignees. 1. No corporation, except a municipal corporation, public\nbenefit corporation, school district or school district public library\nwholly or partially within the municipal corporate limit, no\npartnership, or association and no assignee of any small claim shall\ninstitute an action or proceeding under this article, nor shall this\narticle apply to any claim or cause of action brought by an insurer in\nits own name or in the name of its insured whether before or after\npayment to the insured on the policy.\n 2. A corporation may appear in the defense of any small claim action\nbrought pursuant to this article by an attorney as well as by any\nauthorized officer, director or employee of the corporation provided\nthat the appearance by a non-lawyer on behalf of a corporation shall be\ndeemed to constitute the requisite authority to bind the corporation in\na settlement or trial. The court or arbitrator may make reasonable\ninquiry to determine the authority of any person who appears for the\ncorporation in defense of a small claims court case.\n