N.Y. Real Property Actions & Proceedings Law § 311

§ 311. Presumption of possession from legal title. In an action to\nrecover real property or the possession thereof, the person who\nestablishes a legal title to the premises is presumed to have been\npossessed thereof within the time required by law; and the occupation of\nthe premises by another person is deemed to have been under and in\nsubordination to the legal title unless the premises have been held and\npossessed adversely to the legal title for ten years before the\ncommencement of the action.\n