Advocacy

​This week, Big I NY joined a broad coalition of business, municipal, and construction groups in calling on Governor Hochul to veto the “Comprehensive Insurance Disclosure Act". The bill would require the automatic disclosure of virtually all information related to a defendant's insurance coverage and information, including insurance applications. Typically such information is obtained through discovery, in which a judge has discretion to allow only relevant materials to be disclosed. The practical effect of this bill would be to put significant discovery costs on defendants, and give plaintiffs attorneys a trove of information to engage in a litigation “fishing expedition," pursuing claims based on a defendant's available coverage…

​On October 30th, Governor Hochul signed legislation prohibiting insurance carriers from refusing to issue, renew, cancel, or charge a higher premium for a homeowners' liability coverage based upon specific breed of an insured's dog. Big I NY opposed this legislation, expressing concerns that limiting underwriting flexibility would lead higher premiums for all homeowners. The legislation takes effect January 28th, 2022, and applies to all policies issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after that date.  Source

This week, Big I NY was invited to testify in person before the Senate Insurance Committee on legislation to ban the use of lead paint exclusions in rental property liability coverage. We believe that while well-intentioned, this measure would completely destabilize the rental liability coverage market, resulting in a crisis of availability. The hearing will take place beginning at 10:00am on Monday, November 8th, and will be webcast. On Thursday, the Albany County Sheriff's Office filed a criminal complaint against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, charging him with forcibly touching an executive assistant last year, which is a misdemeanor. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said in…