New York Appellate Court Holds That Insurer May Rescind Policy Based on Unintentional Material Misrepresentation in Application for Policy

In general, an insurer may rescind an insurance policy where it can show that its insured made a material misrepresentation of fact when he or she obtained the insurance policy, i.e., that the insurer would not have issued the policy had it known the facts misrepresented. Recently, the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department reiterated the principle that an insurer may rescind a policy based upon a material misrepresentation in an application for insurance, even where the misrepresentation was mistakenly or innocently made. See Estate of Gen Yee Chu v. Otsego Mut. Fire Ins. Co., ____ A.D.3d ___, 2017 NY Slip Op 01536 (2d Dep't March 1, 2017).

In 1991, Chien Min Chu and his former wife purchased a three-story house, which contained three separate dwelling units, each with its own kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance. However, Mr. Chu alleged that he believed the house was a legal two-family dwelling based on the certificate of occupancy and real property tax bills. In 2006 the Chus applied for and obtained a fire insurance policy from Otsego Mutual Fire Insurance Company, indicating on their application form that the number of families in the dwelling was two. After the house was damaged by a fire, Otsego rescinded the policy on the ground that the Chus had made a material misrepresentation of fact by stating on the application that the house was a two-family dwelling.

The Chus sued Otsego, alleging breach of the policy, and after a trial, the court granted Otsego's motion for judgment as a matter of law based on the evidence presented at trial, concluding that Otsego had established that it would not have insured the premises if it had been aware that it was a three-family dwelling and not a two-family dwelling.

On appeal, the Appellate Division, Second Department affirmed, holding that Mr. Chu's own testimony at trial established that his house was structurally configured as a three-family dwelling, thus rendering the statement on his insurance application a misrepresentation. Further, the Court held, plaintiff's testimony that he believed his house was a legal two-family dwelling was irrelevant because an insurer may rescind a policy even if the material misrepresentation was innocently or unintentionally made. Finally, Otsego established that the Chus' misrepresentation was material through the testimony of its witnesses and documentary evidence, including its underwriting guidelines, which established that Otsego did not insure three-family dwellings, and would not have issued the subject policy if the Chus had disclosed that the house contained three dwelling units.

The Otsego decision is a reminder that policyholders and their insurance agents and brokers must carefully examine applications for insurance to ensure that no factual misrepresentations are made. A claim that a misrepresentation was made unintentionally is not a valid defense for the policyholder. Likewise, insurers should maintain written policies or guidelines regarding their underwriting practices in the event rescission of a policy based upon a material misrepresentation is necessary. An insurer will have the burden to produce evidence that it would not have issued the subject policy had it known the fact(s) that were misrepresented.