HESSE v. SPEECE (2000)

In an action to recover damages for negligence, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Joseph, J.), entered March 20, 2000, which, inter alia, granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and denied his cross motion for summary judgment.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

While operating a vehicle insured by the defendant State Farm Insurance Company (hereinafter State Farm) the plaintiff was involved in an accident with a motorcyclist, who was seriously injured.   The motorcyclist's action against the plaintiff was settled for $270,000, comprised of $100,000 from State Farm (the limit of the plaintiff's policy) and $170,000 from the plaintiff's personal funds.   Thereafter, the plaintiff commenced this lawsuit against State Farm and the defendant John Speece, his insurance broker, alleging that they were negligent in failing to advise him to obtain, and in failing to obtain, additional automobile liability insurance.

There is nothing in the record to indicate that the plaintiff specifically requested the defendants to increase his automobile liability coverage before the underlying accident (cf., Santaniello v. Interboro Mut. Indemn. Ins. Co., 267 A.D.2d 372, 700 N.Y.S.2d 230).   Moreover, under the facts of this case, there was no “special relationship” between the broker and the plaintiff so as to impose upon the former the “continuing duty to advise, guide or direct [the plaintiff] to obtain additional coverage” (Murphy v. Kuhn, 90 N.Y.2d 266, 270, 660 N.Y.S.2d 371, 682 N.E.2d 972;  see, Allwell Used Plumbing Supply v. Aetna Life & Cas. Ins. Co., 257 A.D.2d 641, 682 N.Y.S.2d 627;  Wied v. New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 208 A.D.2d 1132, 618 N.Y.S.2d 467;  cf., Shenorock Shore Club v. Rollins, 270 A.D.2d 330, 705 N.Y.S.2d 56).   The plaintiff did not raise any issue of fact in this regard.   Accordingly, the court properly granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint (see, Murphy v. Kuhn, supra;  Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572).

The plaintiff's remaining contentions are without merit.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.