IN RE: Dawn Marie SORMANI (1999)

In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR 5227 to compel the payment of a debt owed by a judgment debtor, the petitioner appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Orange County (Murphy, J.), dated February 22, 1999, which dismissed the petition insofar as asserted against the respondent United States Fire Insurance Company.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

The petitioner obtained a judgment against the respondent Vance Levin, upon his default in appearing, based upon causes of action alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and unlawful imprisonment.   In this proceeding, the petitioner contends that the respondent United States Fire Insurance Company (hereinafter U.S. Fire), which issued a general liability policy to Levin's employer, is obligated to pay the judgment.   However, since the acts allegedly committed by Levin were intentional, they do not constitute an occurrence within the meaning of the U.S. Fire policy.   Accordingly, there was no obligation for U.S. Fire to defend or indemnify Levin in the underlying action and the Supreme Court properly dismissed the petition against the insurer (see, Green Chimneys School for Little Folk v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 244 A.D.2d 387, 664 N.Y.S.2d 320;  Board of Educ. of E. Syracuse-Minoa Cent. School Dist., v. Continental Ins. Co., 198 A.D.2d 816, 817, 604 N.Y.S.2d 399;  see also, Fitzpatrick v. American Honda Motor Co., 78 N.Y.2d 61, 571 N.Y.S.2d 672, 575 N.E.2d 90;  Ruder & Finn v. Seaboard Surety Co., 52 N.Y.2d 663, 439 N.Y.S.2d 858, 422 N.E.2d 518;  Spoor-Lasher Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 39 N.Y.2d 875, 386 N.Y.S.2d 221, 352 N.E.2d 139).

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.