Starnet Ins. Co. v. Christie's Fine Art Storage Servs., Inc.

2016 NY Slip Op 30147(U)

STARNET INSURANCE COMPANY as subrogee and assignee of LEROY NEIMAN FOUNDATION,INC., LEROY NEIMAN, INC., and THE ESTATE OF LEROY NEIMAN Plaintiffs, v. CHRISTIE'S FINE ART STORAGE SERVICES, INC., Defendant.

Index No. 159899/2013

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: PART 39

January 21, 2016

DECISION and ORDER

Motion Seq. No. 001

SCARPULLA, J.:

Christie's Fine Art Storage Services Inc. ("CFASS") moves, pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a)(1), (3), and (7), for dismissal of the complaint. Plaintiffs StarNet Insurance Company (StarNet) as subrogee for Leroy Neiman Foundation, Inc., Leroy Neiman, Inc., and The Estate of LeRoy Neiman (collectively, "Neiman"), cross-move for partial summary judgment: (1) on the issue of liability, (2) dismissing CFASS' defenses concerning any purported limitation or exculpation of liability for the damages alleged in the complaint, and (3) dismissing any purported waiver of subrogation.

Background

The following allegations are taken from the complaint. Plaintiffs include LeRoy Neiman Foundation, Inc. and LeRoy Neiman, Inc., both New York not-for-profit corporations, and The Estate of LeRoy Neiman, and StarNet, as subrogee and assignee of Neiman. Defendant CFASS represented itself to be the "world's premier storage provider for fine art, antiques and collectibles."

CFASS offered its clients a variety of storage options "[f]rom self-managed units, to units overseen by our accomplished staff, to our vault where a variety of property is kept for multiple clients - clients have several distinctive choices. Regardless of selection, all clients receive the same exceptional service that has been Christie's hallmark since 1766." CFASS represented that its "Fine Art Storage Services team is a group of carefully hand-picked experts. CFASS staff receive the same training as Christie's team and understand the unique handling requirements of any property from paintings and sculpture to furniture and fashion."

CFASS owned and managed a fine art storage facility "within a gated, high security compound" located at 100 Imlay Street, Brooklyn, New York, which is located in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn adjacent to the East River ("Warehouse"). The Warehouse was located in a high risk flood zone along the waterfront in Red Hook. The neighborhood of Red Hook is in an area known as Zone A, a low-lying coastal area with the highest risk of flooding during a storm related surge.

Neiman was the owner of numerous fine works of art by the artist Leroy Neiman ("Artwork"). In reliance upon CFASS's representations that the Artwork would be stored in a secure unit on the Warehouse's second floor, on September 17, 2012, Neiman entered into a Managed Unit Storage Agreement with CFASS (Storage Agreement) for storage of the Artwork in Unit 2B-09 of the Warehouse. The Artwork was delivered tothe Warehouse on September 20, 2012 (277 pieces) and again on October 4, 2012 (199 pieces). Neiman paid $6,286.50 for storage of the Artwork in Unit 2B-09 for the period, October 17, 2012 to November 16, 2012. The 277 pieces of Artwork remained unsecured on the first floor of the Warehouse for more than 39 days, were never placed into Unit 2B-09, a secure, storage unit on the Warehouse's second floor, and were commingled with other artwork on the ground floor. The 199 pieces of Artwork (the second shipment to the Warehouse) remained on the first floor of the Warehouse for more than 25 days, were never placed into Unit 2B-09.

Hurricane Sandy began as a low pressure system, south of Kingston Jamaica, and on October 22, 2012, the "National Hurricane Center" named the system "Tropical Storm Sandy." During the next several days, there were reports that a massive storm would be hitting New York City on or about October 29, 2012, with high winds and tides, severe storm surges, and widespread coastal flooding.

On October 26, 2012, Mayor Bloomberg warned residents that the "Coastal Storm Plan designates as 'Zone A' the low-lying coastal areas of our city most at risk for flooding and other damage," which includes the Red Hook area of Brooklyn, where the Warehouse is located. On October 26, 2012, Governor Cuomo declared a statewide state of emergency. When it became evident that a major storm would be imminently hitting the City, on October 26, 2012 CFASS represented to Neiman in an email with the reference "CFASS's Hurricane Preparations" as follows:

CFASS Fine Art Storage Services provides non-stop, best-in-class environmental controls and security for your property every day. And when significant inclement weather approaches, rest assured we take extra precautions. These precautions may include, but are not limited, to the following as necessary:

• Temporary and permanent generators properly filled

• Extra security staff on-site

• All property on the first floor on the West side of the building checked to ensure all items are raised off the floor

• Roof of the facility checked for loose materials

• Absorbent socks placed along the base of all exterior doors

• All property in managed storage raised so that they are off the ground

• Empty rooms on upper floors have been identified and can house property if property movement is required

• All security personnel updated on the emergency procedures

Notwithstanding the foregoing, CFASS never moved or otherwise elevated the Artwork from the first floor to Unit 2B-09 on the Warehouse's second floor, relocated or elevated the Artwork to any other space, or otherwise took any precautions to protect the Artwork. On October 29, 2012 the Artwork sustained severe damage from flooding.

The complaint contains seven causes of action for gross negligence, breach of bailment, negligence, rescission, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, and breach of fiduciary duty. Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that CFASS acted with gross negligence, or negligence with respect to its care, custody, and storage of the Artwork; CFASS breached an express or implied bailment by failing to return the Artwork without damage; the Storage Agreement is void and rescinded based on CFASS' material misrepresentations concerning how it would protect the Artwork; CFASS negligently or fraudulently represented that the Artwork was safely stored in unit2B-09 on the Warehouse's second floor; and CFASS breached its fiduciary duty to Neiman by making material misrepresentations concerning how the Artwork would be stored and protected.

Plaintiffs seeks to recover $10,125,506 in damages, plus interest from October 29, 2012, punitive damages, attorney's fees, and rescission of the Storage Agreement. Pursuant to an insurance policy, StarNet partially reimbursed Neiman for its losses, and thereby became subrogated to the extent of its payment ($8,348,660) and Neiman assigned the uninsured portion of the loss ($1,776,846) to Starnet.

CFASS moves to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that: (1) the alleged loss was due to an act of God; (2) Neiman agreed to procure insurance and waive subrogation against CFASS for any loss of or damage to the property, and (3) Neiman agreed that CFASS' liability would be limited to $100,000 for any loss or damage to the Property. CFASS further argues that the complaint fails to state a cause of action.

In opposition, Plaintiffs argue that: (1) CFASS is a warehouse, as defined in U.C.C. § 7-102 (13), not a self-storage facility; (2) CFASS failed to appropriately limit its liability pursuant to U.C.C. § 7-204; (3) CFASS' attempt to exonerate itself from liability violates U.C.C. § 7-204; (4) CFASS' material breach of the Storage Agreement negates any purported effort to exculpate itself or waive subrogation; (5) Neiman may recover the uninsured portion of its loss; (6) CFASS' act of God defense fails; and (7) the causes of action in the complaint are adequately stated.

The parties submit copies of the Storage Agreement and the LDL waiver. The Storage Agreement states, at paragraph 7(c), that in the event that CFASS does not accept liability as described in paragraph 7(a), "the Goods will remain at the Depositor's risk at all times, and Depositor will sign a loss/damage waiver letter in the form attached hereto." It further states that "[e]ven if, despite the terms of this clause, CFASS is found to be liable for any loss of, or damage to, the Goods, that liability shall not exceed $100,000 or the market value of the Goods, if lower."

The LDL waiver signed by the president of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation, Inc. states "we are responsible for arranging insurance cover for the property ("Goods") I/we deposit to Christie's Fine Art Storage Service Inc. ("CFASS"). I/we understand that this insurance coverage needs to be against All Risks of physical loss or damage." It further states "I/We agree that CFASS will not be responsible for, and I hereby release CFASS, its officers, directors, employees, agents and contractors, from and against all liability for physical loss of or damage to my Goods. I also agree to notify my insurance carrier/company of this agreement and arrange for them to waive any rights of subrogation against CFASS . . . with respect to any loss of or damage to the Property while it remains in CFASS care, custody and control."

Discussion

"Subrogation, an equitable doctrine, allows an insurer to stand in the shoes of its insured and seek indemnification from third parties whose wrongdoing has caused a loss for which the insurer is bound to reimburse." Kaf-Kaf, Inc. v. Rodless Decorations, 90NY2d 654, 660 (1997). "While parties to an agreement may waive their insurer's right of subrogation, a waiver of subrogation clause cannot be enforced beyond the scope of the specific context in which it appears." Id. "Waiver of subrogation provisions reflect the parties' allocation of the risk of liability whereby liability is shifted to the insurance carriers of the parties to the agreement." Travelers Indem. Co. v. AA Kitchen Cabinet & Stone Supply, Inc., 106 A.D.3d 812,...