NICHOLAS G. GARAUFIS, District Judge.
Plaintiff Tsilia Nikcheniny ("Plaintiff) brought this breach of contract action against Defendant Allstate Insurance Company("Defendant") based on a denied insurance claim related to damage her property, located at 105 Oceana Dr. East, Brooklyn, NY (the "Brighton Beach property"), sustained on October 29, 2012. (Compl.(Not. of Removal Ex. A (Dkt. 11)) ¶¶ 7, 11.) On June 6, 2016, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure("Federal Rules")on the grounds that Plaintiff's sole claim is time-barred. (Mem. of Law in Supp. of Def.'s Mot.to Dismiss the Compl.("Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss")(Dkt. 11-1) at 5-8.) For the reasons set forth below. Defendant's motion is GRANTED and Plaintiff's claim is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
Plaintiff alleges that her Brighton Beach property suffered a "covered loss ... on or about October 29, 2012." (Compl. ¶ 11.) The subject property was insured by Defendant under a policy issued to David and Tsilia Nikchemny (the "Policy") which was in effect from January 10, 2012, to January 10, 2013. (Compl. ¶ 8.) After Defendant"was given notice of the loss, inspected and estimated the damage,[and] was shown post loss photographs," Defendant denied Plaintiffs insurance claim on January 30, 2013. (Compl. ¶¶ 18-19.)
The Policy contained the following provision designed to limit the conditions under which Plaintiff could bring legal claims against Defendant:
(Ex. A ("Policy")(Def's Mot. to Dismiss (Dkt. 11-3)) at 18, ¶ 12.)
Plaintiff contends that this two year statute of limitations does not apply, or, alternatively, that the two year statute of limitations did not begin to run until the date Defendant denied Plaintiff's insurance claim, January 30, 2013. (Pl's Mem.in Opp'n to Def.'s Mot.to Dismiss ("Pl's Mem.in Opp'n)(Dkt. 11-5) at 4-6.) Defendant argues that the two year statute of limitations does apply and that the limitations period began to run on the date the Brighton Beach property was damaged, October 29, 2012.
On January 11, 2016, Plaintiff commenced this action by filing a Complaint in the Supreme Court of the State ofNew York, County of Kings, alleging a single breach of contract cause of action arising from Defendant's denial of her insurance claim. (Compl. ¶¶ 17, 27.) Defendant removed the action to this court on January 26, 2016, on diversity grounds pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). (Not. of Removal(Dkt. 1) ¶ 3.)
On June 6, 2016, Defendant moved to dismiss the Complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules alleging that Plaintiffs claim is time-barred because Plaintiff failed to file the claim within two years of the date that the Brighton Beach property was damaged. (Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss at 6-8.) Plaintifffiled an opposition brief to Defendant's motion to dismiss on July 15, 2016. (Pl's Mem.in Opp'n.) Defendant filed a reply memorandum in support of its position on July 22, 2016. (Reply Mem.of Law in Supp. of Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss (Dkt 11-8).)
"An argument that the statute oflimitations bars a claim is properly raised in a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6)."
The parties dispute whether the contractual statute oflimitations contained in the Policy applies to this action. (Pl's Mem.in Opp'n at 6; Def.'s Mot.to Dismiss at 6-8.) If the provision does apply, the parties also disagree as to when the statute oflimitations began runrung. (Pl's Mem.in Opp'n at 3-6; Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss at 7-8.)
Defendant is correct that the contractual statute of limitations provision applies to this action. The default rule in New York is that an action for breach of contract must be commenced within six years of the breach. N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 203(2). However, parties may contract to a shorter statute of limitations as long as the shortened term is "prescribed by written agreement." N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 201;
Here, the unambiguous terms of the Policy provide that,"[a]ny suit or action must be brought within two years after the inception of loss or damage." (Policy at 18, ¶ 12.) Plaintiff does not allege any defect that would render the prescribed statute of limitations void or unenforceable. Therefore, this provision is plainly enforceable and a two year statute of limitations applies to this action. As detailed below, the parties dispute the date on which the statute oflimitations began to accrue; however, under either of their positions this action falls outside of the two year statute of limitations. As a result, Defendant's motion to dismiss must be granted.
Next, the parties disagree as to when the statute of limitations began running. Plaintiff argues that the clock did not start until her insurance claim was denied on January 30, 2013. (Pl's Mem.in Opp'n at 3-6.) Defendant disagrees, arguing that the limitations period commenced when the event that gave rise to the insurance claim, the flooding, caused physical damage to the property on October 29, 2012. (Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss at 7-8.) Under both dates the present action, filed on January 11, 2016, falls outside the two year period of limitations. However, Defendant's position as to accrual is correct.
New York courts have consistently held that where there is generic language in a contractual limitations period provision, the statute oflimitations begins runmng on the date that the legal claim accrues—in insurances cases, at the denial of the insurance claim.
The Policy requires that suit be brought within two years "after the
Plaintiffcontends that the "loss or damage" language contained in the Policy is ambiguous because it attempts to fix the point at which the statute of limitations begins running at two different dates, the date of the "loss" and the date of the "damage." (Pl's Mem.in Opp'n at 3-4.) This position finds no support in law and New York courts have consistently interpreted contracts containing "loss or damage" language to refer to only one date.
Finally, Plaintiff argues that Defendant's position is unreasonable because it would allow insurers to delay review ofinsurance claims until the statute oflimitations had run on any potential claims. (Pl's Mem. in Opp'n at 2-3.) This policy argument is unavailing due to the longstanding practice in New York of allowing parties to contractually change the date at which the limitations period begins to run from the date a legal claim accrues to the date of the insured injury.
For the reasons discussed above. Defendant's motion to dismiss is GRANTED as the statute oflimitations has run on Plaintiff's lone claim. Plaintiff's Complaint is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.