Caulfield v. Improved Risk Mutuals, Inc. , 107 A.D.2d 1013 ( 1985 )

— Judgment reversed, on the law, with costs, and summary judgment granted, in accordance with the following memorandum: In this declaratory judgment action plaintiffs, purchasers of real property from the Freddie Thomas Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, seek to fix responsibility for a fire loss which occurred after they took possession of the property but before the deed which had been placed in escrow was delivered. The contract documents consist of a standard Real Estate Board of Rochester purchase offer dated May 25, 1982, accepted typewritten counteroffers dated June 25, 1982 and July 16, 1982 and a contract amendment dated August 16, 1982. Purchasers’ original offer contained the printed provision that “[r]isk of loss or damage to the property until transfer of title shall be assumed by the seller” (emphasis supplied). The offer also defined “closing date and place” as follows: “The transfer of title to the property shall take place at the Monroe County Clerk’s office on or before the 1st day of January, 1983.” The Foundation’s counteroffer provided, inter alia, that “[r]isk of loss from any cause is assumed by Seller to the date of closing” (emphasis supplied). The contract amendment provided that “[cjlosing shall occur on or before October 1, 1982” and made the contract subject to “the necessary Supreme Court approval authorizing this conveyance.” On October 1, 1982 all documents, including the deed, were exchanged and plaintiffs were permitted to take immediate possession of the property. The deed and closing papers were “held in escrow”, however, pending court approval of the conveyance. Supreme Court authorization was obtained on October 29, 1982 and the deed was then recorded. Plaintiffs took possession of the premises on October 1 and obtained from defendant Millers Mutual Insurance Company, a member of the Improved Risk Mutuals group, a temporary insurance binder. The Foundation had fire insurance from defendant the Hanover Insurance Company. On October 4, 1982, the premises were partially destroyed by fire. The insurers each disclaimed responsibility on the ground that the other was liable and this declaratory judgment action ensued. On plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, Special Term declared Millers Mutual the insurer responsible for the loss. We disagree.

The underlying issue is whether as a matter of law a “closing” occurred on October 1, 1982, three days before the fire. Under New York law, absent an agreement to the contrary, risk of loss follows possession (General Obligations Law, § 5-1311). The parties here agreed, however, that the risk of loss would remain with the seller until the closing. Consequently, the fact that purchasers had possession when the fire loss occurred is irrelevant.

It is commonly understood that “[a] title is ‘closed’ when the deed conveying the property is delivered” (1 Warren’s Weed, NY Real Property, Closing of Title, § 1.02; Real Property Law, § 244). When a deed is delivered in escrow, however, no title passes until the condition, upon which performance is predicated and title suspended, is fulfilled (Stanton v Miller, 58 NY 192, 201; see, also, Van Tassel v Burger, 119 App Div 509; Asher v Herman, 49 Misc 2d 475; 2 Warren’s Weed, NY Real Property, Escrow, §§ 2.01, 2.04).

In this case, the parties to the contract defined “closing” in their agreement to mean “the transfer of title to the property”. This printed term from purchasers’ original offer was accepted by seller and never changed. Since the contract is unambiguous, the meaning of the agreement must be determined as a matter of law and effect given to the intent of the parties as indicated by the contract language (see Bethlehem Steel Co. v Turner Constr. Co., 2 NY2d 456, 460; 22 NY Jur 2d, Contracts, § 189, p 24).

The transaction which took place between the parties did not result in a transfer of title to the property since, absent court authorization, the seller lacked the ability to deliver title. Although the papers were exchanged and the adjustments made as of October 1, the undisputed evidence is that the deed and closing papers were placed in escrow pending court approval of the transaction, which was not obtained until after the fire. Since title to the property was not transferred until the deed was released from escrow after October 29 (see Stanton v Miller, 58 NY 192, supra), there was no “closing” until that time. Thus, the risk of loss remained with the seller at the time of the fire.

The judgment is reversed, the Hanover Insurance Company declared responsible for the loss and plaintiffs’ motion and Millers Mutual’s cross motion for summary judgment granted against the Hanover Insurance Company.

All concur, except Hancock, Jr., J., who dissents and votes to affirm, in the following memorandum.