State of New York v. International Fidelity Ins. Co

In State of New York v. International Fidelity Ins. Co., 181 Misc 2d 595 (Sup Ct, Albany County 1999) the movant-plaintiff-NYS sought to prove that it never received the defendant's cancellation notices about the terminated bonds which were sent via certified mail. The cross-movant-defendant-IFIC argued that it was entitled to summary judgment because NYS could not rebut the presumption of receipt of the cancellation notices. Id. at 599. The Albany County Court held, inter alia, that routine office practices cannot create a presumption of receipt of letters sent via certified mail. Id. As the Court stated, "To create a presumption of receipt, IFIC has the burden of describing a standard office procedure used to ensure that items are properly mailed, or provide proof of the actual mailing." Id.