Federal Insurance v. Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

Defendant hotel moves for summary judgment under section 200 of the General Business Law which provides that the proprietor of a hotel is relieved from liability for loss to a guest of his money, jewels, ornaments, bank notes, bonds, negotiable securities or precious stones, if the hotel provides a place of safekeeping and patrons do not avail themselves of it. Defendant argues that the gold cuff links lost by plaintiff’s subrogors satisfied the definition of “jewels” under section 200.

Plaintiff makes a cross motion for summary judgment, arguing that the articles lost were not “ jewels,” “…