“Wait—I Can’t Sue for Bad Faith?”

Earlier this month, members of the New York Public Adjusters Association (NYPAA)—including Eastern Public CEO Brian Evans—traveled to Albany to meet with lawmakers in support of Assembly Bill 6010-A. Currently under committee review, the bill proposes critical amendments to New York’s Insurance Law aimed at curbing unfair claim settlement practices, a longstanding issue that continues to impact property owners across the state.

Introduced during the 2025–2026 legislative session, Assembly Bill 6010-A seeks to explicitly define bad faith conduct by insurance carriers and establish a private cause of action for policyholders. While most other states allow insureds to pursue legal remedies for wrongful denials or delays—including extra-contractual and punitive damages—New York offers no clear statutory path for recovery in cases of bad faith. As it stands, even when insurers act in bad faith, the only financial consequence is paying what they already owed under the policy—creating little incentive to resolve claims fairly or promptly.

This legal gap leaves policyholders—particularly in the wake of catastrophic losses—without the protections they need at a time when they are most vulnerable. Families, small businesses, and communities can face significant financial and emotional strain when forced into prolonged disputes simply to access the coverage they paid for.

During their meetings with legislators, NYPAA members shared first-hand accounts of policyholders navigating unnecessary delays, underpayments, and denials. Their message was clear: without meaningful accountability, bad faith conduct will continue unchecked. The passage of Bill 6010-A would not only establish legal recourse for unfair treatment, but also promote more responsible behavior from insurers and a more balanced claims process overall.

Many of the lawmakers seemed genuinely concerned about the issue and optimistic about the future of the bill. We discussed ways to support its passage and made plans to reconvene over the coming session to progress efforts to better protect New York policyholders with its passage. 

As the bill progresses, advocates are working to build awareness and momentum for reform. Fair claims handling should not be a privilege—it should be a legal right.

To learn more about Assembly Bill 6010-A, understand its impact, and find out how you can support the effort, visit www.NewYorkBadFaith.com.

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Brian Evans is CEO of Eastern Public LLC, a premiere public adjusting firm located in NYC assisting policyholders across the country. For more information visit EasternPublic.com.