5-1502H. Construction--claims and litigation. In a statutory short form power of attorney, the language conferring general authority with respect to "claims and litigation, " must be construed to mean that the principal authorizes the agent:
1. To assert and to prosecute before any court, administrative board, department, commissioner or other tribunal, any cause of action, claim, counterclaim, offset or defense, which the principal has, or claims to have, against any individual, partnership, association, corporation, government, or other person or instrumentality, including, by way of illustration and not of restriction, power to sue for the recovery of land or of any other thing of value, for the recovery of damages sustained by the principal in any manner, for the elimination or modification of tax liability, for an injunction, for specific performance, or for any other relief;
2. To bring an action of interpleader or other action to determine adverse claims, to intervene or to interplead in any action or proceeding, and to act in any litigation as amicus curiae;
3. In connection with any action or proceeding or controversy, at law or otherwise, to apply for and, if possible, to procure a libel, an attachment, a garnishment, an order of arrest or other preliminary, provisional or intermediate relief and to resort to and to utilize in all ways permitted by law any available procedure for the effectuation or satisfaction of the judgment, order or decree obtained;
4. In connection with any action or proceeding, at law or otherwise, to perform any act which the principal might perform, including by way of illustration and not of restriction, acceptance of tender, offer of judgment, admission of any facts, submission of any controversy on an agreed statement of facts, consent to examination before trial, and generally to bind the principal in the conduct of any litigation or controversy as seems desirable to the agent;
5. To submit to alternative dispute resolution, to settle, and to propose or to accept a compromise with respect to, any claim existing in favor of or against the principal, or any litigation to which the principal is, or may become or be designated a party;
6. To waive the issuance and service of a summons, citation or other process upon the principal, to accept service of process, to appear for the principal, to designate persons upon whom process directed to the principal may be served, to execute and to file or deliver stipulations on the principal's behalf, to verify pleadings, to appeal to appellate tribunals, to procure and to give surety and indemnity bonds at such times and to such extent as the agent shall think to be desirable or necessary, to contract and pay for the preparation and printing of records and briefs, to receive and to execute and to file or deliver any consent, waiver, release, confession of judgment, satisfaction of judgment, notice, agreement, or other instrument which the agent shall think to be desirable or necessary in connection with the prosecution, settlement or defense of any claim by or against the principal or of any litigation to which the principal is or may become or be designated a party;
7. To appear for, to represent and to act for the principal with respect to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of the principal or of some other person, with respect to any reorganization proceeding, or with respect to any receivership or application for the appointment of a receiver or trustee which, in any way, affects any interest of the principal in any land, chattel, bond, share, commodity interest, chose in action or other thing of value;
8. To hire, to discharge, and to compensate any attorney, accountant, expert witness or other assistant or assistants when the agent shall think such action to be desirable for the proper execution by him of any of the powers described in this section;
9. To pay, from funds in his control or for the account of the principal, any judgment against the principal or any settlement which may be made in connection with any transaction enumerated in this section, and to receive and conserve any moneys or other things of value paid in settlement of or as proceeds of one or more of the transactions enumerated in this section, and to receive and endorse checks and to deposit the same; and
10. In general, and in addition to all the specific acts in this section enumerated, to do any other act or acts, which the principal can do through an agent, in connection with any claim by or against the principal or with litigation to which the principal is or may become or be designated a party.
All powers described in this section 5-1502H of the general obligations law shall be exercisable equally with respect to any claim or litigation existing at the giving of the power of attorney or thereafter arising, and whether arising in the state of New York or elsewhere.
Last modified: February 3, 2019