N.Y. UDC Law § 1809

§ 1809. Procedures relating to corporations, insurers and assignees.\n 1. No corporation, except a municipal corporation, public benefit\ncorporation, school district or school district public library wholly or\npartially within the municipal corporate limit, and no assignees of any\nsmall claim shall institute an action or proceeding under this article,\nnor shall this article apply to any claim or cause of action brought by\nan insurer in its own name or in the name of its insured whether before\nor after payment to the insured on the policy.\n 2. A corporation may appear in the defense of any small claim action\nbrought pursuant to this article by an attorney as well as by any\nauthorized officer, director or employee of the corporation provided\nthat the appearance by a non-lawyer on behalf of a corporation shall be\ndeemed to constitute the requisite authority to bind the corporation in\na settlement or trial. The court or arbitrator may make reasonable\ninquiry to determine the authority of any person who appears for the\ncorporation in defense of a small claims court case.\n