New York Lien Law
Sec.
§
4-A
Insurance Proceeds Liable for Demands
Owner, contractor or subcontractor diverting proceeds, guilty of larceny. The proceeds of any insurance which by the terms of the policy are payable to the owner of real property improved, and actually received or to be received by him because of the destruction or removal by fire or other casualty of an improvement on which lienors have performed labor or services or for which they have furnished materials, shall after the owner has been reimbursed therefrom for premiums paid by him, if any, for such insurance, be subject to liens provided by this act to the same extent and in the same order of priority as the real property would have been had such improvement not been so destroyed or removed. The proceeds of any insurance which by the terms of the policy are payable to a contractor or subcontractor, and actually received or to be received by him because of the destruction or removal by fire or other casualty of an improvement on which he has performed labor or services or for which he has furnished materials, shall, after such contractor or subcontractor has been reimbursed therefrom for premiums paid by him, if any, for such insurance, be liable for the payment of demands for labor or services performed or materials furnished by his order and for which he is liable, in the same manner and under the same conditions as payments to him under his contract would have been had such improvement not been so destroyed or removed.