N.Y. Abandoned Property Law § 215: Claims against state

§ 215. Claims against state. Where an action has been commenced and

final judgment in favor of the people entered therein by reason of the

escheat of real property to the people and the said property has been

sold pursuant to section two hundred four, any party or parties thereto,

or their successors in interest, who, but for the rendering of such

final judgment would have been entitled to such real property, or an

interest therein, shall have a claim against the state for the value of

such real property or interest therein at the time of the entry of such

judgment, but no such claim shall exist in favor of such party or

parties or their successors in interest unless a petition therefor shall

have been filed as hereinafter provided within fifteen years from the

date of entry of such final judgment unless such party or parties to

such ejectment action shall have been, at the time of the commencement

of such action or entry of final judgment, incompetent to conduct his or

her affairs by reason of mental illness or developmental disability or

have been under the age of eighteen years, or be imprisoned in execution

upon conviction of a criminal offense, in which event the period of such

disability shall not be deemed to be a part of the time limited within

which such petition may be filed. Such party or parties, or their

successors in interest shall petition the commissioner of general

services for payment of the sum or a part thereof received by the state,

upon the sale made pursuant to section two hundred four, and the said

commissioner if satisfied that the claim is just and is made by a party

who, except for the entry of final judgment in an action authorized by

section two hundred one would have been entitled to the real property or

an interest therein affected by said action, may certify such facts to

the court of claims, whereupon that court is empowered and authorized to

determine the amount of such claim or claims and award judgment

therefor, the total of which in no event shall exceed the amount

received by the people upon the sale of said real property pursuant to

section two hundred four.