July 23, 2021

Colin Clarke, M.D., P.C. v MVAIC (2021 NY Slip Op 50729(U))

Headnote

MVAIC was entitled to sever six assignors' claims because they presented few common factual issues and required numerous defense witnesses. The provider's complaint sought assigned no-fault benefits arising from six separate accidents on different dates. The denial forms, explanations of review, and correspondence showed that the facts of each claim were likely to raise few, if any, common factual issues. A single trial would require an extraordinary number of defense witnesses. The Appellate Term, Second Department, reversed the order denying MVAIC's motion under CPLR 603 and granted severance of each assignor's claim into a separate action.

Reported in New York Official Reports at Colin Clarke, M.D., P.C. v MVAIC (2021 NY Slip Op 50729(U))

[*1]
Colin Clarke, M.D., P.C. v MVAIC
2021 NY Slip Op 50729(U) [72 Misc 3d 136(A)]
Decided on July 23, 2021
Appellate Term, Second Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.


Decided on July 23, 2021
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, J.P., MICHELLE WESTON, DAVID ELLIOT, JJ
2020-261 K C

Colin Clarke, M.D., P.C., as Assignee of Ariel Burgos, Abner Hidalgo, Yolanda Jemison, Sheldon Lewis, Joshua Martinez and Roza Yefremenko, Respondent,

against

MVAIC, Appellant.


Marshall & Marshall, PLLC (Frank D’Esposito and Jeffrey Kadushin of counsel), for appellant. Petre and Associates, P.C. (Damin J. Toell and Mark Petre of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Sandra E. Roper, J.), entered May 15, 2019. The order denied defendant’s motion to sever the claim of each assignor into separate actions.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, with $30 costs, and defendant’s motion to sever the claim of each assignor into separate actions is granted.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant appeals from an order of the Civil Court entered May 15, 2019 denying defendant’s motion pursuant to CPLR 603 to sever the claim of each assignor into separate actions.

The complaint alleges that the claims arose out of six separate accidents which occurred on six different dates. A review of the denial of claim forms, explanations of review and correspondence pertaining to the claims at issue reflects that the facts relating to each claim are likely to raise few, if any, common issues of fact (see Mount Sinai Hosp. v Motor Veh. Acc. Indem. Corp., 291 AD2d 536 [2002]; Radiology Resource Network, P.C. v Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 12 AD3d 185 [2004]). Indeed, under the facts of this case, an extraordinary number of defense witnesses would be required at a single trial of all six claims. As a result, defendant’s motion to sever the causes of action should have been granted (see Mount Sinai Hosp. v Motor Veh. Acc. Indem. Corp., 291 AD2d 536; Maria Oca, M.D., P.C. v MVAIC, 35 Misc 3d 134[A], 2012 NY Slip Op 50758[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2012]).

Accordingly, the order is reversed and defendant’s motion to sever the claim of each [*2]assignor into separate actions is granted.

TOUSSAINT, J.P., WESTON and ELLIOT, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: July 23, 2021

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