Oleg Barshay, D.C., P.C. v State Farm Ins. Co. (2006 NY Slip Op 26496)

[*1]

Supreme Court, Appellate Term, Second Department, December 8, 2006

APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL

Rivkin Radler LLP, Uniondale (Evan H. Krinick, Cheryl F. Korman, Stuart M. Bodoff and Melissa M. Murphy of counsel), for appellant. Alden Banniettis, Brooklyn (Jeff Henle of counsel), for respondent.

{**14 Misc 3d at 75} OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

Order, insofar as appealed from, affirmed without costs.

In an action to recover first-party no-fault benefits for health care services provided to an assignor, a plaintiff establishes a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that it submitted a claim, setting forth the fact and amount of the loss sustained and that payment of no-fault benefits is overdue (Insurance Law § 5106 [a]; Mary Immaculate Hosp. v Allstate Ins. Co., 5 AD3d 742 [2004]; Amaze Med. Supply v Eagle Ins. Co., 2 Misc 3d 128[A], 2003 NY Slip Op 51701[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2003]). While in its motion papers, plaintiff proved that it prepared a claim setting forth the fact and amount of the loss, plaintiff’s proof that it submitted the claim to defendant was inadequate. We have held that a no-fault benefits applicant may cure deficiencies in its proof of mailing by annexing to its motion papers an insurer’s denial of claim form wherein the insurer acknowledges the claim’s receipt (e.g. Fair Price Med. Supply Corp. v ELRAC Inc., 12 Misc 3d 119 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2006]). Where, as here, plaintiff failed to annex the defendant’s denial of claim form to its motion papers, and the defendant annexes the denial of claim form to its opposing papers, the deficiency is similarly cured.

We are aware of the well-established principle that the failure of a proponent of a motion for summary judgment to make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of [*2]law requires denial of the motion regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers (Winegrad v New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 NY2d 851, 853 [1985]). Moreover, it has been said that where a movant fails to demonstrate its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, it is unnecessary for the court to even consider{**14 Misc 3d at 76} the sufficiency of the opposition papers (see New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v Allstate Ins. Co., 29 AD3d 547 [2006]). While opposition papers should not be reviewed for the sufficiency of the opposition, i.e., in order to determine whether a triable issue of fact has been raised, since in such cases the burden of proof will not have shifted to the party opposing the motion (see Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320 [1986]), this is not to say that where a movant fails to establish a prima facie case, the court may never review the opposition papers. Where the missing elements of a movant’s prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law (such as here, plaintiff’s submission of the claim forms) are supplied in the opposition papers, it is our opinion that the court may, in its discretion and pursuant to its power to search the record (CPLR 3212 [b]), find that a prima facie case exists, thereby shifting the burden of proof, notwithstanding the evidentiary deficiencies in the moving papers. Indeed, CPLR 3212 (b) authorizes the court to grant a motion for summary judgment, if upon “all the papers and proof submitted, the cause of action or defense shall be established sufficiently to warrant the court as a matter of law in directing judgment in favor of any party” (emphasis added). The discretion of the court to review the opposition papers may be viewed as akin to the court’s discretionary power to grant reverse summary judgment in an appropriate case. This discretion exists both in the motion court and, in the first instance, in an intermediate appellate court (see e.g. Merritt Hill Vineyards v Windy Hgts. Vineyard, 61 NY2d 106, 112 [1984]). Thus, the opposition papers may, in the court’s discretion, be perused to determine whether the record as a whole establishes the movant’s prima facie entitlement to judgment. Were we to interpret the law otherwise, a court could not, for example, grant summary judgment to a plaintiff whose moving papers are insufficient, even where there has been a concession of liability in defendant’s opposition papers.

Accordingly, where a movant has not made out a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment, while a motion court need not consider the opposition papers, it is not necessarily an improvident exercise of discretion for it to do so in order to determine whether the record as a whole will establish a party’s prima facie case. In the instant case, we exercise our discretion to search the record, as we have done in prior cases (see e.g. Dilon Med. Supply Corp. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 12 Misc 3d 140[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 51344[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud{**14 Misc 3d at 77} Dists 2006]; M.G.M. Psychiatry Care P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 12 Misc 3d 137[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 51286[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2006]; Vista Surgical Supplies, Inc. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 12 Misc 3d 134[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 51189[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2006]; Vista Surgical Supplies, Inc. v Metropolitan Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 12 Misc 3d 130[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 51047[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2006]; First Help Acupuncture P.C. v State Farm Ins. Co., 12 Misc 3d 130[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 51043[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2006]; Careplus Med. Supply Inc. v State-Wide Ins. Co., 11 Misc 3d 29 [2005]; PDG Psychological P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 11 Misc 3d 128[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 50246[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2006]), and find that plaintiff’s prima facie entitlement to summary judgment was established, thereby shifting the burden to defendant to raise a triable issue of fact (Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., [*3]68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]).

Defendant’s denial was untimely (Insurance Law § 5106 [a]; 11 NYCRR 65.15 [g] [3], now 11 NYCRR 65-3.8 [c]), and defendant failed to establish a tolling of the statutory 30-day claim determination period (New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v Allstate Ins. Co., 31 AD3d 512 [2006]) by proof that it issued a proper and timely verification request (11 NYCRR 65.15 [d] [1], now 11 NYCRR 65-3.5 [a]). Defendant alleged that it requested that assignor submit to an examination under oath (EUO) in December 2001. However, “the insurance regulations in effect prior to April 5, 2002 did not provide for EUOs as a form of verification” (A.M. Med. Servs., P.C. v Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 12 Misc 3d 143[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 51425[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2006]; see also King’s Med. Supply v Kemper Auto & Home Ins. Co., 3 Misc 3d 131[A], 2004 NY Slip Op 50401[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]), and the absence of an EUO provision in the former verification scheme “may [not] be remedied by reference to policy provisions requiring that an insured cooperate with the insurer’s investigation of a claim, even if a clause therein explicitly provides for cooperation in that form” (Melbourne Med., P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 4 Misc 3d 92, 93 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]).

While the untimely denial did not preclude defendant from interposing the defense that the assignor’s injuries did not arise from a covered incident, i.e., an incident alleged to have been staged to defraud defendant (Matter of Metro Med. Diagnostics v Eagle Ins. Co., 293 AD2d 751, 752 [2002]; see also State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Laguerre, 305 AD2d 490, 491 [2003]), it{**14 Misc 3d at 78} remained defendant’s burden to demonstrate “a founded belief” that the injuries did not result from an insured event (Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195, 199 [1997]), and we agree with the court below that defendant failed to establish a triable issue of material fact as to fraud. The facts set forth in the affirmation of defendant’s counsel were without probative value as she had no personal knowledge of those facts (e.g. Melbourne Med., P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 4 Misc 3d 92, 94 [2004], supra), and none of the attached documents are sworn or supported by an affidavit by someone alleging personal knowledge of their preparation (A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 10 Misc 3d 50, 52 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2005]; see Rue v Stokes, 191 AD2d 245, 246 [1993]). In his affidavit, defendant’s claims representative likewise asserted no personal knowledge of defendant’s investigation into the incident and even if this case presented the “certain circumstances” meriting consideration of proof that would be inadmissible at trial (Kwi Bong Yi v JNJ Supply Corp., 274 AD2d 453 [2000]), the facts established little more than “unsubstantiated hypotheses and suppositions” (Penny v Pembrook Mgt., 280 AD2d 590, 591 [2001]), a “legally insufficient [basis] to support [a] defendant’s fraud allegation” (Amstel Chiropractic v Omni Indem. Co., 2 Misc 3d 129[A], 2004 NY Slip Op 50088[U], *1-2 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]).

Golia, J. (dissenting and voting to reverse the order, insofar as appealed from, and denying plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment). Initially, I note with dismay the finding of the motion court. That determination is patently incorrect. The determination, which granted plaintiff summary judgment, stated that “plaintiff proved that it submitted a timely and proper notice of claim pursuant to the No-Fault [*4]statute.” With regard to that fact, the Appellate Term unanimously disagrees and finds that plaintiff failed to prove that it submitted the claim at all.

I further note, although not addressed by the majority, that the notice of claim which plaintiff provided was not a “proper notice of claim pursuant to the No-Fault statute.” The majority responds that due only to defendant’s failure to request a timely verification or raise a defense as to the propriety of the claim form, the defendant was precluded from raising those issues. I submit that a defendant’s failure to contest improper forms is not the same as a finding that the forms were proper.

My dissent, however, is predicated primarily upon the inappropriate expansion of the majority’s willingness to assist the plaintiff to establish its prima facie case in this no-fault matter.{**14 Misc 3d at 79}

The plaintiff here did not even meet the relaxed standard of making out a prima facie case that was first enunciated by the Appellate Term in a previous no-fault proceeding (see Amaze Med. Supply v Eagle Ins. Co., 2 Misc 3d 128[A], 2003 NY Slip Op 51701[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2003]) and its progeny. That case held that a health care provider need only prove that it submitted a properly completed claim form to establish its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment. It need not establish any medical necessity for providing the medical supplies or services performed. Indeed, in the event the defendant is precluded from raising a defense as to the propriety of the claim form in whole or in part, the plaintiff is then not even required to affirmatively establish that the claim form was “properly completed.”

In supporting its claim that the Appellate Term has the authority to search the record in order to find missing elements to establish a prima facie case in plaintiff’s motion, the majority cites to CPLR 3212 (b); specifically, that the motion can be granted upon “all the papers and proof submitted” (emphasis added). They did not include the first two sentences of that section which read:

“A motion for summary judgment shall be supported by affidavit[s], by a copy of the pleadings and by other available proof, such as depositions and written admissions. The affidavit shall be by a person having knowledge of the facts . . . and it shall show that there is no defense to the cause of action or that the cause of action or defense has no merit.”

When read together, one should conclude that this section imposes upon the movant a minimum requirement in order to establish a prima facie case. I emphasize that a motion for summary judgment must be supported within the four corners of the motion itself. To lessen this burden, as the majority now does in this no-fault proceeding, I submit, is unsupported in the law.

There is an Appellate Division, First Department case, Bowery Sav. Bank v 130 E. 72nd St. Realty Corp. (173 AD2d 364 [1991]), which “appears” to support the majority’s contention that a court may grant summary judgment upon information in the record that was not provided by the moving party. However, a careful reading of that case and the record on appeal reveals that this issue was never briefed. More importantly, it was not{**14 Misc 3d at 80} even considered by the trial court. [*5]In fact the unpublished decision from the Supreme Court cites to Alvarez v Prospect Hosp. (68 NY2d 320 [1986]) for the proposition that the initial burden lies upon the movant. That court then goes on to indicate that the defendant does not dispute certain issues but fails to raise sufficient allegations to raise a triable issue of fact.

At no point does the Supreme Court or the Appellate Division assert that it has the right to search the record in order to bolster the movant’s applications. There is clearly a distinction between discounting a technical failure that is not at issue and, on the other hand, combing through the record in order to search for missing elements of plaintiff’s prima facie case.

Until now, a plaintiff did, at least, have the initial burden to prove that the claim form was actually sent to the defendant. The Appellate Term has long held that such proof could be established by annexing the defendant’s denial form thereby proving that the claim was received. My colleagues now no longer require that plaintiff establish a prima facie case within the four corners of its motion as long as the majority can find the proof upon a complete search of the record.

Although the majority acknowledges the “well-established principle that the failure of a proponent of a motion for summary judgment to make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law requires denial of the motion regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers (Winegrad v New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 NY2d 851, 853 [1985])” (at 75), it nevertheless decided to search this record here and find that a prima facie case exists.

The majority then cites to the Court of Appeals case of Alvarez v Prospect Hosp. (68 NY2d 320 [1986]) which cites Winegrad, and which substantially stands for the same proposition. Nevertheless, the majority asserts that “this is not to say that where a movant fails to establish a prima facie case, the court may never review the opposition papers” (at 76). What they fail to explain is how they reached that conclusion given the following language in Alvarez: “As we have stated frequently, the proponent of a summary judgment motion must make a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law . . . Failure to make such prima facie showing requires a denial of the motion, regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers” (Alvarez, 68 NY2d at 324 [emphasis added]).{**14 Misc 3d at 81}

For the majority now to say that Alvarez does not preclude them here from reviewing the opposition papers and finding a prima facie case for the movant upon the entire record is, in my opinion, misrepresenting the clear language enunciated by the Court of Appeals. That Court unequivocally stated that such failure mandates a denial of the motion despite the sufficiency of the opposing papers, a ruling which this court is duty bound to follow.

Finally, I submit, the majority engages in an argument of pure sophistry. It asserts that the Appellate Term has the authority to search the record and grant reverse summary judgment even in the absence of a cross motion or an appeal seeking such relief. I agree. It goes on to conclude that the Appellate Term must therefore have the authority to search this record in order to grant summary judgment even in the absence of the movant making out its prima facie case. I [*6]do not agree.

There is no question that this court has the authority to search the record and grant reverse summary judgment (see Merritt Hill Vineyards v Windy Hgts. Vineyard, 61 NY2d 106 [1984]). That does not mean, however, that the Appellate Term can use that authority to correct this no-fault movant’s failure to establish its prima facie entitlement to judgment. In my view, the majority’s decision would permit a trial court to exercise its discretion in an open and relaxed manner and would, consequently, result in varied and conflicting decisions based upon the same or similar facts. The result can only lead to confusion and increased appellate litigation. Clearly, in no-fault matters, where the Appellate Term has provided the plaintiff with the simplest of requirements to establish a prima facie case as a matter of law, it now holds that even less is required.

Pesce, P.J., and Rios, J., concur; Golia, J., dissents in a separate memorandum.