August 2, 2017

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Austin Diagnostic Med., P.C. (2017 NY Slip Op 05992)

Headnote

The relevant facts considered in the case were that the plaintiff insurance company sought a judgment declaring that it was not obligated to pay certain no-fault insurance benefits because the defendant failed to appear for examinations under oath. The defendant filed an answer about 3 1/2 months past the statutory time to file an answer. The issue decided was whether the plaintiff should be compelled to accept the untimely answer as timely or to extend the time for the defendant to answer. The holding of the case was that the defendant did not provide a reasonable excuse for the delay and failed to demonstrate a potentially meritorious defense to the action, so the Supreme Court was correct in denying the defendant's motion.

Reported in New York Official Reports at State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Austin Diagnostic Med., P.C. (2017 NY Slip Op 05992)

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Austin Diagnostic Med., P.C.

2017 NY Slip Op 05992 [153 AD3d 576]

August 2, 2017

Appellate Division, Second Department

Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.

As corrected through Wednesday, September 27, 2017

[*1]

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Respondent,
v
Austin Diagnostic Medical, P.C., Appellant.

Cardillo Law PC, Brooklyn, NY (Harry A. Cardillo of counsel), for appellant.

Freiberg, Peck & Kang LLP, Armonk, NY (Yilo J. Kang of counsel), for respondent.

In an action for a judgment declaring that the plaintiff is not obligated to pay certain no-fault insurance benefits, the defendant appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Dufficy, J.), entered February 29, 2016, which denied its motion to extend its time to answer, or in the alternative, to compel the plaintiff to accept the untimely answer.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.

The plaintiff insurance company commenced this action against the defendant, seeking a judgment declaring that it was not obligated to pay certain no-fault insurance benefits because the defendant failed to appear for examinations under oath. The defendant filed an answer approximately 31/2 months after the statutory time to file an answer had expired. The plaintiff rejected the answer as untimely, and the defendant moved to extend its time to answer, or in the alternative, to compel the plaintiff to accept the untimely answer. The Supreme Court denied the motion, and the defendant appeals.

To compel the plaintiff to accept an untimely answer as timely or to extend the time for a defendant to answer, a defendant must provide a reasonable excuse for the delay and demonstrate a potentially meritorious defense to the action (see Ryan v Breezy Point Coop., Inc., 76 AD3d 523, 524 [2010]; Juseinoski v Board of Educ. of City of N.Y., 15 AD3d 353 [2005]). Here, the defendant submitted an answer which was verified only by its attorney and an affirmation from its attorney who did not have personal knowledge of the facts. These documents were insufficient to demonstrate that the defendant had a potentially meritorious defense to the action (see Salch v Paratore, 60 NY2d 851 [1983]; Ryan v Breezy Point Coop., Inc., 76 AD3d at 524; Juseinoski v Board of Educ. of City of N.Y., 15 AD3d 353 [2005]).

The parties’ remaining contentions either are without merit or have been rendered academic in light of our determination.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant’s motion. Dillon, J.P., Austin, Hinds-Radix and LaSalle, JJ., concur.