T & J Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51673(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at T & J Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51673(U))

T & J Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51673(U)) [*1]
T & J Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51673(U) [49 Misc 3d 146(A)]
Decided on November 13, 2015
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This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.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 November 13, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-907 Q C
T & J Chiropractic, P.C. as Assignee of WASEEM AKHTAR, Appellant,

against

American Transit Ins. Co., Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Richard G. Latin, J.), entered April 1, 2013. The order denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is modified by providing that defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied; as so modified, the order is affirmed, without costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The Civil Court denied plaintiff’s motion and granted defendant’s cross motion on the ground that plaintiff had failed to provide requested verification.

In support of its cross motion, defendant submitted an affidavit by its no-fault examiner which was sufficient to demonstrate prima facie that it had not received the requested verification and, thus, that plaintiff’s action is premature (see 11 NYCRR 65-3.8 [a]; Central Suffolk Hosp. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 24 AD3d 492 [2005]). However, in opposition to the cross motion, plaintiff submitted an affidavit from plaintiff’s owner, which affidavit was sufficient to give rise to a presumption that the requested verification had been mailed to, and received by, defendant (see Residential Holding Corp. v Scottsdale Ins. Co., 286 AD2d 679 [2001]). In light of the foregoing, there is a triable issue of fact as to whether the action is premature (see Healing Health Prods., Inc. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 44 Misc 3d 59 [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014]).

Accordingly, the order is modified by providing that defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 13, 2015
Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51672(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51672(U))

Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51672(U)) [*1]
Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51672(U) [49 Misc 3d 146(A)]
Decided on November 13, 2015
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 November 13, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-903 Q C
Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. as Assignee of CORNELIUS EVANGELIST, Appellant,

against

Country Wide Insurance Company, Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Barry A. Schwartz, J.), entered February 25, 2013. The order denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with $25 costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals from an order of the Civil Court which denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Defendant submitted sufficient proof to show that the independent medical examination (IME) scheduling letters and the denial of claim forms, which denied the claims on the ground that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for duly scheduled IMEs, had been timely mailed (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]). Defendant further demonstrated that plaintiff’s assignor had not appeared for the duly scheduled IMEs and, thus, that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to comply with a condition precedent to coverage (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]). As plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact in opposition to defendant’s cross motion, defendant’s cross motion was properly granted.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 13, 2015
Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51671(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51671(U))

Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51671(U)) [*1]
Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51671(U) [49 Misc 3d 146(A)]
Decided on November 13, 2015
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 November 13, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-896 Q C
Compas Medical, P.C. as Assignee of MICHAEL SALOMON, Appellant,

against

American Transit Ins. Co., Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Ulysses Bernard Leverett, J.), entered February 21, 2013. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted the branches of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing so much of the complaint as sought to recover upon claims that had been denied due to the failure of plaintiff’s assignor to appear for examinations under oath and independent medical examinations.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed, with $25 costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The Civil Court, insofar as is relevant to this appeal, denied plaintiff’s motion and granted the branches of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing so much of the complaint as sought to recover upon claims which had been timely and properly denied on the ground that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for examinations under oath (EUOs) and independent medical examinations (IMEs).

Contrary to plaintiff’s contention, defendant established that EUO scheduling letters had been timely mailed (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]) and that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for the duly scheduled EUOs (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]). Thus, defendant demonstrated that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to comply with a condition precedent to coverage (id. at 722). As defendant had timely denied (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond, 50 AD3d 1123) the claims at issue on the ground that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for duly scheduled EUOs, and as plaintiff’s remaining contentions lack merit, defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing these claims.

In light of the foregoing, we need not pass upon plaintiff’s contention that defendant failed to establish that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for duly scheduled IMEs.

Accordingly, the order, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 13, 2015
Healing Art Acupuncture, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51670(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Healing Art Acupuncture, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51670(U))

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

Healing Art Acupuncture, P.C. as Assignee of STEPHANIE WILLIS, Appellant,

against

Allstate Insurance Company, Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Harriet L. Thompson, J.), entered February 22, 2013. The order, insofar as appealed from, denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and, upon a search of the record, granted partial summary judgment to defendant dismissing so much of the complaint as sought to recover for services rendered after November 20, 2009.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is modified by striking the provision granting partial summary judgment to defendant dismissing so much of the complaint as sought to recover for services rendered after November 20, 2009; as so modified, the order, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed, without costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment. In opposition, defendant argued that it had timely denied plaintiff’s claims on the grounds of lack of medical necessity and that the amount charged exceeded the amount permitted by the workers’ compensation fee schedule. By order entered February 22, 2013, the Civil Court denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, but held that pursuant to CPLR 3212 (g), plaintiff and defendant had established their prima facie cases and that the sole issue for trial would be the propriety of defendant’s defense which was based upon the workers’ compensation fee schedule. The Civil Court also, upon searching the record, held that plaintiff had failed to rebut defendant’s independent medical examination report which defendant had annexed to its papers in opposition to plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and awarded defendant partial summary judgment dismissing so much of the complaint as sought to recover for services rendered after November 20, 2009. Plaintiff appeals.

While the court has the power to award summary judgment to a nonmoving party predicated upon a motion for that relief by another party (see Dunham v Hilco Constr. Co., 89 NY2d 425 [1996]), here the issue of medical necessity was not the subject of plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment (see Mary Immaculate Hosp. v Allstate Ins. Co., 5 AD3d 742 [2004]). As a result, the court improvidently exercised its discretion when it searched the record and awarded defendant summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as it sought to recover for services rendered after November 20, 2009 (see Whitman Realty Group, Inc. v Galano, 52 AD3d 505 [2008]; Ey v Mecca, 41 AD3d 534 [2007]; Jillsunan Corp. v Wallfrin Indus., 79 AD2d 943 [1981]; Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 20 Misc 3d 144[A], 2008 NY Slip Op 51852 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2008]).

Plaintiff’s remaining contentions are not properly before this court, as these arguments are being raised for the first time on appeal, and we decline to consider them (see Joe v Upper Room Ministries, Inc., 88 AD3d 963 [2011]; Gulf Ins. Co. v Kanen, 13 AD3d 579 [2004]).

Accordingly, the order, insofar as appealed from, is modified by striking the provision granting partial summary judgment to defendant dismissing so much of the complaint as sought [*2]to recover for services rendered after November 20, 2009.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 13, 2015
Active Chiropractic, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51668(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Active Chiropractic, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51668(U))

Active Chiropractic, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51668(U)) [*1]
Active Chiropractic, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51668(U) [49 Misc 3d 145(A)]
Decided on November 13, 2015
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 November 13, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-803 Q C
Active Chiropractic, P.C. as Assignee of WILLIAM HARVEY, Respondent,

against

Praetorian Ins. Co., Appellant.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Ulysses Bernard Leverett, J.), entered February 19, 2013. The order, insofar as appealed from, denied defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, with $30 costs, and defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment, and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, alleging that the claim at issue had been timely and properly denied based upon plaintiff’s assignor’s failure to appear at duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). Insofar as is relevant to this appeal, the Civil Court denied defendant’s cross motion, finding that there was an issue of fact as to whether plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for the duly scheduled EUOs.

The affirmation submitted by defendant’s attorney in support of defendant’s cross motion sufficiently described the standard practices and procedures of his office for mailing EUO scheduling letters (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]). Furthermore, defendant established, based upon the personal knowledge of the attorney who was responsible for conducting the EUOs at issue, that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for either of the duly scheduled EUOs (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]; Olmeur Med., P.C. v Nationwide Gen. Ins. Co., 41 Misc 3d 143[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 52031[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2013]). Contrary to the determination of the Civil Court, defendant’s annexation of EUO transcripts demonstrating that a different assignor had also failed to appear for that assignor’s EUOs did not demonstrate the existence of a triable issue of fact in the instant action. Since defendant demonstrated that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to comply with a condition precedent to coverage (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C., 35 AD3d at 722) and that defendant had timely denied (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond, 50 AD3d 1123) the claim on that ground, defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Accordingly, the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed and defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is granted.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 13, 2015
Compas Med., P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51667(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Compas Med., P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51667(U))

Compas Med., P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51667(U)) [*1]
Compas Med., P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51667(U) [49 Misc 3d 145(A)]
Decided on November 13, 2015
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 November 13, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-695 Q C
Compas Medical, P.C. as Assignee of JEAN GUILLAUME, Appellant,

against

Praetorian Ins. Co., Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Carmen R. Velasquez, J.), entered February 14, 2013. The order denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is modified by providing that the branch of plaintiff’s motion seeking summary judgment upon its third cause of action is granted and the branch of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the third cause of action is denied, and the matter is remitted to the Civil Court for the calculation of statutory interest and an assessment of attorney’s fees with respect to this cause of action; as so modified, the order is affirmed, without costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The Civil Court denied plaintiff’s motion and granted defendant’s cross motion.

Contrary to plaintiff’s contention, defendant established that the independent medical examination (IME) and examination under oath (EUO) scheduling letters had been timely mailed (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]), that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for the duly scheduled IMEs and EUOs (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]), and that defendant had timely denied (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond, 50 AD3d 1123) the claims underlying the first, second, and fourth through eighth causes of action on these grounds. Since defendant demonstrated that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to comply with a condition precedent to coverage (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C., 35 AD3d at 722) and plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact in opposition to defendant’s cross motion, defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing these causes of action.

However, with respect to the third cause of action, the record establishes that the claim at issue was not denied within 30 days of its receipt (see 11 NYCRR 65-3.8 [a] [1]) and defendant did not demonstrate that the 30-day claim determination period (see 11 NYCRR 65-3.8) had been tolled. As a result, since defendant is precluded from asserting, with respect to this claim, its defense that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for the duly scheduled IMEs and EUOs (see Westchester Med. Ctr. v Lincoln Gen. Ins. Co., 60 AD3d 1045 [2009]), plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment upon its third cause of action.

Accordingly, the order is modified by providing that the branch of plaintiff’s motion seeking summary judgment upon its third cause of action is granted and the branch of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the third cause of action is denied, and the matter is remitted to the Civil Court for the calculation of statutory interest and an assessment of attorney’s fees with respect to this cause of action pursuant to Insurance Law § 5106 (a) and the [*2]regulations promulgated thereunder.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 13, 2015
Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51665(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51665(U))

Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51665(U)) [*1]
Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51665(U) [49 Misc 3d 145(A)]
Decided on November 12, 2015
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 November 12, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-1460 K C
Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. as Assignee of BERNARD FITZGERALD, Appellant,

against

Travelers Insurance Company, Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Robin S. Garson, J.), entered April 30, 2013. The order granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, with $25 costs, and defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, alleging that the claim at issue had been timely and properly denied on the ground that plaintiff had failed to appear at duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). Plaintiff opposed the motion. By order entered April 30, 2013, the Civil Court granted defendant’s motion.

Pursuant to the No-Fault Regulations, “any additional verification required by the insurer to establish proof of claim shall be requested within 15 business days of receipt of the [NF-3]” (11 NYCRR 65-3.5 [b] [emphasis added]). This rule applies to requests for EUOs (see e.g. Longevity Medical Supply, Inc. v IDS Property & Cas. Ins. Co., 44 Misc 3d 137[A], 2014 NY Slip Op 51244[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014])” (O & M Med., P.C. v Travelers Indem. Co., 47 Misc 3d 134[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 50476[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]). As defendant’s moving papers reflect that defendant’s first EUO scheduling letter was mailed about 50 days after defendant had received the claim at issue in this action, defendant failed to demonstrate that it had properly denied the claim based upon plaintiff’s failure to comply with a condition precedent to coverage (see O & M Med., P.C., 47 Misc 3d 134[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 50476[U]; St. Vincent Med. Care, P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co., 26 Misc 3d 144[A], 2010 NY Slip Op 50446[U] [App Term, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2010]).

Accordingly, the order is reversed and defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 12, 2015
Mind & Body Acupuncture, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51658(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Mind & Body Acupuncture, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51658(U))

Mind & Body Acupuncture, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51658(U)) [*1]
Mind & Body Acupuncture, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51658(U) [49 Misc 3d 144(A)]
Decided on November 12, 2015
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 November 12, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-1118 Q C
Mind & Body Acupuncture, P.C. as Assignee of PASCAL GRAMONT, Appellant,

against

Praetorian Ins. Co., Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (William A. Viscovich, J.), entered March 26, 2013. The order denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with $25 costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals from an order of the Civil Court which denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Contrary to plaintiff’s contentions, the independent medical examination (IME) and examination under oath (EUO) scheduling letters were not mere delay letters. Moreover, defendant properly established that the scheduling letters had been timely mailed (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]), that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for the duly scheduled IMEs and EUOs (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]), and that defendant had timely denied (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond, 50 AD3d 1123) the claims at issue. Since defendant demonstrated that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to comply with a condition precedent to coverage (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C., 35 AD3d at 722) and plaintiff has failed to raise a triable issue of fact, defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 12, 2015
Ap Orthopedic & Rehabilitation, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51656(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Ap Orthopedic & Rehabilitation, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51656(U))

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

AP Orthopedic & Rehabilitation, P.C. as Assignee of EUGENE COOPER and MYONG KUNG SONG, Respondent,

against

Allstate Insurance Company, Appellant.

Appeal from a judgment of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Anna Culley, J.), entered December 18, 2012. The judgment, entered pursuant to a decision of the same court dated September 14, 2012, insofar as appealed from, after a nonjury trial, awarded plaintiff the principal sum of $8,220.17 on plaintiff’s third cause of action.

ORDERED that, on the court’s own motion, the notice of appeal from the decision dated September 14, 2012 is deemed a premature notice of appeal from so much of the judgment entered December 18, 2012 as awarded plaintiff the principal sum of $8,220.17 on plaintiff’s third cause of action (see CPLR 5520 [c]); and it is further,

ORDERED that the judgment, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed, with $25 costs.

At a nonjury trial of this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, insofar as is relevant to this appeal, the parties’ attorneys stipulated that the only issue to be tried concerned the third cause of action, for which plaintiff sought to recover the principal sum of $8,220.17. It was further stipulated that defendant’s witness was an expert. The trial proceeded solely upon defendant’s defense of lack of medical necessity. Following the trial, the Civil Court found in favor of plaintiff on the third cause of action.

In reviewing a determination made after a nonjury trial, the power of this court is as broad as that of the trial court, and this court may render the judgment it finds warranted by the facts, bearing in mind that the determination of a trier of fact as to issues of credibility is given substantial deference, as a trial court’s opportunity to observe and evaluate the testimony and demeanor of the witnesses affords it a better perspective from which to assess their credibility (see Northern Westchester Professional Park Assoc. v Town of Bedford, 60 NY2d 492, 499 [1983]; Hamilton v Blackwood, 85 AD3d 1116 [2011]; Zeltser v Sacerdote, 52 AD3d 824, 826 [2008]).

In the present case, the record supports the determination of the Civil Court, based upon its assessment of the credibility of defendant’s witness and the proof adduced at trial, that defendant failed to demonstrate that the services rendered were not medically necessary. As we find no basis to disturb the Civil Court’s findings, the judgment, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 12, 2015
Healthway Med. Care, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51654(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Healthway Med. Care, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51654(U))

Healthway Med. Care, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51654(U)) [*1]
Healthway Med. Care, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co.
2015 NY Slip Op 51654(U) [49 Misc 3d 144(A)]
Decided on November 12, 2015
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 November 12, 2015

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: : PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ.
2013-891 Q C
Healthway Medical Care, P.C. as Assignee of MARCUS HIPPOLYTE, Appellant,

against

Country Wide Insurance Company, Respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Richard G. Latin, J.), entered April 4, 2013. The order denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with $25 costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals from an order of the Civil Court which denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

The affidavit of defendant’s no-fault litigation supervisor submitted in support of defendant’s cross motion established that defendant had timely mailed its denial of claim forms in accordance with its standard office practices and procedures (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]), which forms denied the claims on the ground that the assignor had not submitted proper notice of the accident to defendant within 30 days of the accident. Defendant’s cross-moving papers further demonstrated that defendant had first learned of the accident more than 30 days after it had occurred. As defendant established its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, the burden shifted to plaintiff. Despite being informed by the denial of claim forms that it had the opportunity to “submit[] written proof providing clear and reasonable justification for the failure” to timely advise defendant of the accident (11 NYCRR 65-1.1; 65-2.4), plaintiff did not present any evidence that it had availed itself of the opportunity or that it had given timely notice.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

Pesce, P.J., Aliotta and Solomon, JJ., concur.


Decision Date: November 12, 2015