Struhl v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50864(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Struhl v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50864(U))

Struhl v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50864(U)) [*1]
Struhl v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50864(U)
Decided on June 3, 2005
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This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.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 June 3, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 9th and 10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: June 3, 2005 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPELLATE TERM : 9th and 10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS PRESENT : RUDOLPH, P.J., McCABE and TANENBAUM, JJ.
2004-1038 N C
DR. Steven Struhl, M.D., As assignee of CHRISTOPHER DENT, Respondent,

against

Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, Appellant.

Appeal by defendant from an order of the District Court, Nassau County (S. Jaeger, J.), entered February 9, 2004, which granted plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.

Order unanimously reversed without costs and plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment denied.

In this action to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff health care provider established its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that it submitted the functional equivalent of a statutory claim form setting forth the fact and amount of the loss sustained, and that payment of no-fault benefits was overdue (see
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]). The nature of the fact and amount of loss, that is, the “particulars of the nature and extent of the injuries and treatment received and contemplated” (11 NYCRR 65-1.1) were sufficiently set forth to permit defendant the review to which it was entitled at the claim stage. Thus, the burden shifted to defendant to raise a triable issue of fact (Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]).

Absent tolling of the statutory time, defendant’s conceded failure to deny the claim within 30 days of its receipt precluded its defenses with the exception noted below (see Hospital for Joint Diseases v ELRAC, Inc., 11 AD3d 432, 434 [2004]; New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v [*2]Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 5 AD3d 568, 570 [2004]). First, defendant sought to prove requests for verification via the affidavit of a “litigation specialist” who asserted no basis of personal knowledge of the facts aside from defendant’s records and who offered no proof of mailing (e.g. Hospital for Joint Diseases v Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 284 AD2d 374, 375 [2001]). Moreover, the alleged initial and follow-up verification demands, in any event, were ineffective to toll the claim determination period. All post-claim verification requests must be made within prescribed time frames, (11 NYCRR 65-3.5 [a], [b]; 65-3.6 [b]; New York Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Queens v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 295 AD2d 583, 584-585 [2002]). Defendant omitted any proof of its allegedly timely initial verification request and its purported proof of a subsequent, follow-up request, however marked a “second notice,” was therefore of no significance. Defendant’s failure to establish compliance with the verification rules justified the court’s conclusion that the 30-day claim determination period expired.

Whatever the merits of defense counsel’s calculations of the proper fee schedule, the issue is precluded by the untimely denial (see Westchester Med. Ctr. v American Tr. Ins. Co., ___ AD3d ___, 2005 NY Slip Op 03046; Capio Med., P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 7 Misc 3d 129[A], 2005 NY Slip Op 50526[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists]; Triboro Chiropractic & Acupuncture v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 6 Misc 3d 132[A], 2005 NY Slip Op 50110[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists]). Also precluded are defendant’s challenge to the treatment’s medical necessity, however well-established by a peer review report in admissible form (e.g. A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v Motor Veh. Acc. Indem. Corp., 6 Misc 3d 131[A], 2005 NY Slip Op 50088[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists]), and the alleged defects in the proof of assignment (New
York Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Queens v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 8 AD3d 640, 641 [2004]; Capio Med., P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 7 Misc 3d 129[A], 2005 NY Slip Op 50526[U], supra).

However, the preclusion sanction does not apply to a defense that a claim is based on treatment for medical conditions unrelated to a covered traffic incident (Mount Sinai Hosp. v Triboro Coach, 263 AD2d 11, 18-19 [1999]; see Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195, 199 [1997]), and upon our review of the peer review report, submitted below in admissible form, we are persuaded that the report sufficed to create a triable issue as to whether the condition for which the herein medical services were provided arose from a covered insured incident (id.; see also Amaze Med. Supply v Eagle Ins. Co., 2 Misc 3d 128[A], 2003 NY Slip Op 51701[U], supra).
Decision Date: June 03, 2005

GPM Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co (2005 NYSlipOp 50861(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at GPM Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co (2005 NYSlipOp 50861(U))

GPM Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co (2005 NYSlipOp 50861(U)) [*1]
GPM Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co
2005 NYSlipOp 50861(U)
Decided on June 3, 2005
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 June 3, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: June 3, 2005 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPELLATE TERM : 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS PRESENT : PESCE, P.J., PATTERSON and BELEN, JJ.
2004-767 Q C
GPM Chiropractic, P.C. as Assignee of JOSHUA MATEO, Respondent,

against

State Farm Mutual Insurance Co, Appellant.

Appeal by defendant from an order of the Civil Court, Queens County (A. Gazzara, J.), entered October 21, 2003, granting plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment.

Order unanimously reversed with $10 costs and plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment denied.

In this action to recover first-party no-fault benefits for medical services rendered to its assignor, plaintiff health care provider established a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that it submitted a claim, setting forth the fact and the amount of loss sustained, and that payment of no-fault benefits was overdue (see 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]). The burden then shifted to defendant to show a triable issue of fact (see Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]).

It is uncontroverted that defendant did not deny plaintiff’s claim within the statutory period. Consequently, defendant is precluded from raising most defenses (see Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195 [1997]; Presbyterian Hosp. in City of N.Y. v Maryland Cas. Co., 90 NY2d 274, 282 [1997]), including any deficiency in the assignments (see New York Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Queens v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 8 AD3d 640 [2004]; Presbyterian Hosp. in City of N.Y. v Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 233 AD2d 433 [1996]; A.B. Med. [*2]Servs. PLLC. v Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 6 Misc 3d 70 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]). Moreover, defendant’s requests for examinations under oath did not toll the 30-day claim determination period inasmuch as the applicable insurance regulations did not contain a provision entitling an insurer to an examination under oath (see 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]).

Nevertheless, defendant is not precluded from asserting the defense that the collision was in furtherance of an insurance fraud scheme, despite the untimely denial of the claim (see Matter of Metro Med. Diagnostics v Eagle Ins. Co., 293 AD2d 751 [2002]). We find that the affidavit submitted by defendant’s special investigator was sufficient to demonstrate that defendant’s denial was based upon a “founded belief that the alleged injur[ies] do[ ] not arise out of an insured incident” (Central Gen. Hosp, 90 NY2d at 199). Consequently, a triable issue of fact exists as to whether there was a lack of coverage (see id.; Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 NY2d 557 [1980]). Accordingly, plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment is denied.
Decision Date: June 03, 2005

Diagnostic Rehab. Medicine Serv., P.C. v Farm Family Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50826(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Diagnostic Rehab. Medicine Serv., P.C. v Farm Family Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50826(U))

Diagnostic Rehab. Medicine Serv., P.C. v Farm Family Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50826(U)) [*1]
Diagnostic Rehab. Medicine Serv., P.C. v Farm Family Cas. Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50826(U)
Decided on June 2, 2005
Appellate Term, First 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 June 2, 2005

APPELLATE TERM OF THE SUPREME COURT, FIRST DEPARTMENT


PRESENT:
HON. LUCINDO SUAREZ, P.J.
HON. WILLIAM P. McCOOE
HON. PHYLLIS GANGEL-JACOB, Justices.
Diagnostic Rehab. Medicine Serv., P.C., Assignee of Julio Duran, Plaintiff-Appellant, 570292/04

against

Farm Family Casualty Ins. Co., Defendant-Respondent.

Plaintiff appeals from an order of the Civil Court, Bronx County, entered November 20, 2003 (Irving Rosen, J.) denying its motion for summary judgment.

PER CURIAM:

Order entered November 20, 2003 (Irving Rosen, J.) reversed, with $10 costs, plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is granted and the matter is remanded to Civil Court for (1) the assessment of appropriate attorney’s fees and interest pursuant to Insurance Law § 5106(a) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and (2) the entry of a judgment in favor of plaintiff and against defendant in the principal sum of $2,321.38, plus appropriate interest and attorney’s fees.

Plaintiff was entitled to summary judgment on the complaint inasmuch as defendant insurance company did not timely deny plaintiff’s claim for no-fault benefits within 30 days after proof of claim was received (see Insurance Law § 5106[a]; Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195 [1997]). Under the circumstances, defendant insurer [*2]waived any defenses relating to the medical necessity of the treatment rendered (Country-Wide Ins. Co. v Zablozki, 257 AD2d 506 [1999], lv denied 93 NY2d 809 [1999]) as well as to the facial sufficiency of the patient’s assignment of no-fault benefits submitted by plaintiff (Presbyterian Hosp. v Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 233 AD2d 433 [1996], lv dismissed 89 NY2d 1030 [1997]).

Furthermore, defendant failed to raise an issue of fact as to whether defendant’s denial of coverage was “premised on the fact or founded belief that the alleged injury [did] not arise out of an insured incident” (Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d at 199; see Nyack Hosp. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 8 AD3d 250 [2004]; Mt. Sinai Hosp. v Triboro Coach, 263 AD2d 11 [1999]).

This constitutes the decision and order of the court.
Decision Date: June 02, 2005

Triboro Chiropractic & Acupuncture P.L.L.C. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50856(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Triboro Chiropractic & Acupuncture P.L.L.C. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50856(U))

Triboro Chiropractic & Acupuncture P.L.L.C. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50856(U)) [*1]
Triboro Chiropractic & Acupuncture P.L.L.C. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50856(U)
Decided on June 1, 2005
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 June 1, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: June 1, 2005 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPELLATE TERM : 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS PRESENT : PESCE, P.J., PATTERSON and BELEN, JJ.
2004-1009 Q C
Triboro Chiropractic and Acupuncture P.L.L.C. a/a/o Andre Vincent, Appellant,

against

New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Respondent.

Appeal by plaintiff from so much of an order of the Civil Court, Queens County (J. Golia, J.), entered January 12, 2004, as denied its motion for summary judgment. Order unanimously modified by providing that plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is granted to the extent of awarding plaintiff partial summary judgment in the principal sum of $4,117.18 and matter remanded to the court below for a calculation of statutory interest and an assessment of attorney’s fees thereon, and for all further proceedings on the remaining claims; as so modified, affirmed without costs.

In this action to recover first-party no-fault benefits for medical services rendered to its assignor, plaintiff health care provider established a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that it submitted claims, setting forth the facts and the amount of the losses sustained, and that payment of no-fault benefits was overdue (see Insurance Law § 5106 [a]; Mary Immaculate Hosp. v Allstate Ins. Co., 5 AD3d 742 [2004]). Inasmuch as defendant failed to pay or deny claims in the sums of $1,800, $1,588.44 and $728.74 within the 30-day statutory period (11 NYCRR 65.15 [g] [3], now 11 NYCRR 65-3.8 [c]), it is precluded from raising most defenses with respect thereto (see Presbyterian Hosp. in City of N.Y. v Maryland Cas. Co., 90 [*2]NY2d 274, 282 [1997]).
The remaining claims were timely denied on the ground that the bills submitted were “not properly no-fault rated” and that the fees charged were in excess of the Workers’ Compensation fee schedule. Such defenses raise triable issues of fact warranting the denial of plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as to said claims.

Accordingly, partial summary is granted plaintiff in the sum of $4,117.18 and the matter is remanded to the court below for a calculation of the statutory interest and an
assessment of attorney’s fees due thereon pursuant to Insurance Law § 5106 (a) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and for all further proceedings on the remaining claims.
Decision Date: June 01, 2005

A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v State-Wide Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50785(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v State-Wide Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50785(U))

A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v State-Wide Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50785(U)) [*1]
A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v State-Wide Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50785(U)
Decided on May 23, 2005
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 May 23, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: PATTERSON, J.P., GOLIA and RIOS, JJ.
2004-667 K C
A.B. MEDICAL SERVICES PLLC D.A.V. CHIROPRACTIC P.C. LVOV ACUPUNCTURE P.C. a/a/o Marie Rettelye Pierre, Appellants,

against

STATE-WIDE INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent.

Appeal by plaintiffs from an order of the Civil Court, Kings County (S. Krauss, J.), entered on April 8, 2004, which denied their motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint with leave to replead.

Order reversed without costs, complaint reinstated, plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment granted and matter remanded to the court below for a calculation of statutory interest and an assessment of attorney’s fees; entry of judgment stayed for 45 days from the date of the order entered hereon, with leave to defendant to renew upon submission of proper papers within said period.

In this action to recover first-party no-fault benefits for medical services rendered to their assignor, plaintiffs established a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that they submitted their claims, setting forth the fact and the amount of the loss sustained, and that payment of no-fault benefits was overdue (see 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]). While the claims of the three plaintiffs were pleaded under one cause of action in the [*2]complaint, the specific claims and amounts sought to be recovered by the individual plaintiffs were stated separately as to each of the plaintiffs. Under the circumstances, and in the absence of any showing of prejudice to defendant, we find there was no basis to deny the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment and to dismiss the complaint with leave to replead (see CPLR 3014).

Defendant’s denial of plaintiffs’ claims, in essence, asserted misrepresentation and/or fraud by plaintiffs and the plaintiffs’ assignor. Since the defendant failed to pay or deny the claim within the 30-day statutory period (11 NYCRR 65-3.8 [c]), it is precluded from raising most defenses (see Presbyterian Hosp. in City of N.Y. v Maryland Cas. Co., 90 NY2d 274, 282 [1997]), including its defense of provider fraud (id. at 285; Melbourne Med., P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 4 Misc 3d 92 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]).

Defendant, however, is not precluded from asserting the defense that the collision was in furtherance of an insurance fraud scheme, despite the untimely denial of the claim (see Matter of Metro Med. Diagnostics v Eagle Ins. Co., 293 AD2d 751 [2002]). In opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, and in support of its defense of fraud, defendant submitted the affirmation of its attorney who lacked personal knowledge of the investigation (Melbourne Med., P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 4 Misc 3d 92, supra), and unsworn investigative reports which did not constitute competent proof in admissible form (S & M Supply v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 4 Misc 3d 130[A], 2004 NY Slip Op 50693[U] [App Term, 9th & 10th Jud Dists]). While hearsay evidence may be admissible in opposing a motion for summary judgment, there must be an acceptable excuse for failure to tender the proof in admissible form (see Friends of Animals v Associated Fur Mfrs., 46 NY2d 1065, 1068 [1979]; Allstate Ins. Co. v Keil, 268 AD2d 545 [2000]), which defendant has failed to proffer. Accordingly, plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment should have been granted.

Inasmuch as the issues raised herein involve an alleged staged collision in furtherance of an insurance fraud scheme, and in consideration of the strong public policy to stem the perpetration of no-fault insurance fraud underlying the revisions to the insurance regulations (see Matter of Medical Socy. of State of N.Y. v Serio, 100 NY2d 854, 861-862 [2003]), defendant is granted leave to renew upon
submission of proper papers in opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (see CPLR 2221), to demonstrate that the defense was based upon a “founded belief that the alleged injur[ies] do[]not arise out of an insured incident” (Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195, 199 [1997]).

Accordingly, the complaint is reinstated, plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment granted, and matter remanded to the court below for a calculation of statutory interest and an assessment of attorney’s fees; entry of judgment is stayed for 45 days from the date of the order entered hereon, with leave to defendant to renew upon submission of proper papers within said period.

Patterson, J.P., and Rios, J., concur.

Golia, J., dissents in a separate memorandum.

Golia, J., dissents and votes to modify the order and deny plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment in the following memorandum:

Contrary to the holding of the majority, I find that the papers submitted by the defendant in opposition to the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment were sufficient to raise an issue of fact as to whether the defense of fraud was based upon a “founded belief that the alleged injur[ies] do[] not arise out of an insured incident” (Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195, 199 [1997]).

For the reasons stated in my dissent in Ocean Diagnostic Imaging v Lancer Ins. Co. (6 Misc 3d 62 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]), I find that the unsworn reports when submitted in opposition to a motion for summary judgment and accompanied by an affidavit or affirmation of an attorney which makes reference to such report, are sufficient for the purpose of raising a triable issue of fact. This Court must, when deciding a motion for summary judgment, interpret the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant (see Weiss v Garfield, 21 AD2d 156 [1964]). This is especially true where there is an allegation of fraud.

Accordingly, I would modify the order of the lower court and would deny the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment.
Decision Date: May 23, 2005

S & M Supply Inc. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50747(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at S & M Supply Inc. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50747(U))

S & M Supply Inc. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50747(U)) [*1]
S & M Supply Inc. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50747(U)
Decided on May 19, 2005
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 May 19, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: May 19, 2005 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPELLATE TERM : 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS PRESENT : PESCE, P.J., GOLIA and RIOS, JJ.
2004-874 K C NO. 2004-874 K C
S & M SUPPLY INC. a/a/o Marie Caty Biggs, Appellant,

against

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent.

Appeal by plaintiff from so much of an order of the Civil Court, Kings County (E. Spodek, J.), dated April 29, 2004, as denied its motion for summary judgment.

Order insofar as appealed from affirmed with $10 costs.

In this action to recover the sum of $741.03 in first-party no-fault benefits for medical supplies furnished to its assignor, plaintiff established a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that it submitted a claim, setting forth the fact and the amount of the loss sustained, and that payment of no-fault benefits was overdue (see 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]). Inasmuch as defendant failed to pay or deny the claim within the 30-day prescribed period (11 NYCRR 65.15 [g] [3], now 11 NYCRR 65-3.8 [c]), it was precluded from raising most defenses (see Presbyterian Hosp. in City of N.Y. v Maryland Cas. Co., 90 NY2d 274, 282 [1997]).

Defendant was not, however, precluded from asserting the defense that the collision was in furtherance of an insurance fraud scheme, despite the untimely denial of the claim (see Matter of Metro Med. Diagnostics v Eagle Ins. Co., 293 AD2d 751 [2002]). The affidavit submitted by defendant’s SIU investigator was sufficient to demonstrate that defendant’s denial was based [*2]upon a “founded belief that the alleged injur[ies] do[] not arise out of an insured incident” (Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195, 199 [1997]). Accordingly, since defendant demonstrated the existence of a triable issue of fact as to whether there was a lack of coverage (see id.; Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 NY2d 557 [1980]), plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment was properly denied.

Contrary to defendant’s contention, defendant was not entitled to summary judgment based upon plaintiff’s assignor’s nonattendance at scheduled examinations [*3]
under oath (see Star Med. Servs. P.C. v Eagle Ins. Co., 6 Misc 3d 56 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]; Melbourne Med., P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 4 Misc 3d 92 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]).

Pesce, P.J., and Rios, J., concur.

Golia, J., concurs in a separate memorandum.

Golia, J., concurs with the result only, in the following memorandum:

While I agree with the ultimate disposition in the decision reached by the majority, I wish to emphasize that I disagree with certain propositions of law set forth in cases cited therein which are inconsistent with my prior expressed positions and generally contrary to my views.
Decision Date: May 19, 2005

SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50746(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50746(U))

SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50746(U)) [*1]
SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50746(U)
Decided on May 19, 2005
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 May 19, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: May 19, 2005 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPELLATE TERM : 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS PRESENT :PATTERSON, J.P., GOLIA and RIOS, JJ.
2004-766 Q C
SZ MEDICAL P.C. LIFE CHIROPRACTIC P.C. SOMUN ACUPUNCTURE P.C. a/a/o Stanley Napoleon Anthony Baptiste Jacques Kessada Charles Webens, Appellants,

against

ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent.

Appeal by plaintiffs from an order of the Civil Court, Queens County (D. Butler, J.), entered March 10, 2004, which granted defendant’s motion, inter alia, to vacate a default judgment.

Order unanimously affirmed without costs.

In this action to recover first-party no-fault benefits for medical services rendered
to plaintiffs’ assignors, a default judgment was entered against defendant. A motion to vacate a default judgment is addressed to the sound discretion of the motion court and the court’s determination “will be upheld in the absence of an improvident exercise of that discretion” (Braddy v 601 Crown St. Corp., 282 AD2d 638, 639 [2001]). Upon the totality of the circumstances presented, it cannot be said that the court below improvidently exercised its discretion in granting defendant’s motion to vacate the default judgment.
Decision Date: May 19, 2005

SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50745(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50745(U))

SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50745(U)) [*1]
SZ Med. P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50745(U)
Decided on May 19, 2005
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 May 19, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: PATTERSON, J.P, GOLIA and RIOS, JJ.
2004-743 Q C
SZ MEDICAL P.C., LIFE CHIROPRACTIC P.C. SOMUN ACUPUNCTURE P.C. a/a/o ROCHELLE B. COMMODORE, Appellants,

against

ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Respondent.

Appeal by plaintiffs from an order of the Civil Court, Queens County (D. Butler, J.), entered February 27, 2004, which granted defendant’s motion to vacate a default judgment.

Order unanimously affirmed without costs. [*2]
In this action to recover first-party no-fault benefits for medical services rendered to plaintiffs’ assignor, a default judgment was entered against defendant. A determination vacating a default “rests in the sound discretion of the court and will be upheld in the absence of an improvident exercise of that discretion” (Braddy v 601 Crown St. Corp., 282 AD2d 638, 639 [2001]). Upon the totality of the circumstances presented, it cannot be said that the court below improvidently exercised its discretion in granting defendant’s motion to vacate the default judgment.
Decision Date: May 19, 2005

Gpm Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50744(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Gpm Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50744(U))

Gpm Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50744(U)) [*1]
Gpm Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50744(U)
Decided on May 19, 2005
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 May 19, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: PATTERSON, J.P., GOLIA and RIOS, JJ.
2004-709 Q C NO. 2004-709 Q C
GPM CHIROPRACTIC, P.C. as Assignee of RAFAEL RODRIGUES, Respondent,

against

STATE FARM MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellant.

Appeal by defendant from an order of the Civil Court, Queens County (D. Pineda-Kirwan, J.), entered December 16, 2003, denying its cross motion for summary judgment and granting plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.

Order modified by providing that plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is denied; as so modified, affirmed without costs.

Plaintiff health care provider commenced this action to recover $1,301.26 in first-party no-fault benefits for medical services rendered to its assignor, Rafael Rodrigues, for injuries he allegedly sustained in a motor vehicle accident on December 3, 2000. Upon a review of the record, we find that plaintiff established a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that it submitted a claim, setting forth the fact and the amount of the loss sustained, and that payment of no-fault benefits was overdue (see 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]). Inasmuch as defendant failed to pay or deny the claim within the 30-day prescribed period (11 NYCRR 65.15 [g] [3], now 11 NYCRR 65-3.8 [c]), it was precluded from raising most defenses (see Presbyterian Hosp. in City of N.Y. v Maryland Cas. Co., 90 NY2d 274, 282 [1997]). It was not, however, precluded from asserting the defense that the alleged injuries did not arise out of a covered accident ([*2]see Central Gen. Hosp. v Chubb Group of Ins. Cos., 90 NY2d 195, 201 [1997]). The affidavit submitted by defendant’s investigator was sufficient to demonstrate that defendant’s denial was based upon a “founded belief that the alleged injur[ies] do[] not arise out of an insured incident” (Central Gen. Hosp., 90 NY2d at 199). Accordingly, since defendant demonstrated the existence of a triable issue of fact as to whether there was a lack of coverage (see id.; Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 NY2d 557 [1980]), plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment should have been denied.

Contrary to defendant’s contention, defendant was not entitled to summary judgment based upon plaintiff’s assignor’s nonattendance at scheduled examinations [*3]
under oath (see Star Med. Servs. P.C. v Eagle Ins. Co., 6 Misc 3d 56, 2004 NY Slip Op 24482 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists]; Melbourne Med., P.C. v Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 4 Misc 3d 92 [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists 2004]).

Patterson, J.P., and Rios, J., concur.

Golia, J., concurs in a separate memorandum.

Golia, J., concurs with the result only, in the following memorandum:

While I agree with the ultimate disposition in the decision reached by the majority, I wish to emphasize that I disagree with certain propositions of law set forth in cases cited therein which are inconsistent with my prior expressed positions and generally contrary to my views.
Decision Date: May 19, 2005

A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v GEICO Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50650(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v GEICO Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50650(U))

A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v GEICO Cas. Ins. Co. (2005 NYSlipOp 50650(U)) [*1]
A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v GEICO Cas. Ins. Co.
2005 NYSlipOp 50650(U)
Decided on April 29, 2005
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 April 29, 2005

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

APPELLATE TERM: 2nd and 11th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS


PRESENT: PESCE, P.J., RIOS and BELEN, JJ.
2004-914 K C
A.B. Medical Services PLLC SOMUN ACUPUNCTURE P.C. SQUARE SYNAGOGUE TRANSPORTATION INC. a/a/o MOTHELIEN BAPTISTE, Appellants,

against

GEICO Casualty Insurance Co., Respondent.

Appeal by plaintiffs, as limited by their brief, from so much of an order of the Civil Court, Kings County (R. Garson, J.), entered on May 20, 2004, as denied the motion by plaintiff A.B. Medical Services PLLC for summary judgment.

Order insofar as appealed from unanimously reversed without costs, motion for summary judgment granted in favor of A.B. Medical Services PLLC in the principal sum of $3,971.20 and matter remanded to the court below for a calculation of statutory interest and an assessment of attorney’s fees.

Appeal as taken by plaintiffs Somun Acupuncture P.C., and Square Synagogue Transportation Inc. unanimously dismissed. [*2]

In this action to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff A.B. Medical Services PLLC established a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment by proof that it submitted completed claim forms setting forth the fact and the amount of the loss sustained, and that payment of no-fault benefits was overdue (see 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]). Defendant failed to provide proof in admissible form to raise a triable issue of fact as to its defense of lack of medical necessity of the services rendered (A.B. Med. Servs. PLLC v NewYork Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 3 Misc 3d 136[A], 2004 NY Slip Op 50507[U] [App Term, 2d & 11th Jud Dists]). Accordingly, the motion by A.B. Medical Servs. PLLC should have been granted in the sum of $3,971.20 and [*3]
the matter is remanded to the court below for a calculation of statutory interest and an assessment of attorney’s fees.

Inasmuch as no issue is raised by the remaining appellants, the appeal with respect to them is dismissed (Praeger v Praeger,162 AD2d 671 [1990]).

We reach no other issue.
Decision Date: April 29, 2005