Matter of American Tr. Ins. Co. v Atlantic Med. Care, P.C. (2025 NY Slip Op 07297)

Reported in New York Official Reports at Matter of American Tr. Ins. Co. v Atlantic Med. Care, P.C. (2025 NY Slip Op 07297)

Matter of American Tr. Ins. Co. v Atlantic Med. Care, P.C.
2025 NY Slip Op 07297
Decided on December 24, 2025
Appellate Division, Second Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.


Decided on December 24, 2025 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department
ANGELA G. IANNACCI, J.P.
PAUL WOOTEN
BARRY E. WARHIT
DONNA-MARIE E. GOLIA, JJ.

2023-06054
(Index No. 527962/22)

[*1]In the Matter of American Transit Insurance Company, respondent,

v

Atlantic Medical Care, P.C., etc., appellant.




Gary Tsirelman, P.C., Brooklyn, NY, for appellant.

Larkin Farrell, LLC, New York, NY (William R. Larkin III of counsel), for respondent.



DECISION & ORDER

In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 75 to vacate an award of a master arbitrator dated June 27, 2022, in which Atlantic Medical Care, P.C., as assignee of Destiny Dixon, cross-petitioned to confirm the award of the master arbitrator and for an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees, Atlantic Medical Care, P.C., appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Carl J. Landicino, J.), dated April 20, 2023. The order granted the petition to the extent of remanding the matter to arbitration for further proceedings as set forth therein, and, in effect, denied the cross-petition.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, the petition is denied, the cross-petition is granted, the award of the master arbitrator is confirmed, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a determination of the amount of reasonable attorneys’ fees to be awarded to the appellant.

Atlantic Medical Care, P.C. (hereinafter the provider), is the assignee of a claim for no-fault benefits for treatment it rendered to Destiny Dixon after Dixon was involved in a car accident. After the petitioner, American Transit Insurance Company (hereinafter the insurer), denied the claim, the provider submitted the claim to arbitration. In an award dated April 18, 2022 (hereinafter the April 2022 award), the arbitrator awarded the provider the full amount of its claim. The insurer appealed, and in an award of a master arbitrator dated June 27, 2022 (hereinafter the master arbitrator’s award), the master arbitrator confirmed the award.

The insurer commenced this proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 75 to vacate the master arbitrator’s award. The provider cross-petitioned to confirm the master arbitrator’s award and for an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees. In an order dated April 20, 2023, the Supreme Court granted the petition to the extent of remanding the matter to arbitration for the consideration of the effect of certain executive orders issued in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and, in effect, denied the cross-petition. The provider appeals.

“[A]n arbitrator’s rulings, unlike a trial court’s, are largely unreviewable” (Matter of Falzone [New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co.], 15 NY3d 530, 534). “A court reviewing the award [*2]of a master arbitrator is limited to the grounds set forth in CPLR article 75″ (Matter of Acuhealth Acupuncture, P.C. v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 176 AD3d 800, 802; see 11 NYCRR 65-4.10[h]). Significantly, a master arbitrator’s determination is not subject to vacatur by the courts on the basis of an error of law, including, “‘the incorrect application of a rule of substantive law,'” unless the master arbitrator’s determination is irrational (Matter of Acuhealth Acupuncture, P.C. v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 176 AD3d at 802, quoting Matter of Smith [Firemen’s Ins. Co.], 55 NY2d 224, 232; see Matter of Falzone [New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co.], 15 NY3d at 534).

Here, regardless of any errors of law the arbitrator and master arbitrator made regarding burdens of proof, the master arbitrator’s determination to affirm the April 2022 award to the provider was rationally based on the conclusion that Dixon’s minor delay in providing the insurer with notice of the accident was reasonably justified because she was a passenger in the vehicle involved in the accident and, thus, was not making a claim to her own insurance company (see 11 NYCRR 65-3.5[l]). Because the master arbitrator’s affirmance of the April 2022 award had a rational basis, and “‘[i]t is not for the court to decide whether the master arbitrator erred in applying the applicable law,'” the petition to vacate the master arbitrator’s award should have been denied and the master arbitrator’s award confirmed (Matter of Allstate Ins. Co. v Westchester Med. Group, M.D., 125 AD3d 649, 650 [alterations and internal quotation marks omitted], quoting Matter of Falzone [New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co.], 15 NY3d at 535; see Matter of Acuhealth Acupuncture, P.C. v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 176 AD3d at 802; Matter of Singh v Allstate Ins. Co., 137 AD3d 1046, 1047; Matter of Travelers Indem. Co. v United Diagnostic Imaging, P.C., 70 AD3d 1043, 1043-1044).

Further, the provider is entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees (see 11 NYCRR 65-4.10[j][4]; Matter of Acuhealth Acupuncture, P.C. v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 170 AD3d 1168; Matter of GEICO Ins. Co. v AAAMG Leasing Corp., 148 AD3d 703, 705). Accordingly, we remit the matter to the Supreme Court, Kings County, for a determination of the amount of reasonable attorneys’ fees to be awarded to the provider (see Matter of Acuhealth Acupuncture, P.C. v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 170 AD3d 1168; Matter of GEICO Ins. Co. v AAAMG Leasing Corp., 148 AD3d at 705).

In light of our determination, we need not reach the parties’ remaining contentions.

IANNACCI, J.P., WOOTEN, WARHIT and GOLIA, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Darrell M. Joseph

Clerk of the Court



Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C. v USAA Cas. Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51972(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C. v USAA Cas. Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51972(U))

[*1]
Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C. v USAA Cas. Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51972(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : CHEREÉ A. BUGGS, J.P., LISA S. OTTLEY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-638 RI C

Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C., as Assignee of Collin Dasilva, Appellant,

against

USAA Casualty Insurance Company, Respondent.


Kopelevich & Feldsherova, P.C. (Galina Feldsherova of counsel), for appellant. Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin (Aneshia Chintamani of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Richmond County (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.), dated June 6, 2024. The order granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, with $30 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 on the ground that defendant had not issued an insurance policy covering plaintiff’s assignor and, thus, plaintiff’s assignor was not an eligible injured person entitled to receive no-fault benefits. By order dated June 6, 2024, the Civil Court (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.) granted defendant’s motion.

As plaintiff properly contends on appeal, defendant failed to establish its entitlement to summary judgment dismissing the complaint as the affidavit submitted by a claims adjuster from “USAA General Indemnity Company” was insufficient to establish, prima facie, defendant’s lack of coverage defense. Here, the claims adjuster did not establish that she was employed by defendant or how defendant and her employer were related to each other. Moreover, she failed to establish that she had personal knowledge of defendant’s standard practices and procedures for maintaining or searching for information related to policyholders and current or past policies. Indeed, the claims adjuster failed to set forth that a search of defendant’s records or databases was ever conducted for the instant case. Rather, she merely stated in her affidavit that “USAA General Indemnity Company” did not insure plaintiff’s assignor, his vehicle, nor anyone that resided with plaintiff’s assignor. This statement was insufficient, and, as a result, defendant failed to satisfy its prima facie burden entitling it to summary judgment dismissing the complaint (cf. Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v Am. Tr. Ins. Co., 44 Misc 3d 136[A], 2014 NY Slip Op [*2]51240[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014]; Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Omni Indem. Co., 40 Misc 3d 139[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 51450[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2013]; Astoria Quality Med. Supply v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 31 Misc 3d 138[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 50743[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2011]). Consequently, defendant’s motion should have been denied regardless of the sufficiency of plaintiff’s opposition papers (see Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]).

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

BUGGS, J.P., OTTLEY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.

ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



LV Med. Diagnostic Servs., P.C. v Safe Auto Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51974(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at LV Med. Diagnostic Servs., P.C. v Safe Auto Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51974(U))

[*1]
LV Med. Diagnostic Servs., P.C. v Safe Auto Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51974(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, P.J., MARINA CORA MUNDY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-893 K C

LV Medical Diagnostic Services, P.C., as Assignee of Winkfield, Michael, Respondent,

against

Safe Auto Insurance Company, Appellant.


Alahverdian Van Leuvan, P.C. (Gerard R. Van Leuvan of counsel), for appellant. The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell and Richard Rozhik of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Lola Waterman, J.), entered May 21, 2024. The order denied the branch of defendant’s motion seeking to dismiss the complaint on the ground of lack of personal jurisdiction.

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

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved to dismiss the complaint. In support of its motion, defendant argued that the Civil Court did not obtain personal jurisdiction over it because it is an Ohio company which is not authorized to do business in New York, and that it has not filed a statement with the Superintendent of Insurance agreeing that its automobile insurance policies will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law; that the $5,000 limit of the insurance policy had been exhausted prior to plaintiff’s claims; and that it was not properly served with the summons and complaint. By order entered May 21, 2024, the Civil Court (Lola Waterman, J.) solely addressed, and denied, the branch of defendant’s motion seeking to dismiss the complaint on the ground of lack of personal jurisdiction (see CPLR 3211 [a] [8]). The court found that defendant “failed to produce evidentiary proof in admissible form.” Specifically, the affidavit by defendant’s director of claims, which was signed and notarized in Ohio, lacked a certificate of conformity, and the insurance policy’s declaration page was not certified and lacked any foundation. The order concluded by noting that “issues of material fact exist as to whether defendant does not do business in the State of New York,” and that “This case shall proceed on to trial on the issue of personal jurisdiction.” On appeal, defendant contends that the Civil Court should have granted the branch of its motion seeking to dismiss the complaint on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.

In addition to its determination that there were various deficiencies in defendant’s [*2]submissions which required its motion to be denied, the court found that sufficient issues of fact existed “as to whether defendant does not do business in the State of New York” and, therefore, held that the issue of personal jurisdiction would be determined at trial. We find that this determination by the Civil Court was proper under the circumstances of this case.

Defendant’s remaining contentions either lack merit or are unpreserved for appellate review.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

TOUSSAINT, P.J., MUNDY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.

ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



Prompt Med. Group, Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51977(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Prompt Med. Group, Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51977(U))

[*1]
Prompt Med. Group, Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51977(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, P.J., MARINA CORA MUNDY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-1129 RI C

Prompt Medical Group, Inc., as Assignee of Philippe F. Polidor, Appellant,

against

Foremost Signature Insurance Company, Respondent.


Kopelevich & Feldsherova, P.C. (Galina Feldsherova of counsel), for appellant. Law Offices of Rothenberg & Romanek, for respondent (no brief filed).

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Richmond County (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.), entered October 22, 2024. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, with $30 costs, and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals, as limited by the brief, from so much of an order of the Civil Court (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.) entered October 22, 2024 as granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that there was no insurance coverage for the vehicle allegedly involved in a November 4, 2022 accident, as the insurance policy had been cancelled on October 24, 2022.

Upon a review of the record, we find that the papers defendant submitted in support of the branch of its motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint failed to demonstrate by admissible proof, as a matter of law, that defendant provided the insured with proper notice of cancellation in accordance with Vehicle and Traffic Law § 313 (1) (a) (see Island Life Chiropractic Pain Care, PLLC v Allstate Ins. Co., 60 Misc 3d 132[A], 2018 NY Slip Op 51006[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2018]). In addition, we note that defendant, in any event, has not demonstrated that the alleged cancellation of the policy was effective with respect to plaintiff’s assignor, who was not the named insured or a member of the insured’s household (see Vehicle and Traffic Law § 313 [2] [a]; [3]; Matter of Progressive Classic Ins. Co. v Kitchen, 46 AD3d 333 [2007]; Matter of Progressive Northeastern Ins. Co. v Barnes, 30 AD3d 523 [2006]; Pravel, Inc. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 67 Misc 3d 132[A], [*2]2020 NY Slip Op 50457[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2020]; Art of Healing Medicine, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co., 54 Misc 3d 46 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2016]; Advanced Med. Care, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co., 50 Misc 3d 137[A], 2016 NY Slip Op 50130[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2016]; GL Acupuncture, P.C. v Geico Ins. Co., 48 Misc 3d 141[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51239[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]). Consequently, the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint should have been denied.

Accordingly, the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

TOUSSAINT, P.J., MUNDY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



Medical Supply of NY Servs., Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51978(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Medical Supply of NY Servs., Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51978(U))

[*1]
Medical Supply of NY Servs., Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51978(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, P.J., MARINA CORA MUNDY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-1132 RI C

Medical Supply of NY Services, Inc., as Assignee of Gerard L. Cabrera, Appellant,

against

Foremost Signature Insurance Company, Respondent.


Kopelevich & Feldsherova, P.C. (Galina Feldsherova of counsel), for appellant. Law Offices of Rothenberg & Romanek (Kenneth F. Popper of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Richmond County (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.), entered October 22, 2024. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, with $30 costs, and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals, as limited by the brief, from so much of an order of the Civil Court (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.) entered October 22, 2024 as granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that there was no insurance coverage for the vehicle allegedly involved in a November 4, 2022 accident, as the insurance policy had been cancelled on October 24, 2022.

For the reasons stated in Prompt Med. Group, Inc., as Assignee of Philippe F. Polidor v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (— Misc 3d —, 2025 NY Slip Op — [appeal No. 2024-1129 RI C], decided herewith), the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

TOUSSAINT, P.J., MUNDY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



Prompt Med. Group, Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51979(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Prompt Med. Group, Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51979(U))

[*1]
Prompt Med. Group, Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51979(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, P.J., MARINA CORA MUNDY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-1133 RI C

Prompt Medical Group, Inc., as Assignee of Philippe F. Polidor, Appellant,

against

Foremost Signature Insurance Company, Respondent.


Kopelevich & Feldsherova, P.C. (Galina Feldsherova of counsel), for appellant. Law Offices of Rothenberg & Romanek, for respondent (no brief filed).

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Richmond County (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.), entered October 22, 2024. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, with $30 costs, and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals, as limited by the brief, from so much of an order of the Civil Court (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.) entered October 22, 2024 as granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that there was no insurance coverage for the vehicle allegedly involved in a November 4, 2022 accident, as the insurance policy had been cancelled on October 24, 2022.

For the reasons stated in Prompt Med. Group, Inc., as Assignee of Philippe F. Polidor v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (— Misc 3d —, 2025 NY Slip Op — [appeal No. 2024-1129 RI C], decided herewith), the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

TOUSSAINT, P.J., MUNDY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



Medical Supply of NY Servs., Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51980(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Medical Supply of NY Servs., Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51980(U))

[*1]
Medical Supply of NY Servs., Inc. v Foremost Signature Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51980(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
Appellate Term, Second Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected in part through December 17, 2025; it will not be published in the printed Official Reports.


Decided on December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, P.J., MARINA CORA MUNDY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-1134 RI C

Medical Supply of NY Services, Inc., as Assignee of Philippe F. Polidor, Appellant,

against

Foremost Signature Insurance Company, Respondent.


Kopelevich & Feldsherova, P.C. (Galina Feldsherova of counsel), for appellant. Law Offices of Rothenberg & Romanek (Kenneth F. Popper of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Richmond County (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.), entered October 22, 2024. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed, with $30 costs, and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals, as limited by the brief, from so much of an order of the Civil Court (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.) entered October 22, 2024 as granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that there was no insurance coverage for the vehicle allegedly involved in a November 4, 2022 accident, as the insurance policy had been cancelled on October 24, 2022.

For the reasons stated in Prompt Med. Group, Inc., as Assignee of Philippe F. Polidor v Foremost Signature Ins. Co. (— Misc 3d —, 2025 NY Slip Op — [appeal No. 2024-1129 RI C], decided herewith), the order, insofar as appealed from, is reversed and the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint is denied.

TOUSSAINT, P.J., MUNDY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



Pyramid Care, P.T., P.C. v Safe Auto Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51981(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Pyramid Care, P.T., P.C. v Safe Auto Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51981(U))

[*1]
Pyramid Care, P.T., P.C. v Safe Auto Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51981(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, P.J., MARINA CORA MUNDY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-1165 K C

Pyramid Care, P.T., P.C., as Assignee of Legette, Shakeema L., Respondent,

against

Safe Auto Insurance Company, Appellant.


Alahverdian Van Leuvan, P.C. (Gerard Van Leuvan of counsel), for appellant. The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell and Richard Rozhik of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Lola Waterman, J.), entered May 21, 2024. The order denied the branch of defendant’s motion seeking to dismiss the complaint on the ground of lack of personal jurisdiction.

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

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved to dismiss the complaint. In support of its motion, defendant argued that the Civil Court did not obtain personal jurisdiction over it because it is an Ohio company which is not authorized to do business in New York, and that it has not filed a statement with the Superintendent of Insurance agreeing that its automobile insurance policies will be deemed to satisfy the requirements of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law; that the $5,000 limit of the insurance policy had been exhausted prior to plaintiff’s claims; and that it was not properly served with the summons and complaint. By order entered May 21, 2024, the Civil Court (Lola Waterman, J.) solely addressed, and denied, the branch of defendant’s motion seeking to dismiss the complaint on the ground of lack of personal jurisdiction (see CPLR 3211 [a] [8]). The court found that defendant “failed to produce evidentiary proof in admissible form.” Specifically, the affidavit by defendant’s director of claims, which was signed and notarized in Ohio, lacked a certificate of conformity, and the insurance policy’s declaration page was not certified and lacked any foundation. The order concluded by noting that “issues of material fact exist as to whether defendant does not do business in the State of New York,” and that “This case shall proceed on to trial on the issue of personal jurisdiction.” On appeal, defendant contends that the Civil Court should have granted the branch of its motion seeking to dismiss the complaint on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.

In addition to its determination that there were various deficiencies in defendant’s submissions which required its motion to be denied, the court found that sufficient issues of fact existed “as to whether defendant does not do business in the State of New York” and, therefore, held that the issue of personal jurisdiction would be determined at trial. We find that this determination by the Civil Court was proper under the circumstances of this case.

Defendant’s remaining contentions either lack merit or are unpreserved for appellate review.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

TOUSSAINT, P.J., MUNDY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



GC Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51982(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at GC Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51982(U))

[*1]
GC Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51982(U)
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : WAVNY TOUSSAINT, P.J., MARINA CORA MUNDY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-1169 K C

GC Chiropractic, P.C., as Assignee of Lino, Pablo, Respondent,

against

State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., Appellant.


Rivkin Radler, LLP (Stuart M. Bodoff and Cheryl F. Korman of counsel), for appellant. The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Oleg Rybak, David Paul Horowitz and Damin J. Toell of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Nicholas W. Moyne, J.), dated May 15, 2024. The order, insofar as appealed from, upon granting the branch of defendant’s motion seeking leave to renew its prior motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, adhered to a prior determination of that court in an order dated October 18, 2022 denying the motion.

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

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved for summary judgment on the ground that plaintiff failed to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). As relevant here, by order dated October 18, 2022, the Civil Court (Nicholas W. Moyne, J.) found, in effect pursuant to CPLR 3212 (g), that defendant had established timely and proper mailing of the EUO scheduling letters and denials, but denied defendant summary judgment, finding that the affirmation of defendant’s attorney attesting to plaintiff’s failure to appear for the EUOs was insufficient due to the “significant lapse in time” between the alleged no-shows and execution of the affirmation.

Defendant subsequently moved for leave to renew its motion, arguing that, under SVP Med Supply, Inc. v GEICO (76 Misc 3d 134[A], 2022 NY Slip Op 50931[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2022]), defendant’s attorney’s affirmation was sufficient to demonstrate plaintiff’s failure to appear. Defendant appeals from so much of an order of the Civil Court (Nicholas W. Moyne, J.) dated May 15, 2024 as, upon granting the branch of defendant’s motion seeking leave to renew, adhered to its prior determination denying defendant’s [*2]motion for summary judgment, finding that the attorney’s affirmation was “on its face unworthy of belief” as it was executed approximately three years after the purported EUO no-shows.

Contrary to the finding of the Civil Court, defendant’s attorney’s affirmation, “on its face, . . . was not unworthy of belief” (SVP Med Supply, Inc., 2022 NY Slip Op 50931[U], *2; see Brefni Chiropractic Diagnostics, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 87 Misc 3d 128[A], 2025 NY Slip Op 51518[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2025]; MAZ Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Ins. Co., 85 Misc 3d 135[A], 2025 NY Slip Op 50492[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2025]), and was sufficient to demonstrate that plaintiff failed to appear for the scheduled EUOs (see SVP Med Supply, Inc., 2022 NY Slip Op 50931[U], *1-2; see also Hertz Corp. v Active Care Med. Supply Corp., 124 AD3d 411 [2015]; Brefni Chiropractic Diagnostics, P.C., 2025 NY Slip Op 51518[U]; MAZ Chiropractic, P.C., 2025 NY Slip Op 50492[U]; T & J Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 47 Misc 3d 130[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 50406[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]; Natural Therapy Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 44 Misc 3d 141[A], 2014 NY Slip Op 51310[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014]).

To the extent that plaintiff purports to challenge on appeal the Civil Court’s finding, in effect, that defendant is otherwise entitled to judgment, such challenge lacks merit.

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

TOUSSAINT, P.J., MUNDY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025



Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C. v USAA Cas. Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51972(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C. v USAA Cas. Ins. Co. (2025 NY Slip Op 51972(U))

[*1]
Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C. v USAA Cas. Ins. Co.
2025 NY Slip Op 51972(U) [87 Misc 3d 134(A)]
Decided on December 5, 2025
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 December 5, 2025
SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 2d, 11th and 13th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

PRESENT: : CHEREÉ A. BUGGS, J.P., LISA S. OTTLEY, JOANNE D. QUIÑONES, JJ
2024-638 RI C

Balanced Channels Acupuncture, P.C., as Assignee of Collin Dasilva, Appellant,

against

USAA Casualty Insurance Company, Respondent.


Kopelevich & Feldsherova, P.C. (Galina Feldsherova of counsel), for appellant. Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin (Aneshia Chintamani of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Richmond County (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.), dated June 6, 2024. The order granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, with $30 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 on the ground that defendant had not issued an insurance policy covering plaintiff’s assignor and, thus, plaintiff’s assignor was not an eligible injured person entitled to receive no-fault benefits. By order dated June 6, 2024, the Civil Court (Mary A. Kavanagh, J.) granted defendant’s motion.

As plaintiff properly contends on appeal, defendant failed to establish its entitlement to summary judgment dismissing the complaint as the affidavit submitted by a claims adjuster from “USAA General Indemnity Company” was insufficient to establish, prima facie, defendant’s lack of coverage defense. Here, the claims adjuster did not establish that she was employed by defendant or how defendant and her employer were related to each other. Moreover, she failed to establish that she had personal knowledge of defendant’s standard practices and procedures for maintaining or searching for information related to policyholders and current or past policies. Indeed, the claims adjuster failed to set forth that a search of defendant’s records or databases was ever conducted for the instant case. Rather, she merely stated in her affidavit that “USAA General Indemnity Company” did not insure plaintiff’s assignor, his vehicle, nor anyone that resided with plaintiff’s assignor. This statement was insufficient, and, as a result, defendant failed to satisfy its prima facie burden entitling it to summary judgment dismissing the complaint (cf. Delta Diagnostic Radiology, P.C. v Am. Tr. Ins. Co., 44 Misc 3d 136[A], 2014 NY Slip Op [*2]51240[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2014]; Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Omni Indem. Co., 40 Misc 3d 139[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 51450[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2013]; Astoria Quality Med. Supply v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 31 Misc 3d 138[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 50743[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2011]). Consequently, defendant’s motion should have been denied regardless of the sufficiency of plaintiff’s opposition papers (see Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]).

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

BUGGS, J.P., OTTLEY and QUIÑONES, JJ., concur.

ENTER:
Jennifer Chan
Acting Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 5, 2025