525 EVM, Inc. v GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51144(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at 525 EVM, Inc. v GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51144(U))

525 EVM, Inc. v GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51144(U)) [*1]
525 EVM, Inc. v GEICO Gen. Ins. Co.
2017 NY Slip Op 51144(U) [57 Misc 3d 127(A)]
Decided on September 8, 2017
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This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.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 September 8, 2017

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN SOLOMON, JJ
2014-1705 K C
525 EVM, Inc., as Assignee of Davon Rodney, Appellant,

against

GEICO General Insurance Company, Respondent.

Fuld & Karp, P.C. (David Karp, Esq.), for appellant. The Law Office of Printz & Goldstein (Lawrence J. Chanice, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Reginald A. Boddie, J.), entered June 2, 2014. The order, insofar as appealed from and as limited by the brief, upon denying plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, failed to find, pursuant to CPLR 3212 (g), that plaintiff had established certain facts for all purposes in the action.

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 denied both motions, finding that there were triable issues of fact.

Plaintiff’s sole argument on appeal is that the Civil Court, upon denying plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, should have found, pursuant to CPLR 3212 (g), that plaintiff had established certain facts for all purposes in the action. For the reasons stated in 525 EVM, Inc., as Assignee of Dzianis Haiduk v GEICO Gen. Ins. Co. (___ Misc 3d ___, 2017 NY Slip Op _____ [appeal No. 2014-1926 K C], decided herewith), the order, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed.

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
GBI Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51143(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at GBI Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51143(U))

GBI Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51143(U)) [*1]
GBI Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
2017 NY Slip Op 51143(U) [57 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on September 8, 2017
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 September 8, 2017

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN M. SOLOMON, JJ
2014-1605 Q C
GBI Acupuncture, P.C., as Assignee of Pope, Raheim, Appellant,

against

State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for appellant. Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. (Jason Tenenbaum, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Richard G. Latin, J.), entered June 12, 2014. The order granted defendant’s 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 granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Plaintiff argues that defendant failed to establish that defendant’s fee reductions, which were done in accordance with the workers’ compensation fee schedule for acupuncture services performed by chiropractors, were proper. However, this court has held, “as a matter of law, that an insurer may use the workers’ compensation fee schedule for acupuncture services performed by chiropractors to determine the amount which a licensed acupuncturist is entitled to receive for such acupuncture services” (Great Wall Acupuncture, P.C. v Geico Ins. Co., 26 Misc 3d 23, 24 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2009]).

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51142(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51142(U))

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

Compas Medical, P.C., as Assignee of Caton, Korina, Appellant,

against

American Transit Ins. Co., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for appellant. Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C., for respondent (no brief filed).

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Richard G. Latin, J.), entered June 12, 2014. The order, insofar as appealed from, denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted the branch of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first cause of action.

ORDERED that the order, insofar as appealed from, is modified by providing that the branch of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first cause of action is denied; 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 and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Insofar as is relevant to this appeal, the Civil Court denied plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and granted the branch of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first cause of action.

Plaintiff correctly argues that defendant did not demonstrate, as a matter of law, that it had fully paid plaintiff for the claim underlying the first cause of action in accordance with the [*2]workers’ compensation fee schedule. Consequently, the branch of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first cause of action should have been denied. However, plaintiff failed to establish its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment, since the proof submitted by plaintiff failed to establish that the claims had not been timely denied (see Viviane Etienne Med. Care, P.C. v Country-Wide Ins. Co., 25 NY3d 498 [2015]), or that defendant had issued timely denial of claim forms that were conclusory, vague or without merit as a matter of law (see Westchester Med. Ctr. v Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 78 AD3d 1168 [2010]; Ave T MPC Corp. v Auto One Ins. Co., 32 Misc 3d 128[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 51292[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2011]).

Accordingly, the order, insofar as appealed from, is modified by providing that the branch of defendant’s cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first cause of action is denied.

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
Renelique v Allstate Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51141(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Renelique v Allstate Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51141(U))

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

Pierre Jean Jacques Renelique, as Assignee of Leandra, Stewart, Appellant,

against

Allstate Insurance Company, Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for appellant. Peter C. Merani, P.C. (Eric M. Wahrburg, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (William A. Viscovich, J.), entered April 7, 2014. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, upon granting defendant’s motion for leave to reargue its prior cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, which had been denied in an order of the same court (Barry A. Schwartz, J.) dated October 23, 2013, granted defendant’s prior cross motion.

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 on the ground that defendant had paid plaintiff for the services at issue in accordance with the workers’ compensation fee schedule. By order dated October 23, 2013, the Civil Court (Barry A. Schwartz, J.) denied the motion and cross motion. Defendant subsequently moved for leave to reargue its cross motion and, upon reargument, for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Insofar as is relevant to this appeal, by order entered April 7, 2014, upon granting leave to reargue, the Civil Court (William A. Viscovich, J.) granted defendant’s prior cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Contrary to plaintiff’s argument, defendant demonstrated that it had properly applied the workers’ compensation fee schedule to calculate the amount due for services billed under CPT code 20553, and plaintiff failed to rebut defendant’s showing (cf. Alleviation Med. Servs., P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 47 Misc 3d 149[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 50778[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]). Plaintiff’s argument with respect to CPT code 99203 is improperly raised for the first time on appeal.

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

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.



Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
JCC Med., P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51140(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at JCC Med., P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51140(U))

JCC Med., P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51140(U)) [*1]
JCC Med., P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
2017 NY Slip Op 51140(U) [57 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on September 8, 2017
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 September 8, 2017

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN M. SOLOMON, JJ
2014-1540 Q C
JCC Medical, P.C., as Assignee of Sanon, Edeline, Appellant,

against

State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for appellant. De Martini & Yi, LLP (Bryan Visnius, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Carmen R. Velasquez, J.), entered June 4, 2014. The order granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is modified by providing that the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the second cause of action 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 appeals from an order of the Civil Court which granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

We find no merit to plaintiff’s sole argument on appeal with respect to the branches of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first, third and fourth causes of action—which the Civil Court granted on the ground that the underlying claims had been paid in full—that the proof defendant submitted was insufficient to establish the payment of these claims.

However, the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the [*2]second cause of action should have been denied. While, contrary to plaintiff’s contention, defendant demonstrated, prima facie, that it had not received the requested verification, plaintiff correctly argues that the affidavit submitted in opposition to defendant’s motion was sufficient to give rise to a presumption that the requested verification had been mailed to, and received by, defendant (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]). In light of the foregoing, there is a triable issue of fact as to whether this cause of action is premature (see Compas Med., P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co., 49 Misc 3d 152[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51776[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]).

Accordingly, the order is modified by providing that the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the second cause of action is denied.

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
Logic Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51139(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Logic Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51139(U))

Logic Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51139(U)) [*1]
Logic Chiropractic, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co.
2017 NY Slip Op 51139(U) [57 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on September 8, 2017
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 September 8, 2017

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN M. SOLOMON, JJ
2014-1536 Q C
Logic Chiropractic, P.C., as Assignee of Lambert Eva, Appellant,

against

American Transit Ins. Co., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for appellant. Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. (Jason Tenenbaum, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Carmen R. Velasquez, J.), entered June 3, 2014. The order granted defendant’s 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 granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

There is no merit to plaintiff’s arguments regarding the adequacy of the proof submitted by defendant establishing that it had fully paid plaintiff for the claims at issue.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.



Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51138(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51138(U))

Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51138(U)) [*1]
Compas Med., P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co.
2017 NY Slip Op 51138(U) [57 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on September 8, 2017
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 September 8, 2017

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN M. SOLOMON, JJ
2014-1534 Q C
Compas Medical, P.C., as Assignee of Akhtar, Waseem, Appellant,

against

American Transit Ins. Co., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for appellant. Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. (Jason Tenenbaum, Esq.), for respondent (no brief filed).

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Carmen R. Velasquez, J.), entered June 3, 2014. The order granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order is modified by providing that the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the second cause of action 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 appeals from an order of the Civil Court which granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Contrary to plaintiff’s sole contention on appeal with the respect to the first cause of action, the proof submitted by defendant in support of its motion was sufficient to demonstrate that defendant had not received the claim form underlying that cause of action. Consequently, there is no basis to disturb so much of the order as granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first cause of action (see Artzel, Inc. v Mercury Cas. [*2]Co., 53 Misc 3d 135[A], 2016 NY Slip Op 51437[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2016]).

However, plaintiff correctly argues that defendant’s motion papers failed to establish, as a matter of law, that the fees that had been charged by plaintiff for the claims underlying the second cause of action exceeded the amounts permitted by the workers’ compensation fee schedule.

Accordingly, the order is modified by providing that the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the second cause of action is denied.

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
LMS Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51137(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at LMS Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51137(U))

LMS Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51137(U)) [*1]
LMS Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
2017 NY Slip Op 51137(U) [57 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on September 8, 2017
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 September 8, 2017

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN M. SOLOMON, JJ
2014-1030 K C
LMS Acupuncture, P.C., as Assignee of Diaz, Charles, Respondent,

against

State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., Appellant.

Rivkin Radler, LLP (Stuart M. Bodoff, Esq.), for appellant. The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Devin P. Cohen, J.), entered February 7, 2014. The order denied 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 granted.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant appeals from an order of the Civil Court denying defendant’s motion which sought summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff had failed to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs).

In its motion, defendant established that initial and follow-up letters scheduling an EUO had been timely mailed (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]); that plaintiff had failed to appear on either date (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]); and that the claims had been timely denied on that ground (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond, 50 AD3d 1123). As plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact in opposition to defendant’s motion, defendant is [*2]entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

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

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
Laga v Amica Mut. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51136(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Laga v Amica Mut. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51136(U))

Laga v Amica Mut. Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51136(U)) [*1]
Laga v Amica Mut. Ins. Co.
2017 NY Slip Op 51136(U) [57 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on September 8, 2017
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 September 8, 2017

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, MARTIN M. SOLOMON, JJ
2014-860 Q C
Adelaida M. Laga, PT, as Assignee of Raymond, Peterly, Appellant,

against

Amica Mutual Ins. Co., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for appellant. Lawrence N. Rogak, LLC, (Lawrence Rogak, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County (Richard G. Latin, J.), entered March 28, 2014. The order granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for independent medical examinations.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, without costs, the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for independent medical examinations is denied, and the matter is remitted to the Civil Court for a determination on the merits of the remaining branch of defendant’s motion.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff appeals from an order of the Civil Court which granted the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that defendant had established that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for two properly scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs).

Plaintiff correctly argues on appeal that defendant failed to establish that it had mailed letters scheduling plaintiff’s assignor’s IME (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]). Thus, the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground relied upon by the Civil Court should [*2]not have been granted. However, defendant’s motion was also based on the additional ground that it had paid plaintiff for the services at issue in accordance with the workers’ compensation fee schedule, which branch of defendant’s motion the Civil Court did not decide. Therefore, the matter is remitted for a determination of that branch of defendant’s motion.

Accordingly, the order is reversed, the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for independent medical examinations is denied and the matter is remitted to the Civil Court for a determination of the remaining branch of defendant’s motion.

PESCE, P.J., ALIOTTA and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 08, 2017
Bayshore Chiropractic, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51121(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Bayshore Chiropractic, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2017 NY Slip Op 51121(U))

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

Bayshore Chiropractic, P.C., as Assignee of Isabella Cifone, Respondent,

against

Allstate Insurance Company, Appellant.

Peter C. Merani, P.C. (Eric Wharburg, Esq.), for appellant. The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell, Esq.), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Katherine A. Levine, J.), entered July 16, 2015. The order denied defendant’s motion to, among other things, vacate a default judgment entered March 12, 2014 pursuant to an order of the same court (Harriet L. Thompson, J.) dated February 13, 2014 granting plaintiff’s unopposed motion for summary judgment.

ORDERED that the order entered July 16, 2015 is affirmed, with $25 costs.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment. By order dated February 13, 2014, the Civil Court (Harriet L. Thompson, J.) granted plaintiff’s motion without opposition. A default judgment awarding plaintiff the principal sum of $9,500 was entered on March 12, 2014. Defendant moved, by order to show cause dated October 20, 2014, to, among other things, vacate the default judgment. Defendant appeals from an order of the Civil Court (Katherine A. Levine, J.) entered July 16, 2015, which denied defendant’s motion.

To warrant the opening of its default in opposing plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, defendant was required to demonstrate both a reasonable excuse for the default and a potentially meritorious defense to the action (see CPLR 5015 [a]; Simpson v Tommy Hilfiger [*2]U.S.A., Inc., 48 AD3d 389 [2008]). While a claim of law office failure may be accepted as a reasonable excuse (see CPLR 2005), the claim must be supported by a “detailed and credible” explanation of the default (Henry v Kuveke, 9 AD3d 476, 479 [2004]; see State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v Preferred Trucking Serv. Corp., 42 Misc 3d 88 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2013]). In this case, defendant’s claim of law office failure during the transfer of the case file from defendant’s prior counsel was insufficient to constitute a reasonable excuse for the default, as the explanation offered by defense counsel indicated that the default was the result of attorney neglect (see Morales v Perfect Dental, P.C., 73 AD3d 877 [2010]; State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 42 Misc 3d at 90). Consequently, the Civil Court did not improvidently exercise its discretion in denying defendant’s motion. In the absence of a reasonable excuse for the default, it is unnecessary to determine whether defendant demonstrated the existence of a potentially meritorious defense to the action (see Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Kuldip, 136 AD3d 969 [2016]).

Accordingly, the order entered July 16, 2015 is affirmed.

ALIOTTA, J.P., PESCE and SOLOMON, JJ., concur.


ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: September 01, 2017