Wes Psychological Servs., P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 52029(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Wes Psychological Servs., P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 52029(U))

Wes Psychological Servs., P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 52029(U)) [*1]
Wes Psychological Servs., P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co.
2019 NY Slip Op 52029(U) [66 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on December 13, 2019
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This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.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 13, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2017-383 K C
Wes Psychological Services, P.C., as Assignee of Ashley Wattley, Respondent,

against

Travelers Insurance Company, Appellant.

Law Office of Aloy O. Ibuzor (Duane Frankson of counsel), for appellant. Law Office of Marina Josovich, P.C. (Marina Josovich of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (John J. Kelley, J.), entered November 18, 2016, deemed from a judgment of that court entered December 22, 2016 (see CPLR 5501 [c]). The judgment, entered pursuant to the November 18, 2016 order denying defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and granting plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment, awarded plaintiff the principal sum of $1,261.90.

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

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 plaintiff had failed to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs), and plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment. By order entered November 18, 2016, the Civil Court denied defendant’s motion and granted plaintiff’s cross motion. A judgment was subsequently entered on December 22, 2016, from which the appeal is deemed to have been taken (see CPLR 5501 [c]).

Contrary to defendant’s sole contention, defendant failed to demonstrate that it was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint based on plaintiff’s failure to appear for EUOs, since the initial EUO request to plaintiff had been sent more than 30 days after defendant had received the claims at issue and, therefore, the requests were nullities as to those claims (see [*2]Neptune Med. Care, P.C. v Ameriprise Auto & Home Ins., 48 Misc 3d 139[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51220[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]; O & M Med., P.C. v Travelers Indem. Co., 47 Misc 3d 134[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 50476[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]).

Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

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



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 13, 2019
Sheepshead Bay Oral Surgery, PLLC v Unitirin Direct Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 52028(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Sheepshead Bay Oral Surgery, PLLC v Unitirin Direct Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 52028(U))

Sheepshead Bay Oral Surgery, PLLC v Unitirin Direct Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 52028(U)) [*1]
Sheepshead Bay Oral Surgery, PLLC v Unitirin Direct Ins. Co.
2019 NY Slip Op 52028(U) [66 Misc 3d 126(A)]
Decided on December 13, 2019
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 13, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2016-3149 K C
Sheepshead Bay Oral Surgery, PLLC, as Assignee of Joiliette Davis, Appellant,

against

Unitirin Direct Ins. Co., Respondent.

Kopelevich & Feldsherova, P.C. (David Landfair of counsel), for appellant. Goldberg Miller & Rubin (Harlan R. Schreiber of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Richard J. Montelione, J.), entered November 9, 2016. The order granted defendant’s motion to dismiss 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 to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (5) on the ground that the action was barred by the statute of limitations.

Defendant demonstrated that plaintiff’s cause of action accrued 30 days after defendant received plaintiff’s claim and plaintiff did not rebut that showing (see DJS Med. Supplies, Inc. v Clarendon Natl. Ins. Co., 32 Misc 3d 129[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 51304[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2011]). As a result, plaintiff’s cause of action was not timely commenced (see CPLR 213 [2]; DJS Med. Supplies, Inc., 32 Misc 3d 129[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 51304[U]).

Plaintiff’s contention that defendant should be collaterally estopped from asserting a [*2]statute of limitations defense lacks merit since, among other things, the Civil Court order upon which plaintiff relies denied a motion by defendant and was not a conclusive final determination (see generally Metro Health Prods., Inc. v Nationwide Ins., 48 Misc 3d 85 [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]). Plaintiff’s remaining contention is not properly before this court, as the argument is being raised for the first time on appeal (see Joe v Upper Room Ministries, Inc., 88 AD3d 963 [2011]; Gulf Ins. Co. v Kanen, 13 AD3d 579 [2004]), and we decline to consider it.

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

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



ENTER:

Paul Kenny


Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 13, 2019
City Chiropractic, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51981(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at City Chiropractic, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51981(U))

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

City Chiropractic, P.C., as Assignee of Isabel Perez, Respondent,

against

Global Liberty Ins. Co. of New York, Appellant.

Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. (Jason Tenenbaum of counsel), for appellant. Zara Javakov, P.C. (Zara Javakov of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from a judgment of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Rosemarie Montalbano, J.), entered May 24, 2018. The judgment, entered upon defendant’s default in appearing for trial on April 28, 2017, and upon an order of that court entered May 8, 2018 denying defendant’s motion to open its default, awarded plaintiff the principal sum of $4,319.29.

ORDERED that the appeal is dismissed except insofar as it brings up for review the order entered May 8, 2018; and it is further,

ORDERED that the judgment, insofar as reviewed, is reversed, without costs, the order entered May 8, 2018 is vacated and defendant’s motion to open its default in appearing for trial is granted.

In this no-fault action, a default was taken against defendant on April 28, 2017, because counsel appearing on defendant’s behalf, The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C., was not the attorney of record and the court determined that counsel had not established “that it represents the [defendant] pursuant to the CPLR,” and, thus, that defendant had failed to appear. Defendant, represented by the same counsel, subsequently moved to open the default. It submitted, among [*2]other things, a Supreme Court order of substitution entered May 4, 2017 and a notice of appearance dated April 24, 2017, which lists The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. as the attorney appearing for defendant. By order entered May 8, 2018, the Civil Court (Rosemarie Montalbano, J.) denied defendant’s motion, stating that defendant had “failed to establish a reasonable excuse for failing to have its incoming counsel produce for the court proper proof of its legal representation of defendant.” A judgment was entered on May 24, 2018, awarding plaintiff the principal sum of $4,319.29.

Although no appeal lies from a judgment entered upon the default of the appealing party (see CPLR 5511), an appeal from such a judgment brings up for review those matters which were the subject of contest below (see James v Powell, 19 NY2d 249, 256 n 3 [1967]), which, in this case, was the order entered May 8, 2018 denying defendant’s motion.

Prior to the April 28, 2017 court date, on which the trial was scheduled to begin, defendant had made two different attempts to effect a substitution of counsel. It filed an application in the Supreme Court to have an order of substitution executed. It also attempted to move in the Civil Court, by order to show cause (OSC), to stay the trial pending the determination of the Supreme Court application or, in the alternative, for the Civil Court to make the substitution. Defendant submitted, in support of each application, a November 14, 2016 affidavit executed by Richard Dowd, who identified himself therein as defendant’s claim manager. Dowd listed four firms, including defendant’s former counsel of record in this case, that had previously handled no-fault cases for defendant. Dowd stated that those firms had all been disbanded prior to January of 2016 and that the files previously handled by those firms were all being handled by The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. and another named firm. He further stated that “[w]e hereby consent to The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. and [the other firm] to handle all of the files that above counsel handled, where a Notice of Appearance is filed with the Court.” Defendant also submitted, in support of its Civil Court motion, the April 24, 2017 notice of appearance.

The Civil Court refused to sign the OSC. In court on April 28, 2017, an associate with The Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. sought an adjournment or a substitution on the same grounds laid out in the proposed motion, which oral application was denied. However, the Supreme Court granted defendant the requested relief by order entered May 4, 2017. The order of substitution, the validity of which has not been questioned, states that it is “ordered and adjudged that [T]he Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. or [the other firm], upon Filing a Notice of Appearance is substituted in the stead” of [the disbanded firms] for all no-fault cases involving Global Liberty Insurance Co. of New York.”

CPLR 321 (b) permits the change or withdrawal of an attorney, insofar as is relevant here, by the filing of a consent to change attorney signed by the retiring attorney or by motion on such notice as the court may direct. Defendant did not strictly comply with CPLR 321 (b) (1), regarding a consent to change attorney, because the retiring attorney was a firm that no longer existed. Defendant was unable to comply with CPLR 321 (b) (2), regarding a motion, because [*3]the Civil Court declined to sign its OSC prior to the trial. Under the circumstances, including the presentation of the Dowd affidavit and notice of appearance to the court before defendant was held to be in default, and the order of substitution entered by the Supreme Court soon after defendant was held to be in default, defendant’s failure to comply with CPLR 321 (b) does not justify the entry of a default judgment (cf. EIFS, Inc. v Morie Co.,298 AD2d 548 [2002]; Tillman v Mason,193 AD2d 666 [1993]; Juers v Barry, 114 AD2d 1009 [1985]). Thus, we grant defendant’s motion to open its default in the “interests of substantial justice” (Woodson v Mendon Leasing Corp., 100 NY2d 62, 68 [2003]; cf. also PDQ Aluminum Prods. Corp. v Smith,20 Misc 3d 94 [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2008]).

Accordingly, the judgment, insofar as reviewed, is reversed, the order entered May 8, 2018 is vacated and defendant’s motion to open its default in appearing for trial is granted.

PESCE, P.J., WESTON and ELLIOT, JJ., concur.



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019
Parisien v Nationwide Ins. (2019 NY Slip Op 51980(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Parisien v Nationwide Ins. (2019 NY Slip Op 51980(U))

Parisien v Nationwide Ins. (2019 NY Slip Op 51980(U)) [*1]
Parisien v Nationwide Ins.
2019 NY Slip Op 51980(U) [65 Misc 3d 158(A)]
Decided on December 6, 2019
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 6, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2018-1579 K C
Jules Francois Parisien, M.D., as Assignee of Gaddy, Matthew L., Appellant, 

against

Nationwide Ins., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell of counsel), for appellant. Law Office of Kevin J. Philbin (Kevon Lewis of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Joy F. Campanelli, J.), entered March 28, 2018. The order granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and denied plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment.

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 and denied plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment.

Contrary to plaintiff’s sole appellate argument with respect to defendant’s motion for summary judgment, the proof submitted by defendant in support of its motion was sufficient to give rise to a presumption that the denial of claim forms had been properly mailed (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]).

Accordingly, the order is affirmed.

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


ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019
Omphil Care, Inc. v GEICO Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51979(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Omphil Care, Inc. v GEICO Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51979(U))

Omphil Care, Inc. v GEICO Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51979(U)) [*1]
Omphil Care, Inc. v GEICO Ins. Co.
2019 NY Slip Op 51979(U) [65 Misc 3d 158(A)]
Decided on December 6, 2019
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 6, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2018-1494 K C
Omphil Care, Inc., as Assignee of Rivera, Eugenio, Respondent,

against

GEICO Ins. Co., Appellant.

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

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Rosemarie Montalbano, J.), entered June 18, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from and as limited by the brief, denied defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

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

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, plaintiff moved for summary judgment, and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff had failed to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). As limited by the brief, defendant appeals from so much of an order of the Civil Court entered June 18, 2018 as denied defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment.

In support of its cross motion, defendant submitted an affirmation from the attorney who was to perform the EUOs, which affirmation was sufficient to establish that plaintiff had failed to appear for the scheduled EUOs (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]). Moreover, a review of the record establishes that the Civil Court [*2]correctly determined that defendant had established the timely and proper mailing of the EUO scheduling letters and the denial of claim forms (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]).

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

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



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019
Himalayans Acupuncture, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51975(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Himalayans Acupuncture, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51975(U))

Himalayans Acupuncture, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51975(U)) [*1]
Himalayans Acupuncture, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y.
2019 NY Slip Op 51975(U) [65 Misc 3d 158(A)]
Decided on December 6, 2019
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 6, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2018-1182 K C
Himalayans Acupuncture, P.C., as Assignee of Hajar Abada, Dilshod Komilov, Omar Nyamimorabit, Respondent,

against

Global Liberty Insurance Company of New York, Appellant.

Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. (Jason Tenenbaum of counsel), for appellant. Petre and Zabokritsky, P.C. (Damin J. Toell of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Rosemarie Montalbano, J.), entered May 11, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, denied defendant’s motion to sever the first cause of action, seeking to recover upon a claim for services rendered to Hajar Abada, from the remaining causes of action and granted the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking summary judgment upon the first cause of 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, defendant moved to sever the first cause of action seeking to recover upon a claim for services rendered to Hajar Abada, from the remaining causes of action. Plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment. By order entered May 11, 2018, the Civil Court denied defendant’s motion seeking to sever the first cause of action and granted plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment. Defendant appeals, as limited by its brief, from so much of the order as denied its motion seeking to sever the first cause of action from the remaining causes of action and granted the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking summary judgment upon the first cause of action.

As defendant’s appeal presents no argument with respect to so much of the order as granted the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking summary judgment upon the first cause of action, defendant failed to establish a basis to disturb that portion of the order. In light of the foregoing, defendant’s contention that its motion seeking to sever the first cause of action from the remaining causes of action should have been granted is moot (see Lighting Horizons v Kahn & Co., 120 AD2d 648 [1986]; Charles Deng Acupuncture, P.C. v 21st Century Ins. Co., 58 Misc 3d 128[A], 2017 NY Slip Op 51720[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2017]).

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

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



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019
Chiropractic Longevity, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51974(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Chiropractic Longevity, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51974(U))

Chiropractic Longevity, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y. (2019 NY Slip Op 51974(U)) [*1]
Chiropractic Longevity, P.C. v Global Liberty Ins. Co. of N.Y.
2019 NY Slip Op 51974(U) [65 Misc 3d 158(A)]
Decided on December 6, 2019
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 6, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2018-1181 K C
Chiropractic Longevity, P.C., as Assignee of Hajar Abada, Dilshod Komilov, Omar Nyami-Morabit, Respondent,

against

Global Liberty Insurance Company of New York, Appellant.

Law Office of Jason Tenenbaum, P.C. (Jason Tenenbaum of counsel), for appellant. Petre and Zabokritsky, P.C. (Damin J. Toell of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Rosemarie Montalbano, J.), entered May 11, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, denied defendant’s motion to sever the first cause of action, seeking to recover upon a claim for services rendered to Hajar Abada, from the remaining causes of action and granted the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking summary judgment upon the first cause of 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, defendant moved to sever the first cause of action, seeking to recover upon a claim for services rendered to Hajar Abada, from the remaining causes of action. Plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment. By order entered May 11, 2018, the Civil Court denied defendant’s motion seeking to sever the first cause of action and granted plaintiff’s cross motion for summary judgment. Defendant appeals, as limited by its brief, from so much of the order as denied its motion seeking to sever the first cause of action from the remaining causes of action and granted the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking summary judgment upon the first cause of action.

As defendant’s appeal presents no argument with respect to so much of the order as granted the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking summary judgment upon the first cause of action, defendant failed to establish a basis to disturb that portion of the order. In light of the foregoing, defendant’s contention that its motion seeking to sever the first cause of action from the remaining causes of action should have been granted is moot (see Lighting Horizons v Kahn & Co., 120 AD2d 648 [1986]; Charles Deng Acupuncture, P.C. v 21st Century Ins. Co., 58 Misc 3d 128[A], 2017 NY Slip Op 51720[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2017]).

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

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



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019
Quality Health Supply Corp. v Amica Mut. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51969(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Quality Health Supply Corp. v Amica Mut. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51969(U))

Quality Health Supply Corp. v Amica Mut. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51969(U)) [*1]
Quality Health Supply Corp. v Amica Mut. Ins. Co.
2019 NY Slip Op 51969(U) [65 Misc 3d 157(A)]
Decided on December 6, 2019
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 6, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2018-983 K C
Quality Health Supply Corp., as Assignee of Evertz, Shea, Respondent,

against

Amica Mutual Ins. Co., Appellant.

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

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Odessa Kennedy, J.), entered January 11, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, failed to decide the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that the coverage limits of the insurance policy had been exhausted.

ORDERED that the appeal is dismissed.

In this action by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved for summary judgment on the grounds that it never received the claims at issue and that the coverage limits available under the insurance policy had already been exhausted. Plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment. By order entered January 11, 2018, the Civil Court denied both the branch of defendant’s motion seeking summary judgment on the ground that defendant had never received the claims at issue, and plaintiff’s cross motion, stating that there was an issue of fact with respect to defendant’s defense that it had not received the claims at issue.

Defendant’s sole argument on appeal is that the Civil Court erred in failing to decide the branch of defendant’s motion which sought summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that the coverage limits available under the subject insurance policy had already been [*2]exhausted. However, no appeal lies from an order or portion thereof which fails to determine a motion or branch thereof (see Baez v First Liberty Ins. Corp., 95 AD3d 1250 [2012]). Thus, the branch of defendant’s motion which was not addressed by the Civil Court remains pending and undecided (see Fanelli v J.C. Millbank Constr. Co., Inc., 91 AD3d 703 [2012]; Katz v Katz, 68 AD2d 536, 542-543 [1979]).

Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.

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



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019
Milky Way Acupuncture, P.C. v Nationwide Ins. (2019 NY Slip Op 51968(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Milky Way Acupuncture, P.C. v Nationwide Ins. (2019 NY Slip Op 51968(U))

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

Milky Way Acupuncture, P.C., as Assignee of Polanco, Freddy, Appellant,

against

Nationwide Ins., Respondent.

The Rybak Firm, PLLC (Damin J. Toell of counsel), for appellant. Harris J. Zakarin, P.C. (Harris J. Zakarin of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Richard J. Montelione, J.), entered February 13, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from, upon renewal, adhered to the determination in a prior order of that court entered January 17, 2017 granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

ORDERED that the order entered February 13, 2018, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed, with $25 costs.

In this action by a provider, commenced in 2015, to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff had failed to submit the bills at issue to defendant. By order entered January 17, 2017, the Civil Court granted the motion, noting, among other things, that the bills had been addressed to “MVAIC” (Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation), not defendant. Plaintiff moved, insofar as is relevant, for leave to renew its opposition to defendant’s motion and, upon renewal, for an order denying defendant’s motion. Plaintiff supported its motion with a new affidavit by its owner, who stated that the bills at issue had been “resubmitted to insurance carrier” on June 7, 2010. Defendant opposed the motion. Plaintiff appeals from so much of an order of the Civil Court entered February 13, 2018, as, upon renewal, adhered to its prior [*2]determination granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.

Contrary to plaintiff’s arguments, the affidavit of defendant’s litigation claims specialist established that defendant had not received the claims at issue (see Alleviation Med. Servs., P.C. v 21st Century Ins. Co., 53 Misc 3d 128[A], 2016 NY Slip Op 51347[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2016]; Compas Med., P.C. v Farm Family Cas. Ins. Co., 49 Misc 3d 148[A], 2015 NY Slip Op 51704[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 2d, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]), and the affidavit submitted in support of plaintiff’s motion for leave to renew failed to demonstrate that the claim forms had been mailed to defendant, as plaintiff’s owner merely stated that the “documents were resubmitted to insurance carrier” without establishing the identity of the carrier to whom plaintiff had resubmitted the claim forms.

Plaintiff’s remaining arguments lack merit.

Accordingly, the order entered February 13, 2018, insofar as appealed from, is affirmed.

PESCE, P.J., WESTON and ELLIOT, JJ., concur.



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019
Pro-Align Chiropractic, P.C. v Integon Natl. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51967(U))

Reported in New York Official Reports at Pro-Align Chiropractic, P.C. v Integon Natl. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51967(U))

Pro-Align Chiropractic, P.C. v Integon Natl. Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 51967(U)) [*1]
Pro-Align Chiropractic, P.C. v Integon Natl. Ins. Co.
2019 NY Slip Op 51967(U) [65 Misc 3d 157(A)]
Decided on December 6, 2019
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 6, 2019

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


PRESENT: : MICHAEL L. PESCE, P.J., THOMAS P. ALIOTTA, BERNICE D. SIEGAL, JJ
2018-817 K C
Pro-Align Chiropractic, P.C., as Assignee of Kethelyne Jean-Louis, Appellant,

against

Integon National Ins. Co., Respondent.

Gary Tsirelman, P.C. (Darya Klein of counsel), for appellant. Law Offices of Moira Doherty, P.C. (Lisa Taranto-Fernandez of counsel), for respondent.

Appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County (Richard J. Montelione, J.), entered January 17, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from as limited by the brief, granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint and denied the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking to compel defendant to serve responses to plaintiff’s discovery demands.

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 appeals, as limited by its brief, from so much of an order of the Civil Court as granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for duly scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs) and denied the branch of plaintiff’s cross motion seeking to compel defendant to serve responses to plaintiff’s discovery demands.

Contrary to plaintiff’s arguments, defendant’s proof sufficiently established that defendant had timely mailed the IME scheduling letters and the denial of claim forms (see St. Vincent’s Hosp. of Richmond v Government Empls. Ins. Co., 50 AD3d 1123 [2008]) and that plaintiff’s assignor had failed to appear for the scheduled IMEs (see Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v [*2]Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720 [2006]). Plaintiff’s remaining contention lacks merit.

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

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



ENTER:
Paul Kenny
Chief Clerk
Decision Date: December 6, 2019