June 14, 2004

New York Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Queens v AIU Ins. Co. (2004 NY Slip Op 05217)

Headnote

The court considered the plaintiffs' appeal of a denied motion for summary judgment on the first and second causes of action to recover no-fault benefits for medical services rendered by the plaintiff New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens. The main issue decided was whether the defendant's failure to object to the completeness of the hospital facility forms within 10 days of receipt constituted a waiver of any defenses based thereon. The holding of the court was that the Supreme Court erred in denying the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, as the defendant failed to raise a triable issue of fact and the plaintiffs had established their entitlement to the no-fault benefits, as well as to statutory interest and attorney's fees. Therefore, the matter was remitted to the Supreme Court, Nassau County, to calculate the amount owed to the plaintiff for no-fault benefits, statutory interest, and attorney's fees.

Reported in New York Official Reports at New York Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Queens v AIU Ins. Co. (2004 NY Slip Op 05217)

New York Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Queens v AIU Ins. Co.

2004 NY Slip Op 05217 [8 AD3d 456]

June 14, 2004

Appellate Division, Second Department

Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.

As corrected through Wednesday, August 25, 2004

New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, as Assignee of Vincent Derenzo, et al., Appellants,
v
AIU Insurance Company, Respondent.

—[*1]

In an action to recover no-fault benefits under an insurance contract, the plaintiffs appeal, as limited by their brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Joseph, J.), dated July 7, 2003, as denied that branch of their motion which was for summary judgment on the first and second causes of action to recover no-fault benefits for medical services rendered by the plaintiff New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens.

Ordered that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from, on the law, with costs, the motion is granted, and the matter remitted to the Supreme Court, Nassau County, for further proceedings consistent herewith.

The Supreme Court erred in denying the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the first and second causes of action on the ground that the hospital facility forms submitted by the plaintiffs lacked necessary signatures. The defendant’s failure to object to the completeness of the hospital facility forms within 10 days of receipt constituted a waiver of any defenses based thereon (see New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v American Tr. Ins. Co., 287 AD2d 699, 701 [2001]; Mount Sinai Hosp. v Triboro Coach, 263 AD2d 11, 17 [1999]; St. Clare’s Hosp. v Allcity Ins. Co., 201 AD2d 718, 720 [1994]). In opposition to the plaintiffs’ prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law (see Insurance Law § 5106 [a]; 11 NYCRR 65.15 [g] [3]), the defendant failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see New York & Presbyt. Hosp. v Allstate Ins. Co., 295 AD2d 412 [2002]; cf. Hospital for Joint Diseases v Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 284 AD2d 374, 375 [2001]). [*2]

As the plaintiffs established their entitlement to the no-fault benefits, as well as to statutory interest and attorney’s fees (see Insurance Law § 5106 [a]; 11 NYCRR 65-4.6), we remit the matter to the Supreme Court, Nassau County, to calculate the amount owed to the plaintiff for no-fault benefits, statutory interest, and attorney’s fees. S. Miller, J.P., Adams, Cozier and Rivera, JJ., concur.