Dowd v Allstate Ins. Co. (2019 NY Slip Op 50648(U))

CV-707232-16/QU

LAW OFFICES OF GABRIEL & SHAPIRO, L.L.C.

Counsel for Plaintiff

Andrew J. Dowd, M.D.

As Assignee of Audra Fulton

3361 Park Avenue, Suite 1000

Wantagh, New York 11793

Joseph J. Padrucco, Esq.

LAW OFFICES OF KAREN L. LAWRENCE

Counsel for Defendant

Allstate Insurance Company

1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 100

Garden City, New York 11530

Marie-Ann Inguanti, Esq.

I.Background

Andrew Dowd, M.D. (the “Plaintiff”), as assignee of Audra Fulton (the “Assignor”), commenced this action based on Assignor’s automobile accident that allegedly occurred on or about February 6, 2012. Plaintiff served a summons and complaint on defendant Allstate Insurance Company (the “Defendant”) on or about October 12, 2016. Defendant joined issue by service of its answer on or about October 28, 2016.

On or about April 18, 2012, a letter purportedly addressed to Assignor’s alleged attorney, Richard Gershman & Associates, was sent on behalf of Defendant by Defendant’s contractor to [*2]schedule an independent medical examination (“IME”). A copy of the letter was also allegedly mailed to Assignor. The April 18, 2012 IME letter stated that Assignor’s IME was scheduled for May 5, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. and notably indicated that the IME was prompted by an accident that took place on February 5, 2012—not February 6, 2012, which is the alleged date of the accident in the current matter’s complaint. Assignor failed to appear for the scheduled IME on May 5, 2012.

On or about May 9, 2012, a second letter was allegedly mailed to Richard Gershman & Associates and Assignor that rescheduled Assignor’s IME to May 19, 2012 at 2:00 p.m., and the May 9, 2012 letter also indicated that the IME was prompted by an accident that took place on February 5, 2012. Assignor failed to appear for the rescheduled IME on May 19, 2012.

On or about June 19, 2012, Defendant received a bill in the amount of $1,186.42 for medical services provided by Plaintiff to Assignor on May 18, 2012. On or about July 10, 2012, a denial of claim form and explanation of medical benefits for date of service May 18, 2012, was allegedly sent to Richard Gershman & Associates and Assignor. Defendant’s sole basis for denying Plaintiff’s claim was Assignor’s failure to appear at the above IME appointments.

Defendant now moves for summary judgment, dismissing Plaintiff’s complaint or, in the alternative, granting the instant motion to the extent of finding that Defendant has established a prima facie case as to the mailing of its denial forms, setting this matter down for a hearing on the issue of IME no show and tolling the interest together with such other and further relief as the Court deems proper.

In accordance with rule 2219 of New York’s Civil Practice Law and Rules (“CPLR”), the Court considered herein the following: (1) Defendant’s notice of motion for summary judgment and motion to dismiss, affirmation in support of said motions and corresponding exhibits; (2) Plaintiff’s affirmation in opposition and corresponding exhibits; and (3) Defendant’s reply affirmation. As explain below, Defendant’s motion for summary judgment and motion to dismiss are denied.

II.Discussion

Summary judgment pursuant to CPLR 3212 provides a mechanism for the prompt disposition, prior to trial, of civil actions which can be decided as a matter of law (see generally Brill v City of New York, 2 NY3d 648, 651 [2004]). Since summary judgment deprives the non-moving parties of their day in court and has res judicata effects, it is therefore only appropriate “if no genuine, triable issue of fact is presented” (see Ugarriza v Schmieder, 46 NY2d 471, 474 [1979]). On a motion for summary judgment, the moving party must make out its prima facie case by submitting evidence in admissible form which establishes its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law (see Marshall v Arias, 12 AD3d 423, 424 [2d Dept 2004]). Upon such a showing, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to present admissible evidence which demonstrates the necessity of a trial as to an issue of fact (see Zolin v Roslyn Synagogue, 154 AD2d 369, 370 [2d Dept 1989]). The non-moving party must be afforded every favorable inference that can be drawn from the evidentiary facts established (see McArdly v M & M Farms of New City, Inc., 90 AD2d 538, 538 [2d Dept 1982]). However, conclusory, unsupported allegations or general denials are insufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment (see William Iselin & Co., Inc. v Landau, 71 NY2d 420, 427 [1988]; Stern v Stern, 87 AD2d 887, 887 [2d Dept 1982]).

In support of Defendant’s motion for summary judgment, Defendant was required to establish, prima facie, that the April 18, 2012 and May 9, 2012 IME letters were mailed to [*3]Assignor and that Assignor failed to appear for the IMEs (see generally Stephen Fogel Psychological, P.C. v Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 35 AD3d 720, 721 [2d Dept 2006]). Defendant has not met its burden because Defendant submits conclusory allegations that fail to establish that Defendant’s practices and procedures for mailing IME letters was designed to ensure that the IME letters were addressed to the proper party and properly mailed (see Westchester Med. Ctr. v Countrywide Ins. Co., 45 AD3d 676, 676-677 [2d Dept 2007]; Orthotech Express Corp. v. MVAIC, 2012 NY Slip Op 51913[U], *1 [App Term, 1st Dept 2012] (“The affiant, however, had no personal knowledge of the dates the IME notices were actually mailed, and described in only the most general terms her offices mailing practices and procedures. In the absence of any recitation of such matters as how the names and addresses on the IME notices were checked for accuracy and how the notices were picked up for mailing, we cannot say, on this record, that the office practice and procedure followed by Defendant’s contractor was designed to ensure that the [IME notices] were addressed to the proper parties and properly mailed.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).

Specifically, in discussing Defendant’s general practices and procedures associated with mailing IME letters, the affidavit of Defendant’s contractor merely states that “[t]he IME scheduling letter is generated with the name and address of the attorney representing the person to be examined, as provided by the insurance carrier, placed at the top of the scheduling letter” (aff of Jean Rony Pressoir at 2) (emphasis added). Defendant fails to provide any evidence detailing the practices and procedures implemented by Defendant, as the insurance carrier, or Defendant’s contractor to ensure that the correct address was used (see Westchester, 45 AD3d at 676-677).

Although Defendant’s contractor further states that “[i]t is [Defendant’s contractor’s] regular office business and policies and procedures that the letters are mailed to the claimants address on the bill” (aff of Jean Rony Pressoir at 3) (emphasis added), this practice and procedure is inapplicable to the current matter because the IME letters at issue were mailed before any claims were submitted by Plaintiff. Accordingly, Defendant has failed to make out a prima facie case establishing that it is entitled to summary judgment.

Moreover, the Court finds no basis to grant Defendant’s motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211 [a] [1], CPLR 3211 [a] [7] and CPLR 3211 [a] [5]. Indeed, the documentary evidence submitted by Defendant fails to conclusively establish a defense as a matter of law (see Carlson v Am. Intern. Grp., Inc., 30 NY3d 288, 298 [2017] (“Under CPLR 3211 [a] [1], a dismissal is warranted only if the documentary evidence submitted conclusively establishes a defense to the asserted claim as a matter of law.”). Plaintiff has adequately pled causes of action pursuant to New York’s no-fault regulations (see Shebar v Metro. Life Ins. Co., 25 AD3d 858, 859 [3d Dept 2006] (“[O]n a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the court must afford the complaint a liberal construction, accept as true the allegations contained therein, accord the plaintiff the benefit of every favorable inference and determine only whether the facts alleged fit within any cognizable theory”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).

Furthermore, although Defendant did not specifically state the grounds for its motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211 [a] [5], the Court presumes that Defendant’s motion is based on a prior arbitration award referred to by Defendant that was issued against a different Plaintiff in a separate matter. Plaintiff in the current matter has not agreed to be bound by an arbitration award, Plaintiff has not waived any remedies at law and this Court is not bound by an arbitration award against a different Plaintiff in a separate matter (see Zupan v. Firestone, 91 AD2d 561, 562 [1st Dept 1982] (dismissing plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211 [a] [5] where an arbitration award was issued after plaintiff consented to arbitration and agreed to be bound by any determination and waived her rights to pursue any remedies at law against the defendant); Tenenbaum v Setton, 18 NYS3d 498, 500 [App Term, 2d Dept, 11th & 13th Jud Dists 2015]).

[*4]III.Conclusion

Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that Defendant’s motion for summary judgment and motion to dismiss are denied.

This constitutes the decision and order of the Court.

Dated:March 11, 2019

Jamaica, New York

Hon. John C.V. Katsanos

Judge, Civil Court