No-Fault Case Law
New Way Med. Supply Corp. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50917(U))
June 6, 2016
The court considered the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment in a dispute over first-party no-fault benefits. The main issue decided was whether the defendant had timely and properly denied the claim based on the plaintiff's assignor's failure to appear for examinations under oath (EUOs). The court held that while the defendant had timely mailed the EUO scheduling letters, they had failed to submit proof by someone with personal knowledge of the nonappearance of the plaintiff's assignor for the EUOs, establishing their entitlement to summary judgment. The court also held that the plaintiff's moving papers failed to establish that the defendant had failed to deny the claim within the requisite 30-day period, or that the defendant had issued a timely denial of claim that was conclusory, vague, or without merit as a matter of law, therefore the plaintiff did not establish their entitlement to summary judgment. Therefore, the court affirmed the order but modified it to deny the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
New Beginnings Chiropractic, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50916(U))
June 6, 2016
The court considered the fact that the defendant failed to establish, as a matter of law, its entitlement to summary judgment dismissing the complaint as the initial affirmation submitted in support of the defendant's cross motion was not made on personal knowledge. Additionally, the court found that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment, as it did not establish that the defendant's defense lacked merit as a matter of law. The main issue decided was whether the defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint, which the court determined they were not. The holding of the case was that the order was modified by providing that plaintiff's motion for summary judgment was denied, and the order was affirmed as modified.
Tam Med. Supply Corp. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50914(U))
June 6, 2016
The court considered the appeal of an order from the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County, which granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint in an action to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The main issue decided was whether the action was premature because the provider had failed to provide requested verification. The holding of the court was that the order granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment was reversed, with the defendant's motion being denied. The court cited the reasons stated in a similar case, Renelique, as Assignee of Allen Haynes v Travelers Ins. Co., in support of its decision. The three presiding judges all concurred with this decision.
White Plains Med. Care, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50913(U))
June 6, 2016
The court considered a provider's attempt to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from an insurance company. The insurance company had denied the claims based on the failure of the provider's assignors to appear for independent medical examinations. The main issue decided was whether the denial of the claims by the insurance company was justified due to the assignors' failure to attend the scheduled examinations. The holding was that the insurance company's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was granted, reversing the Civil Court's decision. The court concluded that the insurance company was justified in denying the claims based on the assignors' failure to attend the scheduled medical examinations.
GL Acupuncture, P.C. v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50912(U))
June 6, 2016
The court considered the fact that the defendant denied the claims at issue based on the plaintiff's assignor's failure to appear for independent medical examinations. However, the defendant failed to submit proof by someone with personal knowledge of the nonappearance of the plaintiff's assignor for the IMEs in question. As a result, the defendant failed to establish its prima facie entitlement to summary judgment. The main issue decided was whether the defendant had provided sufficient evidence to establish its entitlement to summary judgment. The holding of the case was that the order granting defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was reversed, and defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was denied.
Renelique v Travelers Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50911(U))
June 6, 2016
The relevant facts the court considered in this case were that the plaintiff, Pierre Jean Jacques Renelique, was seeking to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from Travelers Insurance Company. The main issue decided by the court was whether the action was premature because the plaintiff had failed to provide requested verification. The court ultimately held that there was a triable issue of fact as to whether the action was premature, as the plaintiff had submitted an affidavit from the owner that gave rise to a presumption that the requested verification had been mailed to, and received by, the defendant. As a result, the court reversed the order granting summary judgment to the defendant and denied their motion to dismiss the complaint.
Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Hereford Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50910(U))
June 6, 2016
The relevant facts considered in this case were that an action was brought by a provider to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The Civil Court denied the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and granted the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the basis that the action was premature due to the plaintiff's failure to provide requested verification. The main issue decided was whether the action was premature, and the holding of the case was that there was a triable issue of fact as to whether the action was premature, and as a result, the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was denied.
Omphil Care, Inc. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50899(U))
June 6, 2016
The court considered an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County, which granted defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint brought by Omphil Care, Inc., as the assignee of FRANTZ MENARD, to recover first-party no-fault benefits from State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. The main issue decided was whether State Farm had timely and properly denied the claims at issue on the ground that the plaintiff had failed to comply with a condition precedent to coverage by not appearing for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). The court held that the defendant did have justification for its EUO requests, and therefore affirmed the order of the Civil Court, dismissing the complaint.
Ji Sung Kim Acupuncture, P.C. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50873(U))
June 3, 2016
The main issues in this case were whether the defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint and whether the plaintiff was entitled to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The court considered the defendant's motion for summary judgment or to compel the plaintiff's treating doctor to appear for examination before trial, as well as the plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment. The court held that with respect to all of the remaining claims, the sole issue for trial was the defendant's defense of lack of medical necessity. The court ultimately reversed the order, granted the defendant's motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the complaint, except for certain claims, and held that the defendant owed the plaintiff the additional sum sought for specific claims.
New Quality Med., P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2016 NY Slip Op 50872(U))
June 3, 2016
The court considered the facts of a lawsuit brought by New Quality Medical, P.C., as the assignee of Henry Munoz, against Allstate Insurance Company to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. Allstate Insurance Company had moved for summary judgment, arguing that they had timely and properly denied the claims due to the plaintiff's failure to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). However, the plaintiff argued that Allstate had not established their failure to appear for the EUOs.
The main issue decided was whether Allstate had submitted sufficient proof of the plaintiff's nonappearance for the EUOs. The court held that because Allstate failed to submit proof by someone with personal knowledge of the nonappearance of the plaintiff for the EUOs in question, Allstate's motion for summary judgment should have been denied. Therefore, the court reversed the order of the Civil Court and denied Allstate's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.