No-Fault Case Law
Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51665(U))
November 12, 2015
The relevant facts that the court considered in this case were that Great Health Care Chiropractic, P.C. sought to recover no-fault benefits from Travelers Insurance Company, but defendant had denied the claim on the grounds that the plaintiff had failed to appear at scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). The main issue decided by the court was whether the denial of the claim was valid based on the plaintiff's failure to comply with the EUO requirement. The holding of the court was that the denial of the claim was not valid because the defendant had failed to schedule the EUOs within the required time frame, and therefore had not demonstrated that the denial of the claim was based on a failure to comply with a condition precedent to coverage. The court reversed the previous order and denied the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
Mind & Body Acupuncture, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51658(U))
November 12, 2015
The court considered the fact that the plaintiff in this case, a medical provider, was seeking to recover first-party no-fault benefits from the defendant insurance company. The main issue in the case was whether the defendant had properly established that the scheduling letters for an independent medical examination and examination under oath had been timely mailed, and whether the plaintiff's assignor had failed to comply with these requirements. The court held that the scheduling letters were not mere delay letters, that the plaintiff's assignor had failed to appear for the scheduled examinations, and that the defendant had timely denied the claims at issue. As a result, the court affirmed the order granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment and dismissing the complaint.
Ap Orthopedic & Rehabilitation, P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51656(U))
November 12, 2015
The court considered the facts of a nonjury trial in which the plaintiff, a medical provider, sought to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from the defendant insurance company. The only issue to be tried concerned the plaintiff's third cause of action, for which they sought to recover the principal sum of $8,220.17, based on the defense of lack of medical necessity asserted by the defendant. The trial proceeded based on the stipulation that the defendant's witness was an expert, and the Civil Court ultimately found in favor of the plaintiff on the third cause of action. The Appellate Term, Second Department affirmed the judgment, as the record supported the determination of the Civil Court that the defendant failed to demonstrate that the services rendered were not medically necessary. The holding was that there was no basis to disturb the Civil Court's findings, and therefore the judgment in favor of the plaintiff was affirmed.
Healthway Med. Care, P.C. v Country Wide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51654(U))
November 12, 2015
The court considered the case of Healthway Medical Care, P.C. as Assignee of Marcus Hippolyte v. Country Wide Insurance Company, which involved a dispute over first-party no-fault benefits. The main issue was whether the insurance company had properly denied the claims on the grounds that the assignor had not submitted proper notice of the accident within 30 days, and whether the medical provider had availed itself of the opportunity to provide written proof justifying the failure to provide timely notice. The court held that the insurance company had established its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by demonstrating that it had timely mailed denial of claim forms and that it had first learned of the accident more than 30 days after it had occurred. The burden then shifted to the medical provider, which did not present any evidence that it had given timely notice or availed itself of the opportunity to provide written proof justifying the failure to do so. Therefore, the court affirmed the denial of the medical provider's motion for summary judgment and the granting of the insurance company's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
Palafox PT, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51653(U))
November 12, 2015
The court considered an appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, which granted a defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The case involved a provider seeking to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits. The main issue decided was whether the defendant had timely and properly denied the claims at issue on the ground that the plaintiff had failed to appear for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). The holding of the court was that the EUO scheduling letters and the denial of claim forms had been timely mailed in accordance with the defendant's standard office practices and procedures, and the defendant's attorney's affirmation was sufficient to establish that the plaintiff had failed to appear. As a result, the order for summary judgment was affirmed.
Karina K. Acupuncture, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51624(U))
November 12, 2015
The court considered a motion made by the defendant pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) and (7) and treated it as a motion for summary judgment without adequate notice to the parties. The main issue was whether the Civil Court erred by treating the defendant's motion as a motion for summary judgment without providing proper notice to the parties. The holding of the court was that the motion should have been denied, and the complaint reinstated. The court found that the complaint was sufficient to state a cause of action for recovery of first-party no-fault benefits pursuant to an automobile insurance policy issued by the defendant. The affidavits submitted in support of the defendant's defense were not considered conclusive and were not properly considered on a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7). The defendant's remaining contentions were found to be unpreserved and/or without merit.
Healthy Way Acupuncture, P.C. v Amica Mut. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51623(U))
November 12, 2015
The main facts considered by the court in this case were that Healthy Way Acupuncture, P.C. brought a claim against Amica Mutual Ins. Company for denying their claim for assigned first-party no-fault benefits on the grounds that the fees charged for acupuncture services exceeded the amount permitted by the worker's compensation fee schedule. The main issue was whether the denial of the claim by Amica Mutual Ins. Company was justified. The court held that the evidence submitted by the defendant in support of their motion for summary judgment established that the denial was justified. The court also held that the mistake in the notary's jurat did not affect any substantial right of a party and was therefore properly disregarded. The court ruled in favor of the defendant and affirmed the order granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
EMA Acupuncture v Statewide Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51622(U))
November 12, 2015
The relevant facts considered by the court in EMA Acupuncture v Statewide Ins. Co. include that the defendant appealed from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Bronx County, which granted the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on the complaint. The main issue decided by the court was whether the defendant had raised a triable issue in opposition to the plaintiff's prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law to recover first-party no-fault benefits. The court held that the defendant failed to raise a triable issue, as the affidavit of the defendant's no-fault claims supervisor was insufficient to raise an issue of fact. Therefore, the court affirmed the order of the Civil Court and granted plaintiff's motion for summary judgment.
IMA Acupuncture, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51633(U))
November 9, 2015
The relevant facts of the case were that plaintiff IMA Acupuncture, P.C. sought to recover first-party no-fault benefits that had been assigned to them. Defendant Praetorian Insurance Company cross-moved for summary judgment to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that they had timely and properly denied the claims due to plaintiff's assignor's failure to appear for scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs). The main issue decided by the court was whether the plaintiff's assignor had failed to appear for the IMEs, and the court held that the only issue for trial was this matter. The court determined that defendant failed to establish its entitlement to summary judgment dismissing the complaint, as they did not provide sufficient evidence to prove the nonappearance of plaintiff's assignor for the IMEs, and therefore, the court affirmed the order denying the defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment.
New Way Med. Supply Corp. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 51632(U))
November 9, 2015
The relevant facts in this case include a provider's attempt to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, and the denial of the motion for summary judgment by the Civil Court, as well as the granting of the defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The main issues decided include whether the first, second, third, and fifth causes of action were dismissed as premature due to the plaintiff's failure to provide requested verification, as well as the dismissal of the fourth cause of action based on the assignor's failure to appear for independent medical examinations and examinations under oath. The holding of the case was that the branches of the defendant's cross motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first, second, third, and fifth causes of action were denied, and therefore, the order was affirmed with modifications. Additionally, the court found that the defendant was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the fourth cause of action due to the assignor's failure to comply with a condition precedent to coverage.