No-Fault Case Law

Parkview Med. & Surgical, P.C. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50491(U))

The main facts considered by the court were that defendant moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, and plaintiff cross-moved for summary judgment. The main issue to be decided was whether the first cause of action should have been dismissed as premature. The holding of the court was that the 30-day period within which defendant was required to pay or deny the claim did not begin to run, and thus the first cause of action should have been dismissed as premature. The court ultimately reversed the order and granted the branch of defendant's motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the first cause of action.
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Renelique v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50482(U))

The court considered whether a provider could recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from an insurance company. The main issue was whether the action was premature since the provider had not responded to the insurance company's requests for additional verification. The court held that the action was indeed premature because the provider had not provided all the verification requested by the insurance company, and therefore the 30-day period within which the insurance company was required to pay or deny the claims did not begin to run. The court also found that the provider's remaining contention was not properly before the court and declined to consider it. Therefore, the court affirmed the denial of the provider's motion for summary judgment and granted the insurance company's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
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Compas Med., P.C. v American Ind. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50481(U))

The court considered a motion to dismiss a complaint by a provider seeking to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, on the ground that the Civil Court lacked personal jurisdiction over the defendant insurance company. The defendant provided affidavits stating that they were a Pennsylvania company not licensed to do business in New York, with no offices, bank accounts, agents, or real property in New York, and did not contact or solicit business in New York. The plaintiff's opposition to the motion consisted of only an unverified complaint and a conclusory affirmation by the plaintiff's counsel. The main issue decided was whether the Civil Court properly granted the defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint based on lack of personal jurisdiction. The holding of the court was that the order granting the defendant's motion to dismiss was affirmed, as the plaintiff did not provide sufficient evidence to warrant jurisdictional discovery, and plaintiff's argument that essential jurisdictional facts might exist was not supported by tangible evidence.
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Edison Med. Servs., P.C. v Clarendon Natl. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50479(U))

The relevant facts considered by the court were that the plaintiff filed a complaint to recover first-party no-fault benefits and served the defendant, who failed to answer the complaint and defaulted in the action. The plaintiff subsequently moved for leave to enter a default judgment, which was granted. The main issue decided by the court was whether the defendant should be allowed to vacate the default judgment and dismiss the action based on failure to enter a default judgment within one year of the default. The holding of the court was that the defendant's excuses for failing to oppose the motion for entry of a default judgment and for the delay in moving to vacate the default judgment were insufficient, and the court affirmed the denial of defendant's motion to vacate the default judgment. The court also found that the defendant did not demonstrate a potentially meritorious defense to the action and was not entitled to dismissal of the complaint.
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EMC Health Prods., Inc. v Travelers Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50475(U))

The relevant facts considered in this case involved a provider's attempt to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from an insurance company. The main issue decided was whether the provider had demonstrated its entitlement to summary judgment, and whether the insurance company had established its defense that the provider had failed to appear for properly scheduled examinations under oath. The holding of the case was that the provider had failed to demonstrate its entitlement to summary judgment, as the affidavit submitted in support of its motion failed to establish that the claim at issue had not been timely denied. However, the insurance company's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was also denied, as it failed to establish its defense that the provider had failed to appear for properly scheduled examinations under oath. Therefore, the court modified the order to deny the insurance company's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, but affirmed the order in all other respects.
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EMA Acupuncture P.C. v Allstate Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50348(U))

The court considered the plaintiff's appeal from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, which granted the defendant's motion to consolidate four related actions and to limit any potential recovery of attorneys' fees in the consolidated action to $850. The main issues decided were whether the $850 limit on attorneys' fees, as provided by Insurance Department Regulations, was properly applied to the claims at issue in the consolidated action and whether the plaintiff's appeal from the portion of the order granting consolidation should be dismissed since the plaintiff had agreed to consolidation. The holding of the court was that the $850 limit on attorneys' fees was properly applied to the claims at issue, and that the plaintiff's appeal from the portion of the order granting consolidation must be dismissed.
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New Way Med. Supply Corp. v American Tr. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50422(U))

The relevant facts in the case were that New Way Medical Supply Corp. as the assignee of Jonathan Trevino appealed from an order of the Civil Court denying plaintiff's motion for summary judgment to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits from American Transit Ins. Co. The main issue decided was that the plaintiff failed to establish that the defendant had failed to pay or deny the claim within the 30-day period required by Insurance Law, or that the defendant had issued a timely denial of claim that was conclusory, vague, or without merit as a matter of law. As a result, the plaintiff failed to demonstrate its entitlement to summary judgment. The holding of the case was that the order denying plaintiff's motion for summary judgment was affirmed, with $25 costs.
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T & J Chiropractic, P.C. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50406(U))

The court considered that the no-fault benefits claims at issue had been timely and properly denied by the insurance company on the ground that the plaintiff had failed to comply with a condition precedent to coverage, specifically by failing to appear for scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). The main issue decided was whether the defendant’s proof of mailing the EUO scheduling letters and the denial of claim forms, as well as the plaintiff’s failure to appear, were sufficient to grant the defendant’s motion for summary judgment. The court held that the proof submitted by the defendant established that the scheduling letters and denial of claim forms had been timely mailed and that the plaintiff had failed to appear for the EUOs. Therefore, the court affirmed the order granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
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Metro Health Prods., Inc. v State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50402(U))

The relevant facts considered by the court in Metro Health Products, Inc. as Assignee of ANASTACIA PILLOT v State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. were that the provider was seeking to recover assigned first-party no-fault benefits, and the insurer denied the claims on the basis that the provider failed to comply with the condition precedent of appearing for duly scheduled examinations under oath (EUOs). The main issue decided by the court was whether the insurer had properly denied the claims based on the provider's failure to appear for the EUOs. The holding of the court was that the insurer had timely and properly denied the claims, as it was established that the EUO scheduling letters and denial of claim forms had been timely mailed, and the provider did not respond in any way to the EUO requests. Therefore, the court affirmed the order of the Civil Court, granting the insurer's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint.
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Longevity Med. Supply, Inc. v Praetorian Ins. Co. (2015 NY Slip Op 50401(U))

The relevant facts the court considered are that Longevity Medical Supply, Inc. was seeking to recover first-party no-fault benefits from Praetorian Insurance Company. Longevity Medical Supply, Inc. had moved for summary judgment, which was denied, and Praetorian Insurance Company cross-moved for summary judgment, which was granted. The main issue decided was whether Longevity Medical Supply, Inc. was entitled to summary judgment upon its first cause of action and whether Praetorian Insurance Company was entitled to summary judgment dismissing the complaint. The holding of the case was that the branch of plaintiff's motion seeking summary judgment upon plaintiff's first cause of action was granted and defendant's cross motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint was denied. This means that Longevity Medical Supply, Inc. was entitled to recover first-party no-fault benefits from Praetorian Insurance Company.
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